From Healing To Wholeness

A Christian Perspective On Emotional And Mental Wellness

Ebony Hudson

• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Year: 2022
• ISBN:
  9781639037179
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Mental Health & Wellbeing

From past traumas to current crises to the healing needed for the daily bumps and bruises of life, we can no longer view our mental health outside of our Christian faith. The story in Luke 17 tells us that after one of the lepers that Jesus healed returned to Him, he was told that his faith has made him whole. This book discusses how we as Christians can be healed and made whole in the area of our emotional and mental health. This book identifies specific steps that can be taken to begin and continue on the path of healing and toward wholeness. It will also examine lessons we can learn from individuals in the Bible who struggled with mental and emotional issues despite their relationship with God. This book seeks to help the reader fight the good fight of faith in the area of mental and emotional health and gives hope that with God, all things truly are possible.

In a selfie-driven society that depends on the current culture to determine norms and wellness, this book returns the believer to the foundation of the Christian faith--the Bible and the power of God to do what seems impossible. In these pages is a message of hope that is desperately needed in the lives of individuals during these trying times. Our mental and emotional health are important to God, and it should be important to everyone within the kingdom of God. Our struggles in this area do not represent weakness, but instead, they remind us that in this life, we will have trials and tribulations, yet we have been assured that we have a Savior who has overcome the world, and as we depend on Him for healing, we can be healed and made whole.

Chapter 2

Nothing New under the Sun

Various myths exist in relation to Christians and mental health, including that Christians do not and should not get depressed, suicidal, or suffer with anxiety. Some people believe Christians should not seek counseling while others feel that mental and emotional problems are representative of an individual’s relationship with the Lord. None of the above beliefs are true. Christians experience life just as anyone else; we just have a hope that relies on a power higher than ourselves. Let’s look at individuals in the Bible who also experienced life stressors and the impact it had on their mental health.

We love to hear about David’s experience in 1 Chronicles 15:25–29 when he is so happy about the return of the Ark of the Covenant that he dances so much that even his wife is embarrassed. We do not like to hear as much about his depression and despair and his feelings of fear that, at its worst, caused him to hide in caves. Many of the chapters and scriptures of Psalms show us David’s pleas with the Lord for help in his despair. Just one example in Psalms 28:1–2 (NIV), where David prays: “To you Lord I call; you are my rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help.”

When we look at some of the Old Testament prophets, many of them exhibit what we would diagnose today as anxiety and depression. For most, the sheer magnitude of what God was calling them to do was anxiety producing. One such prophet we find in Habakkuk 1:1–3 (KJV): “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry unto thee of violence and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity and cause me to behold grievance?”

If a man who is identified as a man after God’s own heart and the prophets God called to relay his messages on earth can experience fear, depression, anxiety, and despair, why is it strange to believe that Christians today cannot experience the same? While in an earthly body, even Jesus experienced emotions of anger (remember when he flipped that table over in the temple) and sadness as explained in the shortest verse in the Bible, John 11:35 (KJV): “Jesus wept.” Don’t feel alone when experiencing mental and emotional problems. Christianity does not guard us from experiencing negative emotions and mental health issues, but it certainly gives us a foundation to step on in our despair as well as an unmovable and unshakable force to hold onto as the journey of life continues, with both the good and the bad, the positive and the negative, all the steps forward, and even the steps back.

Although there are a multitude of mental health diagnoses, I want to focus on two of the more prevalent and common ones: depression and anxiety. There are various types of depression, however, the general DSM-5 criteria for depression include a depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day; significant diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day; significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain; or a decrease/increase in appetite nearly every day. Obviously, a person can feel sad without being depressed, but continued feelings of sadness, with no improvement or positive outlet and coping skills, can lead to depression. A severe case of depression and hopelessness can lead to suicidal thoughts.

Many times, what hinders people from discussing and seeking help for their feelings of depression is the belief that they are alone, weak, unable to have happiness in their life, or will be outed as a person with a mental illness. So right now, I want to confirm and state emphatically that you are not alone, you are not weak, you can experience happiness in your life, and being diagnosed with a mental health issue at some point in your life does not identify who you are or who you will be. In Ecclesiastes 1:9, it states, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” There is nothing new under the sun, which means depression is not new. If you experience feelings of depression, you are not the first and, unfortunately, you will not be the last person to experience such feelings. Also, because there is nothing new under the sun, feelings of depression do not come as a shock or surprise to God. We have already read that many people in the Bible had to deal with their own feelings of depression during life’s journey, and they were still used for great accomplishments that we talk about centuries later.

So what are some practical steps to dealing with depression? There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of books written in regard to answering this question; and in today’s society of “there’s an app for that,” there are multiple apps to help identify possible solutions as well. However, I want to address four practical steps that I believe can help address feelings of depression, and in turn, hopefully decrease any thoughts of suicide. The steps are the following: (1) identify the root cause(s), (2) take appropriate steps to work through the root causes, (3) define and visualize life with reduced or no depression, and (4) keep your guard up.

Step 1 is identifying the root cause(s) that impact depression. I remember when I wanted to get rid of a large bush that blocked the window and attracted a large number of flies in front of my first new house. When I started calling around to various companies that could cut down the tree, they asked if I would also pay to have the roots dug up. As a single female who wasn’t making a lot of money and now had all the expenses of a new home, I wanted to take the cheap way out and just pay to have the bush cut. However, in speaking to coworkers, they disagreed with my thought process and told me that if I don’t like the bush and don’t want it to return, I have to be willing to pay extra to have the stumps and roots totally removed. Well, in being completely honest with you, I didn’t want to spend the money, so the stump and roots stayed for a while until season after season, the bush kept growing and attracting those same annoying flies, so I had to do what I was told in the beginning: spend the money and have it all removed.

In dealing with depression and the negative consequences we have in our lives, we have to get to the root cause(s). I believe that is one of the great benefits of therapy—a neutral person who helps to identify those areas that may seem impossible for you to identify on your own. Some people are able to easily identify root causes while other causes are buried so deep the task feels almost impossible. And let me be clear: I do believe that some root causes are biological and require some form of medication, administered by a psychiatrist or other medical personnel. However, even if the cause is biological and medication is prescribed, there are other root causes in addition that can be identified and worked through as well.

I have counseled people who did not want to identify the root causes of depression because for many, it’s scary what you might dig up once you start digging. I completely understand the hesitation to identify areas that may cause you to relive unpleasant and traumatic situations/events. I believe that therapy is most effective and beneficial when a person is ready, willing, and able. If an individual is not ready to deal with root causes, they should not be forced. However, they should be informed of the potential benefits of addressing and working through issues in order to have and maintain healing and wholeness, but this is an individual decision and should be respected as such.

Step 2 is about taking appropriate steps to work through the root causes. Just as each tree has its own set of roots, so do we as individuals—we have our own set of root causes. Some root causes are easier to identify than others. Most times, people think of childhood abuses and trauma—physical, sexual, and mental—such as rape or catastrophic illness and/or grief over the loss of someone dear to us. There are, however, other underlying issues that we deal with and sometimes struggle to cope with in our daily lives. I believe that one of the most significant root causes is when our expectations do not match our reality. When our life does not look the way we envisioned it, we thought we would have more money, a different job, be married, have children, live in a different neighborhood, etc. This is even more complicated when the difference between expectation and reality are out of our control. When you do everything right and things still do not line up with the plan you had in mind. When you come to the realization we all hit at some point in life, that sometimes, life just ain’t fair; that sometimes, bad things happen to good people; and that sometimes, hard work does not look or feel like it is paying off.

Have you ever put something together, followed all the instructions perfectly, and the final product did not look like the picture and was imperfect despite your best efforts? Usually, we become irritated and ask ourselves who wrote the instructions or made the parts or packaged them in the box and did not notice a leg was bent or some screws were missing. Typically, the larger the item is, the higher our irritation. A wobbly toy my child is going to throw across the room and break anyway is not as important as a wobbly table my family will eat dinner at each night; and the idea of having to return it and start all over again can be infuriating. So it is when we make plans, set goals, and work toward those goals, and the reality does not effectively show our effort or progress. The larger the goal, the more disappointment we feel when that goal is not met, and the thought of starting over again seems an impossible task, especially when compared to the easier alternative of giving up.

One of the most trying consequences of this root cause is that it does not have an end. If the expectations and my reality match this year, there is no guarantee it will match next year because my expectations are always changing. We can set a goal to lose weight, and when we go to the doctor months later, we haven’t lost any weight—and even worse sometimes is when we gain weight despite eating healthier and exercising. The expectation and reality of my marriage match this year, but how about next year if there is an unexpected job loss, family loss, and lack of trust to the relationship? The goals and expectations that we have for ourselves are always changing based on age, station in life, etc.; therefore, there is always the possibility that realities may not match, and the cycle of depression, sadness, worry, low self-esteem, insecurity, etc. continues in our lives.

Oh, but wait—there is hope. In John 15:5, Jesus tells us that He is the vine, and we are the branches. “He that abides in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.” We are not alone! Although roots go deep, we are connected to the true vine, and we can bring forth fruit in our lives and in the lives of others. We are reminded in John 16:33 that in this life, we are going to have issues when Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Next, let us look at steps toward working through these root causes toward healing and wholeness.

We will look at ways to address these root causes throughout the book and to remember that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. The f...

Table of contents

• The Importance of Wellness
• Nothing New under the Sun
• The Truth about Your Identity
• The Art of Self-Encouragement
• A Bright Future