Mental health struggles affect millions of believers worldwide, with anxiety impacting 88 million people annually and depression affecting one in nine Americans, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. As a pastor with over 25 years of ministry experience, I've witnessed firsthand how the church's response to mental health can either bring healing or heap additional shame on those already suffering.

I've seen more people crushed by the shame over their mental health struggles than by the struggles themselves. This breaks my heart because I know God has a different message for His people—one of hope, healing, and purpose even in the midst of mental health challenges.

The Mental Health Crisis in the Church

The statistics are staggering. Up to one in five people have received medication for mental health issues. These aren't just numbers—they represent our brothers and sisters in Christ, sitting in our pews, serving on our worship teams, and yes, even standing behind our pulpits. I know because I've been one of them.

Why Christians Struggle to Address Mental Health

The church often finds itself caught between two extremes when addressing mental health:

The "Spiritual Only" Approach: This perspective reduces all mental health issues to spiritual problems. "Just pray about it," they say. "You don't have enough faith." "If you truly trusted God, you wouldn't be anxious." This approach ignores the complex physical, chemical, and experiential factors that contribute to mental health conditions.

The "Physical Only" Approach: On the other extreme, some treat mental health as purely medical, divorced from any spiritual component. "Just get therapy." "Take your medication." "This has nothing to do with faith." This view misses the profound spiritual resources God provides for our mental and emotional wellbeing.

Both approaches fail to recognize a crucial truth: mental health exists on a vast spectrum influenced by multiple factors:

• Physical and chemical imbalances - from hormonal changes to neurotransmitter dysfunction
• Experiential and trauma-based factors - past experiences that shape our mental landscape
• Personality traits and predispositions - how we're wired and raised
• Spiritual components - our relationship with God and understanding of His truth

This complexity is precisely why self-diagnosis is dangerous and why simple, one-size-fits-all solutions rarely work. It's also why, as believers, we need a comprehensive approach that honors both the physical and spiritual dimensions of mental health.

A Foundational Truth: Faith Doesn't Exempt You from Struggle, It Equips You for It

This principle has revolutionized how I approach mental health in ministry. Being a person of faith doesn't create a magical force field against anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges. Instead, our faith provides us with unique resources and hope as we navigate these struggles.

Think about it: if faith exempted us from mental health struggles, we wouldn't see biblical heroes like David crying out in anguish in the Psalms, Elijah wanting to die under the broom tree, or Paul speaking of his "thorn in the flesh" that tormented him. These were people of tremendous faith who also experienced deep emotional and mental anguish.

God's Three-Part Plan for Mental Health

Through my years of ministry and personal experience, I've discovered that God consistently provides three things for our mental health struggles: a way to manage, a purpose to redeem, and a promise to heal.

1. God Provides a Way to Manage

The National Institute of Mental Health acknowledges that medication, at best, manages symptoms—it's not a cure. That's why they recommend combining medication with counseling. As believers, we have additional management resources through our faith.

Biblical Foundation for Management

Peter writes with profound understanding: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). This isn't a dismissive "just give it to God and move on." It's an invitation into an ongoing practice of releasing our anxieties to Someone who actively cares about them.

Paul expands on this in Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Notice Paul doesn't say, "Don't be anxious, just pray instead." He's providing a practical tool for managing anxiety—bringing every situation to God in prayer. The result? A supernatural peace that "guards" our hearts and minds. This is protective, not just reactive. It's ongoing management, not a one-time fix.

Practical Management Strategies

God's management plan often includes multiple components:

• Prayer and spiritual disciplines - Regular connection with God through prayer, Scripture, and worship
• Professional counseling - Trained therapists who can provide tools and strategies
• Medication when appropriate - I've personally taken medication for depression following physical trauma
• Community support - The body of Christ surrounding us with love and practical help
• Lifestyle factors - Exercise, nutrition, sleep, and even simple things like vitamin D from sunlight

I tell people in my congregation: these aren't competing solutions—they're complementary tools God provides. Taking medication doesn't mean you lack faith any more than wearing glasses means you don't trust God for vision.

2. God Wants to Redeem Your Story

One of my favorite quotes comes from Katherine Wolf: "If you have a pulse, you have a purpose." This powerful truth reminds us that our mental health struggles don't disqualify us from God's purposes—they often become central to them.

The Biblical Pattern of Redemption

In John 9, Jesus encounters a man blind from birth. The disciples ask, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" They're looking for someone to blame, assuming suffering must be punishment.

Jesus' response revolutionizes how we view affliction: "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:3).

What if your anxiety, your depression, your mental health struggle isn't a cosmic punishment or a sign of weak faith? What if God wants to display His power through your story?

Your Struggle as Ministry

When I openly shared about my journey with depression and counseling, something remarkable happened. Church members who had been suffering in silence suddenly felt permission to seek help. "If Pastor Matt can admit he needs counseling and medication, maybe I'm not a failure for needing help too."

Your willingness to be vulnerable about your mental health journey can:

• Break the stigma in your faith community
• Give others permission to seek help
• Demonstrate that God uses imperfect people
• Show that faith and professional help work together
• Provide hope to those who feel alone

In our efforts to simply manage mental illness, we often miss that God wants to redeem our stories for His glory and others' good. Your greatest struggle might become your most powerful ministry.

3. God Promises Ultimate Healing

This truth requires careful handling because I've prayed for many people's healing—some have experienced miraculous recovery, while others continue to struggle daily. But here's what I know with absolute certainty: healing is our destination.

The Woman Who Touched Jesus' Robe

Mark 5 tells of a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She'd spent everything on doctors who not only failed to help but made her worse. She "suffered at the hands of doctors"—can anyone relate to feeling worse after seeking help?

In desperation, she touches Jesus' robe and is immediately healed. When Jesus identifies her, she falls before Him trembling. His words to her echo through the centuries: "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction" (Mark 5:34).

These are words many of us long to hear regarding our mental health struggles. "Go in peace and suffer no more." And here's my encouragement: this is still God's plan for you.

Healing: Now or Later, But Always Certain

Revelation 21:5 declares, "He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'" This isn't just a nice sentiment—it's a promise. God is actively working to restore all of creation, including our minds and emotions.

When I pray for healing, I pray with this understanding:

• Sometimes God heals immediately and miraculously
• Sometimes He heals gradually through counseling, medication, and time
• Sometimes He sustains us through the struggle without removing it
• But ultimately, complete healing is guaranteed for every believer

Healing is not linear. It takes unexpected turns, has setbacks and breakthroughs, and rarely follows our preferred timeline. But the destination is always Jesus, our ultimate healer.

Practical Applications for Your Journey

1. Embrace Both/And Thinking

Don't fall into the trap of choosing between faith and professional help. God often works through:

• Skilled counselors and therapists
• Appropriate medication
• Support groups and community
• Spiritual practices and disciplines

2. Build Your Support System

Mental health struggles thrive in isolation. Intentionally build:

• Professional support - therapist, psychiatrist, or counselor
• Spiritual support - pastor, spiritual director, or mentor
• Community support - small group, trusted friends, or support group
• Family support - open communication with those closest to you

3. Develop Daily Practices

Consistent daily practices can significantly impact mental health:

• Morning prayer or meditation - Start your day grounded in God's presence
• Scripture reading - Focus on passages about God's love and care
• Gratitude journaling - Train your brain to notice blessings
• Physical movement - Even a short walk can shift brain chemistry
• Regular sleep schedule - Prioritize rest as an act of faith

4. Know When to Seek Professional Help

Seek professional support when:

• Symptoms interfere with daily life
• You have thoughts of self-harm
• Coping strategies aren't working
• Relationships are being affected
• You feel stuck or hopeless

5. Change the Narrative in Your Faith Community

If you're in a position of influence:

• Share your own struggles appropriately
• Invite mental health professionals to speak
• Include mental health in prayer requests
• Recommend counseling without shame
• Celebrate stories of healing and management

A Personal Word of Encouragement

After 25 years in ministry, I've learned that God's grace is most powerful in our places of greatest weakness. Your mental health struggle doesn't diminish your value to God or your usefulness in His kingdom. In fact, it might be the very thing He uses to display His power and bring hope to others.

If you're struggling today, please hear this: God wants to help you manage what you're facing. He wants to redeem your story for His glory and others' good. And ultimately, He promises complete healing—whether on this side of heaven or when we step into eternity.

You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are not disqualified from God's love or purposes.

If you have a pulse, you have a purpose. And that purpose isn't diminished by anxiety, depression, or any other mental health challenge. It might just be defined by it.

Moving Forward: From Lazy Faith to Living Hope

Mental health struggles can make faith feel impossible. Everything feels heavy, including spiritual practices that once brought life. This is where we must move from what I call "lazy faith"—going through the motions without real engagement—to living hope that's active, authentic, and anchored in God's promises.

Living hope means:

• Honestly acknowledging our struggles without shame
• Actively pursuing help through every avenue God provides
• Believing our stories have redemptive purpose
• Trusting in guaranteed future healing while working toward present management
• Supporting others on similar journeys

Your mental health journey isn't a detour from God's plan—it's part of the path He's using to shape you, strengthen others, and display His glory. Don't let shame keep you from seeking the help God wants to provide through various means. Your faith doesn't make you immune to mental health struggles, but it does provide unique resources for facing them.

Remember: God is not disappointed in your struggle. He's not frustrated by your need for help. He's not ashamed of your medication or counseling. He's actively working to manage, redeem, and ultimately heal every aspect of your being.

The journey toward mental health as a Christian isn't about having more faith or praying harder. It's about embracing all the resources God provides—spiritual, professional, and communal—while trusting in His ultimate plan for redemption and healing.

Matt Dawson is the Lead Pastor at Journey Church in Huntersville, NC, and author of "GIFTED ON PURPOSE FOR PURPOSE." Through his "Set Free Stay Free" ministry, he helps everyday believers move from lazy faith to living hope. Connect with Matt at [website] or follow his YouTube channel "Set Free Stay Free with Matt Dawson" for more practical biblical teaching.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please reach out for help. Contact your pastor, a Christian counselor, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You are not alone.