When Christians Struggle With Mental Illness
He gives His common grace to the humble as He does His particular saving grace. Whether it’s my mom or my doctor, my friend who read something online or my sister who hands me a glass of orange juice because I’m talking weirdly, my pride rouses up in resentment of the need while I desperately need to accept my weakness and humbly receive their help.
For anyone struggling with mental illness, your biggest temptation is likely self reliance when your greatest need is to humbly ask for help and receive it when it is given. It grieves me to think of Christian institutions heaping shame on those who are doing the right thing by seeking help, pointing them away from the gifts of God’s common grace to help them in that moment.
It grieves me to think of unlicensed Christian counselors trying to “root out sin” among those seeking help instead of affirming the wise decision of the one struggling to seek help at all. The very fact they are seeking help, listening to doctors and family and pastors, is the indicator they are rooting out the greatest sin issue that exacerbates mental health issues—being too scared to believe you have a problem and too proud to receive help from those God has given to speak into your life. May our churches and ministries get this right for the good of those deeply struggling.
For further reading: http://www.ccef.org/resources
Adapted from Wendy Alsup’s blog, theologyforwomen.org. Wendy has authored three books including By His Wounds You Are Healed: How the Message of Ephesians Transforms a Woman’s Identity. She is also a wife, mom and college math teacher who loves ministering to women.
