Let’s talk about mental health in the Christian community.
For far too long, mental health struggles like anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, burnout, and emotional exhaustion have been treated as signs of spiritual weakness. Somewhere along the way, we were taught that if we admit we’re struggling mentally, it means we don’t trust God enough, pray hard enough, or believe strong enough. That lie has silenced too many believers and left too many parents suffering in secret. The truth is, acknowledging your mental health is not a lack of faith it’s often the beginning of healing. The Bible does not teach us to ignore our emotions. It teaches us to feel them honestly and surrender them faithfully. Throughout Scripture, we see men and women of deep faith experiencing despair, fear, anxiety, grief, and emotional overwhelm. David cried out in the Psalms, saying his soul was downcast and his tears were his food day and night. Elijah, after a mighty victory, asked God to take his life because he was emotionally depleted. Jesus Himself wept. Feeling deeply was never condemned hiding from God while feeling deeply was never encouraged either. God invites us to bring our emotions to Him, not bury them. “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Notice the wording — cast, not deny. You cannot cast what you refuse to acknowledge. God does not ask us to pretend we are okay. He asks us to come honestly, with everything we feel, and place it in His hands. Emotional awareness is not rebellion; it is often obedience. In parenting especially, mental health battles intensify. The pressure to hold everything together, to be emotionally available for everyone else while neglecting yourself, can quietly erode your peace. Many parents are not failing they are exhausted. They are not spiritually dry they are overwhelmed. And yet, instead of support, they often receive shame or spiritual bypassing: “Just pray more,” “Have more faith,” “God’s got it.” While those statements may be true, they are incomplete without compassion, understanding, and practical support.