Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety. – Proverbs 29:25 NLT
Last week I was talking to a woman dealing with a life-long struggle with anxiety, depression, and mental illness. A few days before, she had spoken to someone about what she was going through and received criticism when she needed comfort. “One of the things that makes all of this so hard is how people treat me when they find out what I’m dealing with,” she said. “I just wish there wasn’t such a stigma around mental health.”
Have you ever struggled with your mental health but were afraid to talk to someone about it because you were worried about how they would respond? Have you tried to talk to others about it but were met with judgments that left you feeling worse off than before?
In Proverbs 29:25, King Solomon writes, “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.” What Solomon is saying here is when we fear or listen to what others think too much, it can leave us trapped in a prison of fear, despair, judgment, and self-loathing. On the other hand, when we trust the Lord amidst our circumstances, we find safety and rest in Him (Matthew 11:28).
So how can we find safety in the Lord when we’re struggling with our mental health and the stigmas around it in our culture?
1. Release your burdens to God. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you” (NLT). Talk to God about how you’re feeling. Pour out your heart to Him. Tell your Heavenly Father how others have hurt you and ask for His help. Take the weight off your shoulders and leave it at His feet through prayer.
2. Remember who you are in Christ. John 1:12 says, “But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God” (NLT). If you have given your life to Jesus, you have been adopted into God’s family and are now a child of God. You are not your diagnosis or circumstances but God’s son or daughter. Find your identity in your Lord, not the label others put on you. Here are a few reminders of who you are as a follower of Jesus:
- You are loved (Romans 8:39).
- You are a child of God (1 John 3:1).
- You are forgiven (1 Peter 2:24).
- You are free (Galatians 5:1).
- You are a new creation (1 Corinthians 5:17).
- You are a masterpiece (Ephesians 2:20).
- You are wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
3. Reach out for professional help. Proverbs 19:20 says, “Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life” (NLT). Talk to your doctor about your mental health and follow a good treatment plan. Open up to a counselor about the hardships you’re experiencing with the criticisms of others and let them guide you through this storm.
4. Reinforce your support system with safe people. Galatians 6:2 says, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (NLT). You don’t have to do this alone. There are safe, loving people out there who want to be there for you. Limit your interactions with negative people and set good boundaries with them. Get involved in a local church. Join a support group in your area. Ask your trustworthy family and friends for their support.
5. Recharge through self-care. Taking care of yourself while dealing with the stigmas around mental health is challenging and exhausting. It’s vital for you to eat healthy, exercise, have fun, and rest. Jesus took time in His earthly ministry to recharge, and so should you (Mark 6:31).
If you’re struggling with your mental health, you are not alone. It doesn’t mean you’re weak, sinful, or not good enough. It means you are a human being going through a difficult time. Don’t let what someone else thinks of you define you. Instead, look to your Heavenly Father and the support of loving people and professionals to carry you through.
Dig Deeper
- What stigmas have you encountered related to mental health? How have those stigmas impacted your life?
- Which of the five above ideas needs the most attention in your life right now? How will you give that area of your life the attention it needs this week?
