Finding Calm Through Crisis
Whether this is the first blog you’ve stumbled upon from CMHI or you are part of our very growing family, I’m sure you’re aware of the impact depression and anxiety can have on a life. Sometimes we are momentarily sad or looking for peace, but when it affects our daily lives, we must face the reality that something is more serious and needs to change. Depression and anxiety tend to run together but can exist alone as well. Every day, the world gets more comfortable with the understanding that maintaining mental health is important and requires commitment. As Christians, we not only struggle with maintaining our mental health similarly to anyone else, but we also struggle with choosing the appropriate tools to manage it whether it be through medication, therapy, relying solely on God through the bible, or a combination of these.
The purpose of this blog is to increase our repertoire to manage depression and anxiety by adding scripture. As Christians, we are blessed to have the bible as an additional weapon to fortify us alongside medication, community, and therapy, and would be unwise to not utilize it to the fullest.
What Does The Bible Say I Do To Fight My Anxiety And Depression?
When entering any fight, after acknowledging the enemy, in this case, the depression and anxiety that may be overwhelming, a game plan must be developed.
Mark 9:24
The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
- Not only do we have to believe that we will come out to the other side, we need to ask God for help to do that.
Luke 6:28
“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
- Unfortunately, sometimes we are our own enemies. Understanding that there is a real battle between our flesh and our spirits gives this verse a whole deeper meaning. If our bodies are the ones mistreating ourselves, we need to pray for them just like we would pray for someone else being mistreated by another individual.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
- What we continue to obsess over in our minds, leads our lives. Make sure what you think about is excellent and praiseworthy!
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
- What a clear command of how we are supposed to live!
Psalm 42:11
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
- It’s okay not to know why you are feeling how you feel. Just know that the Lord is here through it all and we can put our hope in him.
How Do I Know Jesus Hasn’t Left Me Alone To Deal With My Anxiety And Depression?
Alright, so we’ve come up with a game plan, but maybe it’s not working how we expected it to. We can start to doubt the plan, believe the enemy is greater, and even start to think that our great leader Jesus has abandoned us to fight this battle alone. If there is one message that is clear as day in the bible, it is that God will NEVER forsake his children. Sometimes we simply need some reminders that he won’t.
Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
- Though you may feel alone during this time, remember that with the Lord as your father, you never truly are.
Psalm 9:9
“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”
Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:17
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
- Even your secret thoughts are heard by the Lord when you are too still to speak.
2 Corinthians 12:9
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Matthew 7:7-8
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Continue seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
- Persistence in the fight is required and will be rewarded.
Mantras To Give Peace During The Storm
Now we’ve come to a harder place in the fight. After naming the enemy, coming up with a plan, and renewing trust in our leader, we realize that we must go out and fight the enemy. Building the courage to withstand the battle isn’t easy, but reminding yourself that you can win the fight will always help. Hide these verses in your heart, write them on post-it notes, and stick them in places you always walk by, set daily reminders in your phone to present these verses to you. Whatever or however it needs to be done, start proclaiming your battle cry.
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
- You will conquer this!
Psalm 3:3
But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
- You are not alone!
Psalm 30:11
“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,”
- You will see the other side of this battle!
Psalm 91:1
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
- You will enter his rest!
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- What you are going through will NEVER be bigger than the Lord
How Do I Know God Will See Me Through To The Other Side Of This?
Sometimes, even with all the above steps, we come to this last question “How do we know we’ll make it through?” This question is completely normal when all we can see immediately is the destruction that anxiety and depression bring and the lack of peace that follows. But, what we can’t see is the future, and staying in this place of hurt believing nothing will get better WILL make that a reality.
Psalm 139:2, 7
“You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away…I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence.”
- No matter how dark the anxiety or depression gets, the Lord will always be near.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
- Your story will end in victory so you can share your story with someone else and bring them to victory
Trusting God
We must trust that our God today is the same God that brought the Israelites out to the other side of the Red Sea. Reminding ourselves that that is the God we serve will give us the hope and peace needed to know that we will see the other side no matter how dark our surroundings look right now.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
- The future brings a better reality.
Psalm 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.
- You will be restored one day!
More on the Blog….
CMHI wants to be a resource center for anyone who is questioning which way they should go when caring for and cultivating their mental health. Through our website’s blog, we have addressed:
What depression can look like: Depression Symptoms and How to Cope as a Christian
What anxiety can look like in the context of our relationship with God : Improving Anxiety by Relying on Your Faith in God
How to decide if you need therapy: Do I need therapy?
What a Christian’s view on therapy can be: Should Christians go to therapy? What does the Bible say?
The importance of spirituality when dealing with mental health: Spirituality and Suicide Risk: Why We Need Each Other
And even…
Suicide: Suicide in the Bible: Elijah the prophet with suicidal thoughts
Bible Verses for Self-Confidence: A Christian Perspective
