Everyone is talking about mental health. Social media, Google, etc. Instinctively, we know this is a good thing. We all get anxious or feel depressed at times. One-in-five persons struggle with mental health issues. The weight of daily life affects us all, so it's right to be talking about mental health. At the same time, as Christians we might pump the brakes a bit. After all, the world is talking about mental health, but the church is not. Does that mean that I shouldn't concern myself with these matters? A better question is, "Is God concerned with my mental health?" The best way to answer is to see what the Bible teaches.
The Bible usually doesn't use the same modern terms to describe mental health. You'll never come across words like depressed, manic, or post-traumatic stress. This is because they just had a different vocabulary. We see this is many areas. For instance, words we readily use today were never mentioned in Scripture such as "piano," "communion," "pew," or even "Bible." Can you imagine how Sunday morning would be different if we said, "I'm not going to allow a piano in worship because God never mentions it."
Likewise, the Bible doesn't use modern, psychological terminology but that shouldn't make us uncomfortable. The words don't appear in Scripture, but that does not mean the idea is foreign to the text.
In other words, just because David never says, "I'm depressed" doesn't mean he never experienced what we recognize as depression today. The Bible may not use the words "mental illness," but the experience was present. Scripture describes the depression of major figures such as Elijah, Jeremiah, and Job. We can also read about David's anxiety, King Saul's manic episodes, and Samson's narcissistic personality.
Here are some examples:
David's depression and anxiety:
“Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning” (Ps.31:9-10).
“All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes” (Ps.6:6-7).
“My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me” (Ps.55:4).
Elijah's depression:
"Elijah was afraid and ran for his life...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..." he lay down under the bush and fell asleep...He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again" (1 Kings 19:3-6).
Job's depression:
"Sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water…I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil...Nights of misery have been assigned to me. When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’ The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn...I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life...My face is red with weeping, dark shadows ring my eyes” (3:24-26; 7:3-4; 9:21; 16:16 ).
Jeremiah's post-traumatic stress:
"Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah. Princes have been hung up by their hands...I am the man who has seen affliction...I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness, and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me"(Lam.5:10-15; 3:1-2, 19-20).
Samson's narcissistic personality:
His grandiose sense of self-importance ("I have a right to get even with the Philistines" 15:3-8; preoccupation with power and women ("I have seen a girl...now get her for me as my wife...she's the right one for me" Jdg.14:1-3), and excessive desire for admiration ("Let me give you a riddle..." 14:12-18).
The Bible does teach us about mental health issues. God is concerned about our mental health.
What does the Bible say about mental health?
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