What the Bible Tells Us About Mental Health

We often think of mental health as a modern subject. It’s only in recent years that addressing mental health has even become mainstream. The reality, however, is that God has cared about our mental health all along.

The Bible is full of stories of people who struggle with the same things that challenge our mental health today. Overwhelming responsibilities, anxiety, relationships, self-worth, and faith were all present in biblical times, just as they are now. While the circumstances and details may look different, the core of the struggles is the same.

To better understand our well-being and mental health, we can look at the Bible to discover what the Word says. These ideas are not cliché solutions. Rather, they are evidence that God cared about mental health then and He cares about our mental health today.

Three examples

To better understand how the Bible addresses mental health, let’s look at three people and their stories.

God provided what Elijah needed

Elijah was a prophet given some intense tasks. As much as he sought and felt connected to God, the things he had to do were difficult. He was called to show an entire nation their evil ways and lead them back to God. In the process, he dealt with a difficult conflict with Queen Jezebel who wanted him dead.

This conflict resulted in Elijah fleeing, hiding in the wilderness, and praying for death:

While he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” – 1 Kings 19:4, NIV

Elijah understood despair. He wrestled with suicidal thoughts. The beautiful part of the story is how God responded. He didn’t lecture or try to fix things. He simply took care of Elijah’s physical needs by sending an angel, providing food, water, and shelter, and giving him rest (1 Kings 19:5-9).

God took care of Elijah’s needs so he could recover and get to a healthier place mentally.

God’s care for Jonah

Jonah made some bad choices, running away in rebellion instead of doing what God told him to do. Things were so bad that he wanted to die (Jonah 4:3). Instead of allowing this to continue, God took measures to help Jonah.

The way God did this may seem extreme, but it demonstrates the care He has for those He loves. He doesn’t want any of us to walk away from His best for us. He longs for us to live full lives, unencumbered by the things that we struggle with.

God cares for Naomi in her grief

In the book of Ruth, we encounter Naomi just after her husband and two sons died. This was not only an emotional loss for her, but a practical one as well. Without her husband or sons, she no longer had a home. She felt like God had betrayed her and she was filled with bitterness. She even changed her name to represent this new identity. But God did not leave her in that place.

God used Ruth, her daughter-in-law, to tend to the broken places in her heart. Ruth stood beside Naomi faithfully, showed her love and ultimately, made the provision she needed possible. After Ruth married Boaz, she had a son and the Word said, “‘He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.’” (Ruth 4:15, NIV)

The Lord further redeemed the once-bitter Naomi as the new baby became part of the lineage of Jesus.

God cares for your mental health

These are just a few of the stories in the Bible that show the unique ways God cares for the mental health of those He loves. While the Bible may not use the term mental health, it is evident that God provides for the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our lives. This provision gives us the truest form of mental health we could hope for.

If you struggle to see God’s love and care as it relates to your mental health, Christian Counseling can help. A trained counselor of faith can talk with you about your unique situation, show you God’s past faithfulness in the Bible, and help you see how He is faithful to care for your wellness today.

Reach out to our office at Texas Christian Counseling to connect with a Christian counselor in Texas who can help you connect your mental health and your faith.