God Cares for You—and Your Mental Health

May 1st marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Month. For those who know me, you know that I am passionate about the things of God and all things concerning mental health. Merging these two passions together has come so naturally for me, and it is what I dedicate my time to on a daily basis as a therapist. Being able to sit with individuals from all walks of life and actively listen to them during their darkest and most vulnerable moments is a rewarding role, but a very delicate position to be in, as God is entrusting me (with help from the Holy Spirit) to speak to their souls.

Our souls encompass our emotions, our mind, and our will. Ultimately, the soul is where healing must take place in order for us to begin to see deliverance, transformation, the fruits of the Spirit, growth, newness, and so forth. Therefore, we must refrain from neglecting our minds and emotions—which influence our will and desires. Just as it is imperative to grow in the Spirit through communing with God and reading His Word, and just as eating healthy and working out keeps our bodies in shape, we must also tend to our minds.

This is why Romans 12:2 (New International Version) encourages:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

This scripture, along with many, many others, is evidence that God cares about our minds and how we feel. Scriptures like this one, and others like it, also negate the narrative that someone who is or has struggled with their mental health somehow lacks faith or spiritual discipline.

Jesus Himself—all God and all man—displayed how one can battle with their will vs. God’s will, and the real-deal struggle of processing and coping with various emotions. If anyone understands humanity best, wouldn’t it be God Himself? The Creator—the One who made us in His image?

So, I encourage you today to trust that God cares about everything concerning you—including your thoughts and feelings. Even in this moment, He wants you to know that He is aware. Whether it be excitement, anxiousness, sadness, or anger, He is not only aware of what you feel—He Himself has felt the same emotions.

So, pray this prayer today:

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, My God in Heaven, I just thank You for Your love. I thank You for how You show up when no one else even knows what I am going through or feeling. It is only You, God, who knows exactly what I need—at all times. You see the parts of my soul that need to be healed and the thoughts that go on in my mind that need to be reframed and renewed.

Lord, I pray that You will calm every anxious thought—every thought that makes me feel hopeless or in despair. I take captive every argument or pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of You and make it obedient to Christ, in the name of Jesus.

I speak peace now—a sweet peace that surpasses all understanding. Lord, I thank You for Your awareness, and most importantly, I thank You for the abundant care and love you have for me and my mind.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen!