PSA: You can love Jesus, be an incredibly devoted follower and see a counselor or therapist (in fact, you should).

You can bear the fruit of the Spirit in your life and take meds for mental health issues like anxiety and depression. #MentalHealthMatters

One of the most damaging lies perpetuated by the Church is that mental health issues, diagnosed or undiagnosed, come from a lack of faith.

Here’s the thing: prayer and other spiritual disciplines are critical to mental and emotional and spiritual health. But they aren’t the only tools.

You can try to pray away PTSD, depression, anxiety... and sometimes it works. I’ve seen God heal these things.

But that can’t be the ONLY approach. That’s the exception. The same way healing from cancer or illness are not the norm for believers.

Jesus isn’t against doctors, mental health professionals or medication to treat mental health issues any more than he’s against those things to treat high blood pressure or chicken pox.

Again, Jesus can (and does) heal these complex mental health issues. But he also doesn’t.

The problem isn’t Jesus. The problem isn’t you either.

Every single follower of Jesus has ongoing struggles that will never be conquered this side of Heaven. Every. Single. One. Of. Us.

There is no shame in utilizing all the tools available to aid in that struggle. Go to a counselor, psychiatrist, psychologist. Talk to your doctor about if medication is right for you.

I am a Pastor. I seek counsel from spiritual leaders AND mental health professionals. I pray & meditate daily AND take meds for depression (I also used to take meds for anxiety).

They all have made a big difference in my mental health AND spiritual growth.

I feel like I tweet that a lot and that everyone has heard it. Any time this comes, I hear a voice that says “stop sharing that”. But it’s too important not to share.