Why Faith and Mental Health Go Hand in Hand: My Speaking Journey

Standing on a stage and sharing your heart isn’t as glamorous as it sounds. There’s a rawness, a vulnerability, that comes with opening up about your struggles, especially when those struggles revolve around topics as deeply personal as faith and mental health. Yet, that’s exactly what I’ve been called to do.

This journey hasn’t been easy. In fact, it’s been messy, uncomfortable, and, at times, downright painful. But it’s also been healing, redemptive, and beautiful—a constant reminder that faith and mental health are deeply intertwined, and one cannot truly thrive without the other.

The Beginning: Wrestling with Stigma

For a long time, I kept my struggles with mental health hidden. I grew up in a culture where vulnerability was often seen as weakness, and talking about anxiety, depression, or trauma felt taboo.

In church, the answer was often to pray harder or have more faith. “Cast your cares on Jesus,” people would say, and while their intentions were good, their words left me feeling isolated. I did pray. I did try to have more faith. But the darkness didn’t lift. Instead, I felt like I was failing God, and that sense of failure only deepened the pain.

It wasn’t until I began seeking professional help and leaning into God in a new way that I realized something crucial: faith and mental health aren’t opposing forces. They’re partners in healing. God gave us resources—counselors, therapists, medication—as tools to help us thrive, and using them doesn’t make our faith any less valid.

Finding My Voice

Sharing my story publicly wasn’t something I ever planned to do. I’m not a therapist, and I’m not a pastor. I’m just someone who has lived through the highs and lows of mental health struggles and come to see God’s hand in the messiness of it all.

My first speaking engagement was terrifying. I stood in front of a room full of people and told them about my darkest moments: the nights when anxiety kept me awake, the days when depression made it hard to get out of bed, and the doubts that made me question God’s goodness. I felt exposed, like I was handing my audience a piece of my heart and hoping they wouldn’t crush it.

But something incredible happened. People began coming up to me afterward, sharing their own stories of pain, isolation, and healing. They told me they’d never heard someone in a faith-based setting talk so openly about mental health, and for the first time, they felt seen. That’s when I realized this journey wasn’t just about me. It was about creating space for others to feel safe, loved, and understood.

Faith as the Anchor

When I talk about mental health, I can’t do so without talking about faith. For me, the two are inseparable. Faith has been my anchor in the storms of mental illness—not because it magically made everything better, but because it reminded me I wasn’t alone.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” That verse became my lifeline. It reminded me that God wasn’t distant or disappointed in my struggle. He was right there with me, in the mess, offering His presence as comfort.

Faith doesn’t erase the need for therapy, community, or self-care. Instead, it enhances those things, providing a foundation of hope and purpose. It’s the thread that weaves everything together, reminding us that healing is possible and that our pain has a purpose.

The Road Ahead

Every time I speak, I’m reminded that this journey is far from over. There are still moments of doubt, days when the weight of life feels too heavy, and times when I wonder if I’m making any difference at all. But then I see the faces in the crowd, the tears, the nods of recognition, and I’m reminded why this matters.

Faith and mental health go hand in hand because both are about wholeness. God doesn’t just care about our souls; He cares about our minds and bodies too. He’s a holistic healer, inviting us to bring every broken piece to Him so He can make us whole.

My Challenge to You

If you’re struggling with mental health, know this: you are not alone. Your struggle doesn’t make you less faithful, less loved, or less valuable. It makes you human. Seek help, whether that’s through a counselor, a support group, or a trusted friend. And invite God into the process. He’s not afraid of your messiness.

If you’re in a position to support someone else, be a safe space. Listen without judgment. Pray with them, but also encourage them to seek the resources they need. And remember, you don’t have to have all the answers. Sometimes, just being present is enough.

This journey has taught me that vulnerability is strength, and healing is possible when we lean into both faith and the tools God has provided. My prayer is that we, as individuals and as a community, continue to bridge the gap between faith and mental health, creating a space where everyone feels seen, valued, and loved.