Mental health conditions can feel like an invisible battle—one that’s hard to put into words and even harder for others to truly understand. If you’re struggling, you might wonder if anyone really sees what you’re going through. And if you’re trying to support someone you love, you may feel unsure of what to say or how to help.
Does God care?
How the Bible talks about mental health.
But what if God knows? What if Scripture speaks to the pain, the questions, and the exhaustion that come with mental illness? Whether you’re searching for hope in your own struggles or simply wondering what the Bible says about mental health, you are not alone.
Let’s explore this together.
When we read about mental health in the Bible, it can be difficult to know where exactly it’s referenced- particularly as the term mental health and other common modern terms weren’t used in Biblical times. This means we have no exact depiction of what the Bible says on this topic – rather, like much of what we understand from the Bible, we are able to make inferences based on given descriptions.
However, we’re also not living at the time itself and we need to keep that in mind. Mental health is complex in nature, and being too hasty in classification, especially in cases where we don’t actually know, can be more harmful than helpful. But while exact terminology may not be in there, one thing always is: that God cares for us no matter what we're experiencing.It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8, ESV
The Bible is most forward on God’s feelings towards us – that He loves us, cares for us, and wants us to experience the best possible. God sees us all as His children, and as expected, wants each of us to experience only the best of life (Matthew 7:9-11).
But experiencing only good is unfortunately not something we’re used to. Surrounded by constant portrayals of pain, heart ache and devastation, it’s so often difficult to see how God’s promise of love and care is enacted. Because how could a God who loves and cares for us, leave us alone for the sections we need Him the most? What Father would let His children suffer?It sounds strange, but the answer is: a good one. Overall, the Bible gives us a short explanation for why sin exists in our lives: because way back in the Garden of Eden, we let it.When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Genesis 3:6, NIVThrough our choice to know both good and evil, we did become wise – but only through experience. This led into the events of history – and all the good and the bad we know now. In the Bible, we see that while God is all powerful, He’s also just. This means that while it pains Him to see us go through hurt and hardship (Psalm 56:8) He also respects our choice to experience the pain of sin, and unfortunately, this can occur directly, or indirectly.
Now, I’m just skimming over the history and effects of sin here – to read more in depth, go to our article ‘God and…sin?’ here.
So, we know now why we experience sin and suffering overall.
But what about us, personally? Why do we experience all that we do? After all, it wasn’t us who ate the fruit, right? Why do some people get it harder than others? Now, I don’t have an exact answer. Through the veil of a post on the internet, I can’t explain exactly why everything is happening, or why you have to experience these things. However, the Bible does offer some explanations – and from there, it may be easier to start. The first answer to this is a reassurance: while God doesn’t always take our pain away, He offers to always be there alongside us as we experience it.The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18This is so essential. So often, we feel so alone and betrayed at the thought of God letting something bad happen to us, it seems like we ignore that He’s right next to us – ready to give us the peace we’re so desperately searching for.
More than that, God isn’t just offering us short term help. No, this ‘saving’ is ultimate – as with Jesus’ death, God has already taken back the world from the clutches of sin.This plan that God has in place – now fulfilled after Jesus' death and resurrection – is part of a much older plan. In fact, God didn’t just one day decide to help us. This has been His plan since the day sin entered the world.
But that’s not it.
Let’s look at the Bible a bit deeper – because it’s not just a book of instruction or promise. The Bible is full of stories. People who really lived, just like we do today. From Cain and Abel, to Elijah, Jeremiah, Esther, David, Moses and even Jesus and His disciples, we see stories of the countless people who were touched by God, but also by the sin of the world. In fact, many of these characters faced immense trauma, sadness and rejection – likely leading to similar experiences to that we know today. Let’s look at Elijah and Jeremiah as our first examples.Literally known as ‘the weeping prophet’, Jeremiah is first on the list of those who dealt with hardship, and deeply felt its hurt. Knowing about the impending destruction of the city and people he loved, Jeremiah was essentially both helpless and alone as he pleaded with the Israelites to turn back to God. Elijah was similar in his situation – alone with his stance with God’s will, he felt the rejection of his own people strongly. It’s not difficult to assume that both men had mental ramifications from these experiences. Loneliness, and even anxiety or depression seems likely for these men, as we see in verses such as Jeremiah 20:14-18, and 1 Kings 19:3-5.
Even those in a direct line of contact with God felt the effects of mental struggles – but it’s through these times, we also see examples of God’s presence in our times of need. Let’s look at how God comforted Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11-13 (NIV).
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”So often, when we seek God, we look for the ‘big’ answer—the earthquake, the clear instruction, the undeniable sign. But in this moment, God wasn’t in the mighty wind, the fire, or the shaking ground. Instead, He came in a gentle whisper. How often do we miss that whisper when our minds are overwhelmed with fear, doubt, and negativity?
Elijah’s story reminds us that God is not always found in the grand or dramatic, but in the stillness. When we are exhausted, anxious, or lost in our own thoughts, we might think the only way forward is to push through, to keep going despite the weight we carry. But sometimes, what we need most is to stop—to breathe, to listen, and to be still. God meets us in those quiet moments, whispering truth and peace into our weary hearts. If we only seek Him in the chaos, we may miss the beauty of His presence in the quiet.Our second story is that of David and Solomon – both men well known for their heartfelt and personal depictions of what it feels like to have everything – but also nothing.The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”Ecclesiastes 1:2, NIVIt really could not be more clear what state of mind Solomon was in upon writing these words. A man full of wisdom, he also saw the futility of the world, and of people’s labouring. His father, David, often echoed this sense of despair in Psalms, writing:
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Psalm 13:1-2, NIVSo often, we believe that if we just had more—more success, more money, more recognition—then we would feel whole. But Scripture shows us that even the most powerful and accomplished people struggled with the same emptiness that so many of us face today.
David and Solomon had everything the world could offer. They were kings, blessed with wealth, wisdom, and influence. Yet, even in their positions of power, they wrestled with sorrow, regret, and longing. David, a man after God’s own heart, battled deep grief, guilt, and moments of despair. Solomon, with all his wisdom, looked at the world and called it meaningless, searching for fulfillment beyond riches and achievements.But their stories don’t just remind us that we are not alone in our struggles—they also reveal God’s unwavering love and mercy. Despite their failures and flaws, God never abandoned them. He saw their pain, heard their cries, and remained near.You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8, NLT
And He does the same for us.
No matter what we have faced, no matter what we have done, we are never beyond God’s love. Just as He welcomed David and Solomon with grace and compassion, He welcomes us. Our struggles do not make us unworthy—they draw Him closer. He is not only the God of great victories but also the God who meets us in our brokenness, reminding us that we are seen, known, and deeply loved.Finally, we see the disciples and Jesus all affected by the pain of suffering, death and torment.Jesus wept.
John 11:25
The shortest verse in the Bible, but arguably one of the most powerful, we see Jesus breaking down in a state of grief at the death of one of His closest friends. Here, the embodiment of God Himself is affected just as one of us would be upon meeting the sadness of loss – whether temporary or not. Jesus knows that He is about to raise Lazarus, but He still dwells in the loss with His friends.
His suffering reminds us that even with faith, even with the knowledge of God’s promises, we are not immune to pain. We, too, will feel the effects of this world—heartache, loss, and the burdens of life. But just as Jesus grieved, He also pointed us to something greater: the hope of what is to come.The struggles we face now are not the end of our story. Scripture assures us that a future of goodness and light awaits. In Revelation 21:4 (NKJV), we are given a glimpse of that promise: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” This hope doesn’t erase our present struggles, but it strengthens us, reminding us that our pain is temporary, and God’s redemption is eternal.Though we grieve, we do not grieve without hope. Though we struggle, we are not alone. Jesus walked through sorrow, and because of Him, we can hold on—knowing that one day, every wound will be healed, and every tear will be wiped away. Until then, we can walk forward in faith, trusting that even in the darkest moments, God’s light is still leading us towards the future.So, we know that we will suffer – it’s unfortunately inevitable in a life of sin. However, these verses are also reminders that we’re not alone. Not only have others been in similar situations and states of mind, but just as God has been with them, He’s offering to be with us too. As they were, we can be reassured that while we wait for that day of complete restoration, God says He will be with us – and that’s the best promise we could receive.I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:10, NKJV
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About the Author
Azaria is a passionate young writer devoted to exploring and sharing the truth of God’s Word. With a heart for faith and a love for storytelling, she seeks to inspire and engage readers on their spiritual journeys.
Azaria Jones
NSW, Australia
