Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
In the morning, when we woke up, in the car before we drove off, before each meal, and at night before bed, my sister and I were taught to pray. So, in the elementary school cafeteria, at the occasional sleepover, and before getting on the bus to come back from college, I prayed. It was a habit and made me understand how much God never gets tired of hearing from us and how he will always be there for us. But as a child, mental health was not a topic of discussion. In a world where the pressures on our children seem to grow with each passing day and generation, the importance of addressing child mental health cannot be overstated.
Prayer Sustains Us
Children, when introduced to prayer, can use it to find comfort, strength, and power. Teaching children to turn to prayer in times when they feel pressure can be a lifelong source of solace. Even more so, it is one of the first forms of therapy. Prayer is a two-way conversation between a child and their Father.
Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
LOVE: A Seed for Child Mental Health
One of the biggest concepts that I think needs to be stressed when dealing with our young ones and their mental health is love. Too many children grow up with such little self-esteem and self-love. At the core of Christian teachings is the concept of God’s unconditional love. Instilling this truth in the hearts of children can create a foundational sense of security. The majority of people start going to therapy because they feel inadequate about something in their life or them. If we all truly believed that God loves us endlessly from our youth, we would grow up knowing we are worthy. And if there were anyone who made us doubt or work for their love, we’d be able to recognize that it wasn’t worth it because God never did such toward us.
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.”
Proverbs 17:22 reminds us, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Growing up, there was usually belittling of the youth by the older community. When faced with that as a child, I was always reminded of Matthew 19:14.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Biblical Training
The purity that resides in a child is unmatched. It is the pressures and influence of the world that tear this state of being from them. Mental health is not only a spiritual battle but also includes the chemical composition of our bodies and minds. However, there are an overwhelming amount of people who suffer from mental health issues that grew from the lack of a good foundation. We can prepare that good foundation for our children by incorporating biblical principles into daily routines that promote mental well-being and emphasizing the importance of rest, gratitude, and self-care.
While you teach your child to do these things, it can encourage open communication within families and Christian communities. Open communication creates an environment where children feel safe expressing their thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment. This begins to remove the stigma surrounding mental health because we focused on addressing their total health when they were young. May we, as a Christian community, strive to create an environment where our children feel supported. Let us value and equip ur children to face the challenges of life with faith and resilience.
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