Last week I wrote a post in honor of National Mental Health Month encouraging our families to start talking openly about our experiences and normalizing the stigma of mental illness. With that in mind my husband Michael and I share a bit of our story in this short video.
Each one of us face struggles. We all need God’s love and grace in order to redeem the brokenness we encounter in this world. Whether we have hardships in our relationships, our finances, or our physical bodies we need to seek restoration holistically. This especially applies in the area of mental health.
Approach Mental Illness Holistically
- Engage with community and share our stories.
- Get educated in the area of mental illness.
- Collaborate with the church, counselors, and the medical community for effective treatment, in order to address the spiritual, emotional, and biological aspects.
- Reach out with love and acceptance toward those suffering and their families. You don’t have to have full understanding of an illness to have compassion.
- Stop identifying mental illness as a spiritual disease. Mental illness is a biological issue that can affect our relationship with God, as well as any other relationships. People with mental illness love Jesus too.
We all experience more suffering than we expect in this life, so we are often left feeling disillusioned and disappointed. What if we altered our expectations to realize that we live in a broken world and our troubles are nothing to fear. We have a God who loves us and our trials draw us closer to our Savior who knows our suffering and has experienced the same loss and pain that we have.
Since he himself has gone through suffering…Hebrews 2:18a (NLT)
Prayer
Lord, we know that you are sovereign and we trust you with our trials and struggles. We pray for each person and family facing mental illness today. Strengthen them, guide them, direct them, and enable them to find good health care and counseling. We ask that you hold out hope to them in their time of need so that they will persevere. We pray that you would break the stigma of mental illness in the church and in our communities in Jesus Name, Amen.

Jamie (TigerStrypes) (@satrntgr) says
Thank you for shining a light on this Angela. God made us all in certain ways for certain reasons. I pray that those who do have an illness, can one day use it for God’s glory in helping others. :)
Angela Howard says
Yes, that is my prayer too Jamie. We can all use our experiences to help others and point them to Jesus.
jerralea says
This is a good word, Angela, My husband is a Christian and loves God yet has been disabled because of bipolar disorder. In the beginning, this was so hard to understand and to accept!
Angela Howard says
It’s so important to realize that each person with bipolar or any mental illness is unique in their struggles. I pray that God will strengthen both of you as you face this challenge together. Thank you for your transparency.
Deanna Howard says
So proud of you both for sharing your story. Love to all!
Angela Howard says
Thank you Deanna! Love to you as well :)
Anita Ojeda says
Do you mind if I share this post on my resouce round-up post about mental illness? More people need to realize that mental illness is NOT a spiritual problem (although our spirituality and attitudes towards God can either help our hinder our healing process).
Angela Howard says
Agreed Anita! It would be my pleasure to have you share it in your resource round-up post. Thank you :)
Lisa notes... says
This is what stands out so strongly to me, Angela:
“Stop identifying mental illness as a spiritual disease. Mental illness is a biological issue that can affect our relationship with God, as well as any other relationships. People with mental illness love Jesus too.”
Amen! I have many in my family who suffer with depression, and they often are more drawn to Jesus and have more faith than anyone. Thanks for sharing this video and your and Michael’s story.
Angela Howard says
It makes my heart happy that you connected with that thought Lisa! I get fired up just thinking about it :) I love that you expanded on that by highlighting that people can actually draw closer to Jesus when they struggle in this area. That has certainly been the case for my husband. You have encouraged me today!
Unmasking the Mess says
Thank you for bringing this to light! I envision our churches embracing everyone regardless of what they suffer from!
I have dealt with depression and anxiety in the past. It’s very isolating and lonely.
Visiting from #TellHisStory
Angela Howard says
Thank you for visiting today Julie. I hope you will return. It is my hope and desire to shine a light on this difficult topic in order to bring truth. I appreciate you sharing a bit of your story so that people will know that they are not alone.
Beverly says
Thank you for sharing your story. Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts at Over The Moon Party.
See you next week.
Hugs,
Bev
Angela Howard says
Wow Beverly! You are so kind. :)
Laura Thomas says
Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your story… awareness, especially in the church, is essential! Stopping by from #CheerleadersofFaith :)
Angela Howard says
Thank you for visiting Laura! It’s a pleasure to have you read and comment.
Dianne Thornton (@STHdianne) says
Angela, this is powerful. You are a blessing to your husband … and to your church … as you champion those with mental illness.
Angela Howard says
Your words mean more than you can know Dianne!
frugallivingontheranch says
Thank you for sharing this, My step son is going through some mental health issues it has been a very long road trying to get it all figured out .And thanks for sharing at Literacy Musing Mondays hope to see you next week.
Connie
Angela Howard says
I’m so sorry for your family. It’s a difficult journey to diagnosis and wellness. I’m glad he has a supportive family.
Rebekah Silva Osborn says
I am so blessed to come to know of your blog. Thank you for speaking about and shedding light on this overlooked illness that so many face with little support. I love the phrase “People with mental illness love Jesus too” of course they do!
Angela Howard says
Thank you Rebekah! It’s true :)