Our life is built upon a foundation; the foundation is what comprises our belief system.  Each day we live, we add to this construction that will affect the condition of our well-being.  How our well-being is, depends solely upon what our foundation is and how we have built upon it.

I do not possess an extensive understanding of psychology nor have any credentials to speak of in this area at all.  I am speaking out of what I do know up to this point in my life and that is the Lord.  It pains me deeply as I see how many who are bible believing, Christ-following people who suffer from anxiety and depression.  Some would argue with me to their death that it is a chemical imbalance and should be treated like one who has a physical illness.  But is this correct?  Indeed, we can take the road of psychology, which addresses our mind issue, or we can go to the Lord, who not only addresses the mind but also our soul and spirit too.  The Lord came to go much deeper than these, so we may be healed and set free.  The Lord in His nature provides us with a sound mind, and to obtain this, we need to know the truth found in the Word and believe it as if it were a prescription that we take.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;”
Isaiah 61

Jesus confirms His ministry, that He was who Isaiah spoke of.  see Luke 4:16-21.

Jesus has many titles, and two of which are Counselor and Prince of Peace.

“For unto us, a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6

Many scriptures are given to us that reveal principles and truth of obtaining peace such as

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

Principle:  mind stayed on God (not on the source of the problem)

Truth:  We are given perfect peace

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Philippians 4:6-7

Principle:  Not to be anxious, but instead let our action be to go to God in prayer and give to him our concerns AND be thankful for Him in all things.

Truth:  We are not only given peace but such that it confounds the understanding of the world.  This kind of peace also guards us against the things that will attempt to assail us.

Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble. Psalm 119:165

Principle:  To love God’s laws – this means that you must know them, and to know them you must be diligent in finding out this – through the reading of the bible.   To love the law of God means to practice it in your life.

Truth:  Those who love God’s way, will obey Him will experience great peace, and will not stumble

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  John 14:26-27

Principle:  You must be born again, to receive the Holy Spirit which gives you His Power

Truth: We are promised the Holy Spirit –to come into us who will give us His Peace so that we need not be troubled or afraid.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5

Principle:  The Lord has justified us giving us access by faith to the Holy Spirit who will give us the grace we need in trials

Truth:  Hard times will create in us strength, they will not give us anxiety or depression – when we access the Lord’.

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,  in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,  among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Ephesians 2:1-10

Principle:  Before Christ, we were subject to mental breakdown

Truth:  We are now, alive in Christ

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Principle:  Remember that we are no longer living according to our flesh – which includes our mind and habits – tendencies, it takes diligence and our will – through faith in Jesus Christ in what He has done, and provides us.  

Truth:  Before Christ, we are subject to the powers that sin has over us, which includes the state of our mind.  Upon Christ – we are no longer subject to the law of sin and death (mental disorder) but to Christ and His law – which is LIFE, and to live it seated with Him – so we may learn of His richness – and partake in this.  We are now His workmanship.

 Those who are plagued with anxiety, depression, bipolar, and other mental illnesses may not realize or understand that they are still living in the ‘old man’ who has been dead and buried – through Christ. Romans 6:6 and that they are subjecting themselves to their flesh – to rule over them – and by taking prescription drugs -they are battling in their flesh to what Christ has already battled and conquered for them.  They are not living in the gift that Christ has given, which is as a new creation – which does not support anxiety or depression!

My encouragement to all who suffer from any mental disturbance or disorder is that there is an answer and His name is Jesus.   Instead of first consulting the clinical counselors, psychologists, books, articles, new trends, and techniques, taking their prescribed medications, and participating in their therapies, I would suggest we call on Jesus in this concern.  Trusting Him to supply our needs and cares – we will not be disappointed.  This approach involves a time of humbling ourselves before God and going before Him so that He may reveal to us what we need to see and know about ourselves and Him.  Our heart must be humble before it can receive – because usually when God speaks it will require us to repent of something, whether it be of how we think, what we like, do not like, our attitude – you name it.   A sound mind is what the Lord says He gives. Lastly, we must be diligent to renew our minds with the word of God in replacing old thought patterns and mindsets that keep us in mental disorder; Ephes 4:22-24.

Be persistent in faith in the Lord, who He is, and has come to do as you seek peace of mind.

I pray God’s Counsel and Peace, upon each one who sets out to obtain from the Lord, the mind of Christ, Amen!

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:16