Even though studies show spirituality can be protective against mental distress, when faced with suffering,  spiritual awareness is pulled to the forefront - working to build resilience for future stressors … mental health, therefore, is a discipleship opportunity.

Hope is essential to every mental health journey as studies show hope benefits well-being, promoting healthy coping with loss and chronic stress, resilience to trauma, loneliness, and mental health recovery.

There is a growing body of research on "flourishing," but Dr. Keyes' work stands out for its long-term research on how individuals—including his mental health journey—can flourish while living with mental health challenges. Here are his 5 key principles.

Resilience is a learned skill and trait and becomes part of your character (nature). Resilience is not about striving for happiness (the “blessed life” in God) but rather knowing how to see God’s “blessings” just as much in the complexity and uncertainty (a contentment, and unshakable strength of Christ in all things, Phil. 4:13).

In essence, mental health recovery has to do with 'resilience' ... a continuum of resilient growth vs. being cured.  Here are three scientific qualities of resilient people … and apply to the mental health journey.

We all know there are so many nuances to love, naturally and spiritually. For those experiencing mental health pain, God's love often seems more distant than present. The Bible shows a different story of God’s love when we’re in distress or pain.