This is the final installment in our three-part series on mental health truths. If you haven’t read Part 1 and Part 2, I encourage you to start there. Today, we’ll explore the final six truths about mental health and faith that can lead us toward healing.

TRUTH #13: You don’t have to be “strong enough.”

Let’s bust a common myth right now: “God won’t give you more than you can handle” is not in the Bible. Scripture says God won’t let you be tempted beyond what you can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13), meaning there’s always a way to resist sin. But this has been twisted to suggest we should always be able to handle whatever life throws at us.

Even Paul was given more than he could handle. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, he speaks of a “thorn in the flesh” that he pleaded with God three times to remove. God’s response? “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”

You don’t have to be strong enough because if you could handle everything on your own, you wouldn’t need God. God wants us to know He is on our side, and through His strength—not our own—we can overcome. When we embrace our weakness, we make room for God’s power to work through us.

TRUTH #14: God has given you the resources.

Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” As Christians with God’s Spirit dwelling in us, we have access to power that can help us overcome fear, to love that can heal relationships, and to sound judgment that can guide our decisions.

Furthermore, 2 Peter 1:3 assures us, “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

In today’s world, we have more resources for addressing mental illness than ever before. While our understanding of mental health still has room to grow, we’ve made tremendous progress in recent decades. From therapy to medication to support groups, God has provided numerous resources to help us heal. Sometimes, we just need to reach out to those He’s placed in our lives to access these resources.

TRUTH #15: Just because you don’t fit someone else’s expectations doesn’t mean God is mad at you.

Paul’s struggle in Romans 7 ends with this powerful declaration in Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” When you’re battling mental illness, you may feel you’re not living up to others’ expectations or even your own. You might feel guilt, shame, or fear that God is disappointed in you.

But God sees you as the special, unique person that you are. In Christ, there is no condemnation, no shame, no fear, no guilt. Your worth isn’t determined by how well you fit into others’ molds or how quickly you overcome your struggles. Your worth comes from being loved by God, just as you are.

TRUTH #16: You don’t have to be defined by your illness or struggle.

For those with chronic mental health issues, it’s easy to start identifying with the disorder itself. Your depression, anxiety, or trauma can become so intertwined with your identity that you can’t separate yourself from it.

But Romans 8:37 reminds us, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” You can choose to be defined not by your mental illness, but by who God says you are: His child, His beloved, more than capable, more than a conqueror.

As we saw in Truth #13, you don’t have to overcome in your own strength. With God’s strength, you can experience not just a narrow victory but a decisive one. Your mental health condition is something you experience, not something that defines your core identity.

TRUTH #17: While you may not be defined by your illness, you must be intentional about finding healing.

Mental health issues rarely resolve on their own. Depression, anxiety, and trauma typically require intentional steps toward healing. Whoever coined the phrase “time heals all wounds” likely hadn’t lived long enough to know better—sometimes time just prolongs the pain.

John 5 tells the story of a paralyzed man beside the pool of Bethesda, where legend said the first person to enter after an angel stirred the waters would be healed. Jesus asked him a pointed question: “Do you want to get well?” The man offered excuses: “I have no one to help me… someone else always gets there first…”

This man had not only let his condition define him, he also wasn’t being as intentional about healing as he claimed. He was deceiving himself more than anyone. Healing requires acknowledgment of the problem and intentional steps toward treatment, whether that’s therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, spiritual practices, or some combination.

TRUTH #18: While healing may seem impossible in the moment, all things are possible with God.

When you’re trapped in mental illness, it can feel like nothing will ever change, that you’ll always be stuck in negative patterns and destructive behaviors. But Mark 9:23-24 shares a powerful story of hope.

A desperate father brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus’ disciples, but they couldn’t help. When Jesus arrived, the father pleaded, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus replied, “If you can? Everything is possible for the one who believes.”

The father’s response speaks to all who struggle with faith during trials: “I do believe; help my unbelief!” Sometimes our faith can get us to the edge of healing, but we still struggle to fully trust. We think, “If I just have enough faith… if I just pray hard enough… if I just read my Bible enough… if I just try to be a good enough Christian, then I won’t struggle anymore.”

That’s when Jesus steps in to help us over the threshold. When our faith falls short, He meets us there. With God, healing that seems impossible becomes possible. Not through our perfect faith or efforts, but through surrendering control to Him who loves us completely.

As you face your mental health challenges, remember these truths. You’re not defined by your struggles. You don’t have to be strong enough. God has given you resources. There is no condemnation. Healing requires intentionality. And with God, what seems impossible becomes possible.

May these truths guide you toward healing, hope, and wholeness in both mind and spirit.