“I have never felt the flames melting the skin off my veins, but I’ve been through hell in my mind. I’ve had the long sleepless nights, felt the breathless despair in the fight. I’ve laid on the ground crying for help. I’ve felt the rush of anxiety’s waves, and the guilt that won’t wash away, and the deep dread of hopeless days.”
I wrote those words about a year and a half ago after enduring a brutal season of despair.
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I’ve endured countless seasons of emotional “winter” since I was kid. And the Lord has significantly healed me, but I still have weaknesses and regularly battle my mind and emotions.
But the difference now is I’ve weathered enough anxiety and despair to know that, without fail, God won’t let go. I’m also better prepared with a thicker jacket, winter boots and gloves to know what to do when the storm comes.
And I want to share that winter wardrobe with you.
Mind, body and soul
Before we dig into the wardrobe, it’s important to note that mental health is nuanced; it’s not entirely spiritual. All diagnoses aside, there are hosts of physical factors that impact one’s emotions.
Why are women moodier during certain parts of the month? Hormones. Why do people feel happier after exercise? Endorphins. Why are parents prone to impatience while raising an infant? Sleeplessness.
Not every case of mental turmoil is due to sin. Think of Jesus’ agony in the garden of Gethsemane. His agony was due to obedience, not failure (Luke 22:44).
In addition, pastors, such as Martyn Lloyd-Jones, have wisely said that some people’s personalities and makeups may predispose them to certain anxious tendencies more than others. Mental health is not always black and white. And we can’t see and understand every aspect of God’s sovereignty that allows suffering in our broken world. We’re not God.
But to blame our anxiety entirely on the physical is short-sighted and unbiblical. Our mental health is largely affected by our spiritual state. Plus, God reigns over the physical, too — so, as a counselor told me, all things are spiritually related.
Christ gave us peace. The Bible commands us not to be anxious about anything (Phil. 4:6–7). God promises us peace when we come to Him in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. The Bible instructs us on what to think about (Phil. 4:8–9). We are told what to set our minds on (Col. 3:2, Rom. 8:5–6). We must take every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5).
Our mental health is affected by spiritual and physical factors. Therefore, I urge you not to lose sight of the physical or spiritual when seeking healing. Start exercising, consume less sugar, get more sleep — those gifts of common grace will undoubtedly strengthen you to endure the fight.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Mary Margaret Flook and originally published by the Baptist Courier.
