This is the second post in our three-part series on mental health truths. If you haven’t read Part 1, I encourage you to start there. Today, we continue our exploration of mental health through a biblical lens.

TRUTH #7: Your emotions were created by God and serve a God-given purpose.

Emotions aren’t inherently bad. While they can lead to poor decisions if not properly regulated, the emotions themselves serve divine purposes. For instance, consider anger: Paul writes in Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity.”

Notice that anger itself isn’t the sin—it’s what can follow if we don’t keep it in check. Unchecked anger can damage relationships, work environments, and even ourselves physically.

All your emotions—anger, sadness, joy, fear, disgust—serve important purposes. They keep you alive, alert you to potential harm, and help you navigate complex social situations. Rather than suppressing emotions, we should recognize their purpose and learn to express them in healthy ways.

TRUTH #8: Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions.

Hebrews 2:17-18 reminds us that Jesus “had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way so that he could become that merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of people. For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.”

The Gospels show Jesus experiencing the complete emotional spectrum. He felt anger, disgust, and fear. On the night of his betrayal, praying in Gethsemane, he experienced deep anguish. He was indignant, frustrated, joyful, and sorrowful. If emotions were sinful, what would that say about Jesus? Clearly, our emotions themselves are not the problem.

TRUTH #9: Jesus experienced even the “negative” emotions.

Isaiah 53:3 describes Jesus as “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” He personally experienced what we might consider negative emotions—fear, sorrow, grief, despair.

This means Jesus truly understands our emotional struggles. He knows what it’s like to lose a loved one unexpectedly, to be betrayed by friends, to witness corrupt institutions and weep over them. As he lamented over Jerusalem, “If you only knew the things that make for peace, yet they are hidden from you” (Luke 19:42).

Because Jesus has experienced these emotions, he can come alongside us in our darkest moments with true empathy, assuring us that sorrow doesn’t last forever. As Psalm 30:5 promises, “Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.”

TRUTH #10: Anxiety can make you feel you’ve lost control of your own mind.

David expressed this feeling in Psalm 13:2: “How long will I store up anxious concerns within me and agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me?” He felt utterly helpless to control his thoughts.

If you couldn’t control your arm and it flailed constantly, you’d seek medical help immediately. Yet when we can’t control our thoughts—when anxiety puts us on a hamster wheel of negative thinking, catastrophizing, and worst-case scenarios—we often try to tough it out alone. This lack of control over your own mind can be terrifying, but it’s a common symptom of anxiety disorders that can be addressed with proper treatment.

TRUTH #11: There is freedom in releasing control.

For those struggling with anxiety—essentially a fear of losing control—it can be counterintuitive that freedom comes through releasing control. Yet Scripture repeatedly encourages us to hand our burdens over to God:

Psalm 55:22: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

Philippians 4:6-7: “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 6:33-34: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

By releasing our grip on trying to control everything and trusting God instead, we can find peace beyond understanding.

TRUTH #12: Your now is not your forever.

When you’re in the depths of mental health struggles, it can be nearly impossible to see beyond your current pain. Yet this crucial truth remains: what you’re experiencing now is temporary. There is hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Paul reminds us in Romans 8:18: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” Paul knew suffering intimately—both physical and, evidence suggests, mental suffering as well. Yet he understood that suffering doesn’t get the final word.

This perspective transforms how we endure mental health challenges. Your current struggle isn’t permanent. Depression lifts. Anxiety can be managed. Trauma can be processed. With appropriate treatment, support, and faith, there’s hope on the horizon.

Continue reading with Part 3 of our Mental Health and Faith series.

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