Are Mental Health Challenges Sin, Weak Faith, & Spiritual Warfare? No — Removing Stigma, Renewing Joyful Minds
This will address the common mental health stigma: Is “it” sin, weak faith, or spiritual warfare?
Is it sin, faith, and spiritual issues — how God first responds
God responds beyond the question — to our story for hope
What if there are sin, faith, and spiritual issues — love, hope, and victory
1. Is “it” a sin, weak faith, and/or spiritual warfare?
God doesn’t give you what you deserve; He gives you what He desires … mercy and compassion.
Let that sink in a moment … God sees you.
No, mental health challenges and diagnosable conditions are not the result of sin, weak faith, or spiritual warfare (I’ll get more technical below). But let’s start with God’s heart first.
Mental health challenges and conditions are not about a sin story; it’s God’s love and victory story for abundant life — no matter the challenge, affliction, or hardship (John 10:10).
When the Pharisees (religious leaders) criticized Jesus for choosing to spend His life with the outcasts of society, Jesus responded by saying and quoting Old Testament Scripture to reveal the true essence of God’s heart:
“It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion (mercy) and not sacrifice,’ (Hosea 6:6) for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners (the downtrodden who cry for God’s mercy)” — Matthew 9:11-13 (NASB, parentheses mine).
See also Matthew 12:1-7 (amplified), “But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion (mercy) and not a sacrifice,’ [for those in distress] you would not have condemned the innocent.”
There are more Old Testament references to this, but as we first look at responding to the question (is “it” sin, weak faith, or spiritual warfare?), it’s best to position ourselves through God’s merciful desire, not analyze it through the lens of sin, etc., as it can lead to blame and guilt.
2. God responds to our story with an opportunity for mercy — not as a sin diagnosis, etc.
(a) In John 9:1-3, the disciples looked to sin-blame for who was at fault for the man born blind. Jesus didn’t correct their question, but being God incarnate and knowing the man and his family’s story saw no one to blame for sin. Instead, he went beyond the question to reveal God’s true desire of mercy and compassion, “… that the works of God might be displayed in Him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me …”
Jesus healed him.
(b) In John 4, we see Jesus with a scorned woman at a well. Jesus knew her story, but never condemned or criticized her for sin, weak faith, or spiritual darkness. Instead, this is where and with whom Jesus chooses to reveal Himself as the Messiah that she and everyone has been waiting for — “I who speak to you am He” (John 4:25). The encounter changed her and led the whole city/village to come and see Jesus.
Jesus was teaching and showing the disciples (and all of us) what to do with suffering and affliction. We should always start with mercy, compassion, and grace for the person, their story, and then graciously minister His life and walk with them (as our Grace and Thrive Groups can offer).
3. But what if there is sin, weakness of faith, or spiritual warfare?
First, in my view from Scripture, mental health challenges and a mental illness diagnosis are NOT sin. We cover this in ch. 14 of our FREE Living Grace Group Workbook (“It’s Not Your Fault”).
Second, from an evidence-based, scientific view, mental health challenges and diagnoses are more the result of situational (circumstances, environmental) or a genetic disposition for someone dealing with severe to serious mental health challenges impacting or impairing their lives, not the result of their personal sin, weak faith, or spiritual warfare.
The challenge is that the Church is on a mental health learning curve to provide better support. Unfortunately, this growth curve still has a lot of people, couples, and families left with very little support, too.
Then, with or without support, as anyone dealing with extreme physical, mental, and emotional pain, many sometimes have poor ways of coping that get into the sin, confusing faith, and fuzzy spiritual issues — and there is hope.
So is “it” …
Sin?
First, “sin” often has a lot to do with an identity-perception issue, more than extrinsic just behavior and rules (a longer topic). For now, if there is any sin (poor choices to cope), and from Scripture, it is all and always forgiven. Jesus forgave in his ministry (Matthew 9:1-8, Luke 7:48; John 8:11) and afterwards gave the disciples the same forgiveness authority to minister — with healing (John 20:23; James 5:15). God’s grace is also about the victory (we have in Christ) to unlearn negative coping.
Thus, we can respond by empowering His life and hope.
Through the cross, Jesus has cleansed our whole being, so we have our access and can draw near to God — our constant union “in Christ” (Romans 6:10-11; 1 Corinthians 15:16; Ephesians 1:4-8; Hebrews 4:14-16, 10:22, Psalm 103:3, 10-14, Isaiah 43:35).
When we mess up (sin), we acknowledge it and let God do the cleaning up (James 5:16; 1 John 1:8-10).
When we mess up (sin), we also arise in Christ's victory, not stay in condemnation or guilt (Romans 8:1-4, 1 John 3:19)
This is a great quote from Mother Teresa about sin (who also dealt with dark depression):
“Confess you sin and be finished with it. God’s mercy is greater than your sin …” (1)
“Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall, I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.”— Micah 7:8 (see Psalm 145:14)
Again, it’s not sin that caused the mental health challenge, but it may be causing poor coping — choices. But we minister grace, love, and victory — I’ve seen many overcome despite their challenging mental health condition (and symptoms decrease)!
Weak faith?
I find that individuals and families living with mental health challenges actually have some of the most amazing, childlike faith to move mountains. Their challenges and conditions would cause most people to give up on God, but you’d be surprised how many don’t (individuals, spouses, families) — they keep seeking God as best they know. Despite the incredible pain, the doubt, and pulling away from church (being misunderstood and overwhelmed), they do not shrink back, but endure (Hebrews 10:34-39). I believe that melts God’s heart and always leaves me amazed (the real heroes of the faith).
Biblically, faith is not something you graduate from one level to another, a willpower effort to attain higher or more spiritual ability, or even more “anointing” or favor from God. Faith is a rest issue “in Christ” (Hebrews 4:9-11) and a matter of maturing, always being pure and simple, and like a child trusting his or her parents (Matthew 18:2-5; Mark 10:14-15; Luke 18:17; Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, 2 Corinthians 12:2-3).
Jesus didn’t lower the bar or raise the bar on faith — he removed it, giving it the smallest imagery anyone can have, and it would mature (through all seasons) to be fruitful, strong, and powerful enough to move mountains (the impossible, Matthew 17:20). Remember, we live by his faithfulness (faith), Christ in us — we’re operating from that source (Galatians 2:20).
So, when I’m coaching/consulting others through the mental health challenge, I’m not looking for weak faith; I’m helping them nourish their faith to grow (mature). I enjoy watching how the Holy Spirit nourishes them, strengthens them, and learning from their own profound insights along their journey. Never despise them — they actually may teach you something from their faith!
Sometimes I like to flip the script. I remember working with a family who felt like they were failing God with their loved one’s mental health challenge — but it was others who were giving them that impression. I said, “What if you are truly trusting God and maybe He is saying … I trust you.” That changed the whole scope of the conversation and a whole new outlook (we have a devotional on Trust for families and Spiritual Growth for the individual journey).
As I stated, the challenge is that they often get overlooked; they don’t have anyone encouraging them or taking the time to disciple them to resilient growth (but Jesus does, see Matthew 11:25-30), and that’s what we’re (Grace Alliance) all about!
Spiritual Warfare?
The Scripture is clear that the “enemy, the Satan” is out to thwart the works of God (like Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2:18) and seeks to destroy and devour lives, as Jesus and Peter affirmed in John 10:10 and 1 Peter 5:8, especially the vulnerable.
The “enemy, the Satan” tried to question Jesus’ identity and his and the Father’s authority in the wilderness … “If you are the Son of God, then …” (see Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus rested secure in His Father’s authority and Word. Jesus was tested, and our identity and our authority in Christ with the Father will be tested, too — no matter the mountain top or dark valley we may be treading. But Jesus defeated sin, death, and the enemy, Satan, through the cross and resurrection — leaving us as freedom overcomers (identity with authority).
“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them (false teachers, spirits; antichrist); because greater is He who is in you than he (the Satan) who is in the world.”— 1 John 4:4 (parenthesis mine)
Let us not forget that the “enemy” will try his schemes, but is actually more intimidated and scared of Jesus, and us who are “in Christ” because “he” has been rendered powerless, disarmed, and humiliated throughout the cosmos (Colossians 2:13-15; James 2:19; Hebrews 2:14).
Let us not forget that we have the “in Christ” authority, that is divinely powerful (in prayer and deed) to remove the obstacles, to loose and bind, to reveal God’s grace in its full variations to the whole cosmos — all through love and forgiveness (Matthew 16:13-20; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 3:9-12, 6:10-18).
Let us not forget that Jesus gave us His Spirit — peace for our hardships and challenges, His authority in prayer (John 14:12-14, 25-27).
Let us not forget that it is our faith that overcomes this world (1 John 5:3-5).
Let us not forget our identity always comes with purpose — purpose carries its authority to minister Jesus, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene — walk!” (Acts 3:6) — NOTE: in mental health challenges it’s usually not an overnight breakthrough (we will cover that in another article).
Ultimately, let us not forget that He is our first love, and we are His first love, priority (see Matthew 6:26-30). He looks out for us — He sees you.
This deserves a deeper discussion, but the simple point for now is that God is attracted to the broken-hearted and the “enemy” would like to get in the way to blind, distract, and deceive from the LIGHT of Jesus — so we pray (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).
NOTE — LAMENT: This may be inspiring, but in this process, it’s also good to remember that we do take time to lament over the losses, the pain, the challenges, etc. — that’s actually part of the whole love-and-victory process (we cover it in our workbooks, too). We are human, and it’s good to be fully human — with the right outlook of hope.
So, remember, as I started out …
God doesn’t give you what you deserve; He gives you what He desires … mercy, compassion, love, life, freedom, … keep adding more as you like.
What do you think? Leave your comment below!
Joe Padilla | Grace Alliance
(1) Mother Teresa, & Kelly, M. (2019). Do Something Beautiful for God: The Essential Teachings of Mother Teresa, 365 Daily Reflections. Blue Sparrow. (pg. 91)
