Grace and Mental Health
Recently Kerry and I talked about grace on one of our podcasts and I remarked that I wondered if there was a direct correlation between mental health challenges and a person’s perspective of grace. After a helpful and insightful comment from one of our listeners, I decided to return to this topic.
It is no secret that mental health challenges usually play a really dirty trick on people…
by inciting them to believe that they are too bad, too broken, or simply not good enough to be loved and cared for. This hallmark characteristic of a faulty belief system can torment a heart as well as deceive thinking processes. And if this person has also been taught that they have to earn God’s love and that they must perform well so as to receive his grace, then it is logical that depression, anxiety, and self-loathing will be pounding on the door of this bruised and broken heart.
Recent Study
Interestingly, religious leaders at BYU (Brigham Young University) are also wondering about this correlation between grace and mental health among their students. They surveyed 566 BYU young adults and discovered that when these young adults believe more in grace and less in legalism, they experience less anxiety, depression, shame, religious guilt, and perfectionism. Additionally, when the young adults have a more legalistic view of God, they experience poorer mental health “because it interrupts (their) ability to experience grace” (Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, June 2018).
I recall when our children were young and they didn’t do what we had told them to do. There were consequences (going to bed early, missing an event, having to live with the outcome of a bad decision, etc.), but there was never a loss of love. Many times I remember holding that child close to my heart while they cried and were upset over an outcome. But as the tears subsided and the residual snubbing began, I looked into their little eyes and reminded them that their dad and I loved them. Period. They didn’t have to get it right or do it perfectly to have our love, protection, closeness, and presence.
We were imperfect parents but our Heavenly Father is not. His love for us is perfect and whole. His grace and desire to pull us close to him is always consistent whether we perceive it or not.
Maybe one of the most important things we can share with others who are searching for, or wrestling with faith is the part about our kind Father who is present with us in the shadows of our mistakes, sin, and foolish decisions. Whether we can feel him or not, God is present in the middle of our messes and self-imposed stupidity. He always wants us. He always loves us. No matter what. Expectations for us? Yes. Love for us? Even more.
And that, dear ones, is grace.
We can take a breath. We can fall into his grace and love and there find strength to try imperfectly again. This is a hard truth for many of us to believe. How can it be that God can love us this much? How can he keep loving us and wrap us in grace even when we don’t deserve any of it?
As one of my favorite hymns says:
… And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood
Died He for me, who caused His pain
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Maybe some of the healing for mental health pain is to help each other believe more deeply in grace. Maybe you are a mentor, friend, or church leader who can help those around you strengthen their emotional health by helping them believe that our God is not punitive, hateful, and intentionally cruel, critical, and fault-finding. He is our God that loves, believes in us, and has blessed us with the gift of Jesus — without any merit of our own.
Continue Reading
