The Lord’s Voice On Mental Health.

A Youth Baraza Publication.

It is important that we agree that good mental health is for the benefit of everyone as an important aspect of
life.
The WHO defines mental health not in terms of the absence of signs and symptoms of mental
illness but rather in terms of the capacity to cope with life and to contribute fruitfully to work and
in the wider community.
According to WHO, 1 in 4 people worldwide experience mental health issues.
Increasing attention should be given to the importance of spirituality for mental health and my
submission will be based on the use of spirituality to overcome mental illness or breakdown.
Spirituality is difficult to define but is commonly concerned with things such as meaning and
purpose in life with the human being in relationship with God. People who are depressed
forexample, commonly lose any sense of meaning and purpose in life and they view their
relationships differently.

They may feel rejected by God but this is generally understood as the
effect of depression rather than its cause.
My emphasis will base so much on the Bible which gives us vast experiences of what people in
the past went through but still managed to overcome and the power that Word of God I believe
carries.
I derive this from Proverbs 12:25 which says, “Anxiety in the heart of a man causes
depression but a good word makes it glad.”

So, even as we continue to live or struggle daily in different ways, the Good News is this;

1.) You’re not alone.
God’s people(of which we all are) have suffered or continue to suffer mentally, emotionally, and
physically.
Even Christ himself cried out in despair on the cross in Matthew 27:46 saying “My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?”
But we’re reminded in Psalm 22:1 that when we suffer, we are not alone.
Therefore, as God’s people, you must know that you are not the only one in your congregation
dealing with issues arising from mental illness. Thus, speaking openly about your mental health
issues will allow others to share their own struggles and will enable you to care for one another.
There is a saying that “a problem identified is a problem half solved.”

2.) God sees you and is with you.
Even from the days of Job who was the greatest,wealthiest and most respected of all men of the
East, Job lost all his possessions(Job 1) and his health(Job 2) but didn’t lose sight of God just as God didnt and in the end restored his fortunes. (Job 42:10-17)

So, even as one suffers the effects of mental illness, they must remember the nearness of God
because He also experiences emotions. He weeps with you, as He wept with Lazarus’s
family(John 11:35).

He knows how He is going to work in and through one’s life and I be with you in the midst of it.
Therefore, remain steadfast because there is hope since He is near to the brokenhearted and saves
the crushed in spirit(Psalm 34:18). We are broken in our own ways but Christ makes us whole
and He will use us to reach to others(1 Corinthians 4:7-10).

3.) We must know that God’s Word speaks to you.
The Bible talks about mental and emotional anguish.
Look at Job or the Psalms of lament which constitute the largest category of psalms. They are
songs of people crying out to God in despair but the good news is that most of them end
positively, reminding us their hearers and readers of God’s faithfulness.
That’s why it is good to keep these truths somewhere you can be reminded of them often. It can
be by sharing them with a friend, family member or an accountability partner who can remind
you when you forget or when you loose the energy or will power to remind yourself.
God’s Word speaks to you even in the hardest days because His grace is sufficient for us. Lets always turn to the Lord’s words in the bible.

Authored by; Mpuuga Patrick