Jesus and Mental Health

 Faith. Mental health. Real life.
 Honest conversations about walking with Jesus while navigating anxiety, healing, and growth. 

 #GodInTheMess #FaithInHardTimes #GraceOverPerfection #GodIsWorking #TrustGodAlways #FaithJourney #GodGotMe #KeepTheFaith  #ChristianPodcast #FaithAndMentalHealth #JesusHeals #MentalHealthMatters #FaithOverFear #GodsPlan #ChristianLife #HealingJourney #WalkWithGod #RealFaith 

Transcript

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SPEAKER_02 0:12

Hi, everybody, and welcome back to Stillwalking. I'm Thomas. And I'm Michelle. And today's episode is something that we've been talking to a lot of people the past couple weeks, and they've been having conversations about different things. And we thought this would be a good subject to touch on that could we think could help somebody. Um, this one we're calling Jesus and mental health. There's been a lot of people talking to us about issues and things they got going on in their head, and thoughts, and this and that, and just stuff that we've gone through the past couple years that we think this could help somebody, and this might touch a few bases on different things and a lot of common misconceptions as far as Christians have a different viewpoint on the mental health aspect, and a lot of it is completely taken out of context, a lot of it is completely false and wrong what they want to tell people. So, based off what we've been through, what we have found, and just different things, just clearing up a few misconceptions and hopefully a couple of things that might help somebody.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

Right. Um, we we did find something cute to read. Um, I can attach it to our Facebook page so that you can read it yourself. Um things that Jesus never said about mental health. Um, he never said just pray it away. He never said just get over it. He never said, if you had more faith, you wouldn't feel this way.

SPEAKER_02 1:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

Um, those are all things I have heard man say. I've heard a lot of preachers say it, um, family members, friends, um, a lot of unfortunately people in the Christian realm. Um mental health is close to our hearts for many different reasons. I went through a severe mental health issue right after I had Lucas. I dealt with postpartum depression that spiraled into a lot of askewed, I would say, diagnosis. Um, but there was a big struggle. Um men's mental health means a lot. Um Thomas has struggled, our son Lucas has struggled. Um, I just feel like mental health is one of those things that until you've been there, until you've walked it, sometimes you just don't quite understand what it is. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:08

It it it you're I've heard a lot of people say, other Christians, friends, family, all of the like tell you that if you go talk to somebody for some help, like for counseling, or if you get put on something to try to help calm anxiety, nerves, whatever, then that's not of God. That's a sin. That's not that's not right, that's not this, that, whatever. That's that's not true. Nowhere in the Bible does it does that say anything of the like whatsoever.

SPEAKER_01 3:39

These are all of these people though, will see a doctor for a cold, will see a doctor for a heart issue, for cancer, for you name it any other physical ailment they will see a doctor for, except the stuff you can't see. That's right, except the stuff you can't point your finger quite on it because you're just supposed to take it to God. Well, I think God made doctors so that we could have some help.

SPEAKER_02 4:14

Well, one of Jesus' big disciples, one of the core twelve was Luke. He was a physician, he was a doctor. They the argument used against it is well, Jesus never gave anybody counseling or never did this, he prayed, he did this. Nothing. What we need to understand, God doesn't change, he's the same always, but times change. The way things happen, the way things go down, knowledge is given out there, things are put out there to reach people now. The way it was reached in the Middle Ages was different than when Jesus walked the earth, which was different than the times before he was born. There's nothing wrong with getting help with things now. Yes, when Jesus walked the earth, no, he didn't give nobody counseling or anything like that. But what did he do for those who had issues? He gave them words of comfort, he prayed for them, he didn't belittle, didn't benign, didn't say anything. He's like, Oh, well, you shouldn't be doing this, that's rumba. He he did what anybody should and he prayed for them. Yes, it ultimately fixed the problem because he's God. I mean, there's nothing he can do, but that doesn't make it any any less. Um, kind of going with that, some of the scriptures we found with this. I mean, perfect example here. The first ones in Matthew 26, 38. And actually, these this this is something he said. Then he said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me. This is leading up to him being crucified, knowing the time before going to the garden to pray, so he knew he was about to be betrayed. But he was struggling with feelings with feelings and knowing what was going to happen at that point, so much to where he had the disciples stay and watch and keep an eye over him because he knew he knew where he was at. He was in the garden, he prayed. And he he was struggling too because he was human. Right. Based a little bit off of that. Don't let anybody ever tell you that if you feel a certain way, if you're afraid, angry, confused, anything like that, that it's wrong, that it's a sin, that you're not doing anything right. Emotions and feelings are completely 100% natural because we're human. It is what we do in those times with those feelings that dictates whether or not it's right or wrong. I mean, perfect example here. He will, I mean, if you go down farther, and um 39, 26, 39, he says, if it my oh my father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will. He was afraid, he knew it was coming. He Jesus was scared, he was afraid, but he didn't react. He did what we're supposed to do. He prayed. Right, he got angry in the temple, he flipped tables. Emotions as people is completely fine. It's what you do in those times that dictates whether it's right or wrong. Mental health has always been there. Even in the times before Jesus, mental health has always been a thing. But people didn't know at those times, it ended up destroying people because nobody knew how to cope or handle it. Right. Um, so before we get too farther, let's pray real quick. Say a prayer that way, this might help, you know, this might reach somebody. Dear Lord, we thank you for this day you've given us. We thank you for this time on this platform. Lord, right now we ask you to guide the words, guide what needs to be said. Those listening, guide their hearts and ears so that they can hear what needs to reach them if they are feeling this subject, this topic, whatever could help them, whatever could bring them to you, whatever can have them come to you and be like, Lord, help me. Right now, we ask that to go that way in your mighty name. Lord, we ask you to touch, guide, lead, and we thank you for it. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 8:10

And Jesus didn't shame people for their mental health. He met the anxious, the suicidal, the outcast with correction, but not with correction, but with compassion. Um, Jesus didn't minimize their suffering. He dignified it. Um I'm gonna small testimony, but I'm gonna like really condense it. Right after I had Lucas, I dealt with postpartum depression. Um, I didn't understand what postpartum was, didn't realize I had it. I just knew it was getting heavier, darker, and more out of control. And I struggled because here I was, God finally answered prayer and let us had a child. And after having him, I suffered severely with postpartum. I got to the point where I had thought through plans um to take myself out and Lucas. Um, not in my eyes at the time, it was nobody was gonna love, care for him, or be there for him like he needed and deserved. So it'd be better if we were both gone. Um I did pray, I did seek, I was a Christian at the time in church. The more I felt like I dove in church and into the Lord, the worse it got, which we all know that that's the devil. But I finally spoke up to family. Um I went and got help, got put on some medicine, got put into counseling for about two or three years. And I had a wonderful Christian woman who was a counselor, and I learned so much through counseling. Um, the medication was a whirlwind. Uh, we did end up finding one that worked, and I was on it for several years, so I can't sit and say that it's bad. None of it's bad, it was all very helpful. Um I highly recommend getting into counseling. Usually your pastors can counsel you, so jump in. But if your pastor is not ready to take on a weekly session for an hour with you, seek outside the church. You need that hour weekly to talk through all the nonsense that your brain just overloads you with. You have to get it out. Every trouble that you go through, every fight, every disagreement with a family member, it is just so blown out of proportion in those times of depression. You've got to seek help. Um it's so good when you have somebody that looks at you and says, you know, you're not crazy. This isn't you, it's your body, it's okay, it's normal. You just you need a community sometimes. So I have battled with depression off and on since. I've gotten a lot better given the therapy that I went through. I learned a lot. It was very educational, I would say.

SPEAKER_02 12:09

Yeah, there's a lot of tools and a lot of things said and little steps to take on how do I come. Best way to describe it, like come back to yourself a little bit to realize that hey, I'm in a spot, I'm in a mood, I'm in this, to try to help get you back where you need to be in a mental in a good mental spot. Um, yeah, don't don't be don't ever be afraid to go out and ask somebody who you don't know, you know, counselor, get a hold of somebody, see if there's counseling. Because a lot of the times, I mean, pastors are you if you have a good pastor in a good church, most of the time they won't lead you astray. They will have your best well-being at heart, they will counsel you good, they will do, you know, do right by you. But a lot of the times, it's with today, it's really hard to try to get good advice from a lot of Christians for the simple fact they're coming at it from a they they want to tackle everything strictly straight from a biblical standpoint, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the advice and what they want to say to you to try to help you is very biased and one-sided. They try to make it a lot of times, they will make it look as though you're in the position you're in because you're doing something wrong, or you're not following this, or you're not close enough for this, or whatever. So that's really not a lot of help. As a matter of fact, that usually drives people farther away because they're like, well, what if I'm doing this and this wrong? I mean, what can I do right? kind of a thing. And then another group of people that's really hard to try to get good sound advice from a lot of the time is family. For the simple fact, most of the time family will have your best interest at heart, but being family, they're usually too close to the situation to give you unbiased advice.

SPEAKER_01 13:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:58

So what they say to you is going to usually come from a biased standpoint, whether they admit it or acknowledge it or not. You need somebody who's not so close to the situation sometime to try to look out, think outside the box as it were, give you advice outside the box.

SPEAKER_01 14:13

I've noticed a lot of people through our walks and our different times, a lot of people were willing to put blame somewhere. Now it's this person's fault, it's that person's fault. And you can't do that. You can't walk on eggshells with the person either. That's why you have to always have great communication skills. Um, because in those times when your mental health needs a little of attention is when you really need to communicate the most. Um, Jesus never said Jesus never rushed healing. He didn't say get over it. He invited people to take steps, to touch his cloak, and to raise again slowly, safely, and honestly. Um, Mark 8, 23 says he took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.

SPEAKER_02 15:26

Sometimes to get the what I take from that is sometimes to get the help that you need, because if you read that story further, he took him out, touched it, he you know, he put spin on his eyes, quickly put it, touched his hand, you know, eyes and everything, and was bringing his sight back. But he had to get him out of the village to get him where he needed to be for him to help him the way he needed help. Sometimes, if you're struggling with mental things, sometimes the reason that you can't get over it or get out of it, or it seems like it's a constant continual cycle, is where you're located. Sometimes you need to get away from certain certain situations and people to heal and get better. There's nothing wrong with that. That's completely fine. But see that this is where it comes back into where it also it's like a vicious cycle with the mental thing. You know, you need to remove yourself from certain situations to get better, but then you're in your mind, you start beating yourself up thinking and feeling guilty that well you start feeling guilty about trying to remove yourself from people and cutting people out. But a lot of the times, if you're the ones that are like that with you, usually have tendencies of toxic traits, toxic, it's a toxic environment, or just bring just little things that you need to remove yourself from because it's not constructive to you. You need to remove your move those things from you to actually get better and heal and get back in the right headspace. Um, not not pointing any fingers because I mean we kind of dove on a little bit about how you know we got out on our own and stuff. We needed to do that, not pointing any fault at anybody. It was best for all parties involved. Everybody we got into the cycle where we were at, where everybody started, you know, nitpicking, bickering, quarreling stuff. And it just got to the point where we needed to remove ourselves from that situation for us to get better, for them to get better, for everybody to get back where we needed to be. And there's nothing wrong with that. Relationships are flourishing, they're thriving, everybody's fine and stuff. You sometimes need to part ways. Yeah, that's just that's just how it is. So don't let that prey prey on your mental aspect as well. If you feel you need to remove yourself or remove people from your life because they're not constructive and helpful to your growth.

SPEAKER_01 17:51

Yes, very much so. Very much so. Jesus cared for the whole person, he touched the leper's skin and the woman's shame. He restored identity, not just symptoms. Luke 8, 48. Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.

SPEAKER_02 18:17

That that says a lot because this is the story about the woman with the issue of blood. Um, it was a physical ailment, but it was also her having it as long as she did. You could tell it was preying on her. If you read the whole story, it was breaking her. She was not physically healthy, mentally healthy, but she believed firmly that she could get well, she could get better if she could just get close enough to Jesus and just touch the hem of his garment. And she did. And that's what the that's what he was saying here. Her faith and her belief is what helped her get better, but it was her faith and her belief in what he could do for her. Right, it wasn't a self-thing. He pretty much acknowledged to her that your belief in me is what did it for you. Don't get yourself so down into a spot where you feel like there's no hope. There's always hope, there's always a way out, there's always any anything that people do in times with mental issues, it's a long-term solution to a temporary problem. Even with people that go through things for a long time, that's just a drop in a bucket for what can be after this life. It ain't it ain't anything. Um, I mean, I mean, perfect example. Luke, Luke has given us permission to talk about a couple of things in his life and a couple of things. So we felt like this was prudent for this one. Um a couple years now, it was a couple years ago, he was struggling with some things, having some mental stuff and things, and was having some issues. And he can't kitty tail. He came and uh told us the one day because he was getting to a part where it's like we we told him, We're your parents, we can only give you so much advice, but we're your parents. So what we're gonna say is out of our love for you, you know, we want to do what's best for you, we want you to kitty's upset. We we want what's best for you, we want because we want you, you know, to thrive, survive, you know, be here. So we had him, you know, talk to somebody, you know, you know, counselor and stuff. And during his course of struggling with some of these things and having issues and stuff, you know, with identity and just where he, you know, just as a person and stuff, he told this person he was talking to that like a couple months prior, a few months prior, um, he tried to take his own life. Um thank the Lord by the grace of God, it failed. Um, he is still with us, he's flourishing and stuff. But something got in his head that he felt that me and her would be better off without him. And that is that, no, that that is not the case by any means. I don't know where he got that. I don't know what got in his head. I don't, but when you're in a dark mental spot, when you're in a dark mental place, the devil will attack you any which way that he can to try to take you out. And a lot of the times it's because he's fearful of the kind of person you are and what you can do for others. Yeah, everybody's got a call in their life, everybody's got something they can do, and a lot of times he goes for the strongest ones first. And for Luke being as young as he was, that was really quite the testament for the kind of boy that he is. So thank God he's still here. He's growing, he's flourishing, he's thriving, he's better. But we got that outside help because we were too close to the situation. I'll admit it, I'm his dad. I was too close to be unbiased. I was telling him what was coming from my heart because that's my boy. That's our son. We wanted the absolute best for him, so it was kind of hard for us to be unbiased with it. So we so we had him talk to somebody. No shame in that whatsoever.

SPEAKER_00 22:28

No.

SPEAKER_01 22:34

So keep in mind that Jesus he knows your story, he knows your trauma and struggle and calls you beloved and not broken. You don't need to hide your pain to have faith. Bring it to him. He's not ashamed to meet you there. And Matthew 1128, come to me, all who are labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. That is a scripture beyond all scriptures for so many different things. With depression, that is a great one. Um, any kind of struggle you're going through, a trial, a bad day. Um you just rest in the Lord and know that He has us. Um and giving it to the Lord is the most important thing that we can do. Because the more you try to fix it yourself, the longer it usually takes.

SPEAKER_02 23:54

When when when this was something that we learned together the course of the last many years, when you know that there's a problem, an issue in any aspect of anything, and you acknowledge there is a problem and it needs changed, anybody is capable of change as long as you know that there's a problem that needs to be changed. Yeah, it is work. It's not you you can make the decision right now, you know, boom, I'm gonna change and it's gonna be different. But from then on, it's work. You have to walk in that and strive and work and try to keep that going every day. It is a task, it is a trial. Trying to change is a trial in itself, trying to put something down as a trial in itself. Yeah. But the more that you're conscious about fighting with the, you know, fighting for the change, sticking with it, you're doing it, you're whatever, as time goes on, it gets easier because now it's becoming part of your routine, it's getting becoming part of who you are, and it does get easier. But there's a lot of work involved to get started. But that's another that but that's another reason why I think this one is so fitting. Because even trying to work to get better, it gets tiring. It does. It plays on you physically, it plays on you mentally, and that's the worst thing if you're already going through something mentally in the first place. But just know that he is there to give you rest. Yes, he is your resting place, you can give it to him. It it's even it gets told a lot to a lot of people that just you know put it down and give it to Jesus and let it go and stuff. That's the goal, yes, but that's easier said than done. Because we're people, we're gonna re-acknowledge it, we're gonna go back to it, we're gonna keep doing the same thing because we're creatures of habit. Yeah, we're just human. Yeah, and and and that's human, and and that's okay. That's why I'm saying it is work at first because if you know I'm gonna do this, every day it's like, you know, I'm gonna work to try, and it's a lot of conscience. I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, and that's fine. That's completely fine. People say that that's wrong because you're not giving it to the Lord. No, no, that that that's false. It's God, I'm giving this to you, and I'm gonna do my best with your help. We're gonna get it. Yeah. And the first while it's gonna be like that, but then eventually it's gonna be like, thank you, Lord, we did it. You know, you did it, we're over it, it's fine, it's done. And it it that's why I'm saying it gets easier because it becomes part of it be it changes your routine, it changes who you are, it changes how you look at things and how you handle things. Yeah, you put the work in, it'll change. Mental health is such a very touchy gray subject because there's a lot with it. Um there's a lot that is said about it. There's a lot that's ignored about it. I I've said for the longest time, one of the biggest things, one of the biggest problems with our country, and I'm I'll say that, our mental health system as a whole is a joke. A lot of people also are afraid to go out and try to seek help for stuff because a lot of times and a lot of things there's the help's not there.

SPEAKER_01 27:13

Right. There's a there's a stigma, especially on men's mental health, that is just absurd to me. Um there there's a guy at work who is having some issues with mental health, and I was talking to him today or yesterday, and it's like it's so sad that we have this these men in the world, you know, like you're raised to be the man, to provide, to do all these things, like you've got these big shoulders, and we're supposed to be so content in the fact that you're not ever gonna have a bad day, you're never gonna let that like fall on you. Like, that's a lot. Like, you carry a whole household, a family, friends, work, like you carry so much on you that we're supposed to just be like, Well, that's the man God built him to be able to withstand it. But I mean, even Christ went into prayer, into the garden, knowing what he had to do, and he begged the Lord.

SPEAKER_02 28:38

If there's another way, let it be, let this come past.

SPEAKER_00 28:41

Yeah, so I mean we need to do better by being there for those with mental health issues.

SPEAKER_01 28:56

Yes. Um just be an ear for somebody, just listen. Um help. I I think it's great, like these people at work, they're they're starting to all hang out. And I'm like, this is a good community for you. Like guys need guy friends moments to just be, to breathe, to just talk about personal stuff to other guys to to vent. Women were good at venting, we're good at just saying what it is. Most people most women are good at just saying what it is. Sometimes women are catty, but that's that's not for today's podcast. Um, but you've got to have a community, find you people. Um and if you are struggling, talk to somebody, somebody somewhere will be able to lead you and have a great therapist for you. You don't always have to take medication, sometimes you do. So it's just it's finding somebody to talk to to understand. Um somebody to pray for you. Just find somebody, say something.

SPEAKER_02 30:28

And I'm just so important. And I'll just put it out there. We're here for anybody that needs it. If you want to DM us or email us or anything like that, just uh vent, get something off your chest dog. There's no judgment here. We've been through a lot. Um, two years ago, I had my battle with it. I was having really bad dreams for about six months, really bad, terrible, horrible, mentally taxing dreams. I was just got to the point to where it started to break me, and I contemplated taking my life just for the betterment of Michelle and Lucas, because at that time it was before we was able to, you know, like I said, we needed to part ways from where we were at before that. I figured with, you know, the insurance I got at work that her and Lucas would be better off with that if I was to just, you know, either swallow a bullet or drive head first into traffic, whatever. Uh it took all I could do not to do that. Um, I was tired of talking to her about it, and she her first thing was for to me was that's why I told her this is the state I'm in. Her first thing to me was, you need to talk to somebody. And I did. And there's still every once in a while something rare up, but it's like, nope, I'm no. And it even now, almost two years later, it's still work, but it's every day's getting better because now it's good. The the putting the like I said, putting the work in changes the thought processes, the mindset, the different things, and it does get easier. That's not to say it's never ever going to be a problem again. Once you've had a mental issue, that will forever be a problem the rest of your life. It's just if you put in the work when you know that it's there and strive, it does make it easier as time gets on.

SPEAKER_01 32:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:19

Um, yeah, there we could just go on and on about mental health because there's just so much there. Um it's it's it's it's taxing, it can break you, it can it can do a lot to you. It can. Um, and then and then outside of the mental part, once with long enough it starts affecting you physically, and the next thing you know, your whole body's just shot. It just destroys you entirely.

SPEAKER_01 32:48

Sometimes. I you gotta find people, you gotta say something to somebody. It's the only way to get help. Um we've always had our faith, we've always had a community to fall back on.

SPEAKER_00 33:08

Um, I've we've been very fortunate to have people.

SPEAKER_01 33:16

Um but it doesn't mean there is there's a there's a whole lot more people that understand than what you realize.

SPEAKER_02 33:33

Than most of them would ever care to admit. That this this is becoming a more and more common occurrence, and that's and that's where that that that's where just different things, different people, you know, um hear people fight and argue and quarrel and bicker and everything, because it gets taxing, and they just start they get to a breaking point, they lash out, things happen. It it's a more of a common problem than what people care to admit. I mean, it's it's it's it's becoming very common, but you would never know that because nobody wants to admit to it. Because like she alluded to earlier, with like with guys, more guys struggle with mental health than a lot of people realize, but most of them don't say anything because a lot of them, you know, especially if you're older, was raised in the era where it's you know, suck it up, be a man, don't say anything. Right, you know, emotions make you weak type thing. That that's not the case at all. No, I mean, more guys struggle than what anybody realizes. It it's not a stigma, it's not wrong, it's not bad, it's not unmanly to have emotions. It's not unmanly to have emotions, just break down and cry if you have to. Sometimes you get to a breaking point where that's what you need, and it seems like that just makes you feel better. That's okay. Man, woman, whoever, it's okay to have those moments. I mean, I I'd rather sit in the dark and cry for 20 minutes than do something to myself or somebody else because I snap. I mean, it's it's a I mean, you it's one of those, you know, which one would you rather do type of things, you know? It's like we said at the top of the episode, we've been you know, a lot of people's been talking to us about different things, different issues, and it's it's a a lot of people are suffering. A lot of people are going through stuff, and we don't like to see it. I mean, especially those we like or close to, friends, whoever we don't, you know, it it breaks our hearts to hear it and see it. Um but let me reassure you in the fact that there is hope. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, there is a way out. Um just bear down, stick with it. Start making changes. If you know certain things are affecting your life in a negative way, start getting rid of those, cutting them out, get rid of them. It's it it it it's it's like a cancer in the body. You don't just let it set infester. If you're able to, you cut it out to get healthy. Yeah, you you you you gotta get rid of what's not helping you, you gotta get out of situations, you gotta step out. And change change a lot of people is scary. It absolutely is, but it's no scarier than knowing you're going to a spot that's gonna destroy you, they're gonna destroy you, your happiness, your mental health. It it's it's just as scary. So take so step out in the scary that's gonna make it better. Best of the best thing I can tell you. And it will get better, it will get easier. I promise. So, where can they find us? Um, well, they can find us on YouTube, they can find us on Facebook, um and just about anywhere that you can get your podcasts, we're on Spotify, any place that has podcasts, um podcast, podcasts, you can find us. Uh, we also have an email if anybody wants to reach out. It's still walking 2026 at Gmail. So with the way that with what this episode was about, if anybody needs to vent, talk, get something out, if they want prayer, if they want us to pray for you, you can DM us through Facebook or send us an email or just reach out. We will do whatever we are capable of doing to help those who need a near. Because sometimes the best thing you can do is just listen. Yes. You don't always got to say anything. Sometimes you just somebody just needs to listen.

SPEAKER_01 37:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 37:51

That means a lot for a lot of people at times.

SPEAKER_01 37:54

Yeah. And we are good listeners, that is for sure.

SPEAKER_02 37:57

Huh? Yes, we are. We we do we we do our best for sure.

SPEAKER_01 38:06

So YouTube, Facebook, still walking. We'd love to hear from you. Until the next episode. Love you. Bye.

unknown 38:18

Bye.