Mental Health Shame

80-89 (Eighties) Female

"I'm too old to matter; God's done with me now that I can't serve anymore."

LIE: Too old to matter. TRUTH: 'Even to gray hairs I will carry you' (Isa 46:4). Your value is in whose you are, not wha...

See Truth Isaiah 46:4

90+ (Nineties Plus) Female

"My panic attacks and fear prove the enemy has more power over me than God does."

LIE: Panic proves enemy power. TRUTH: He in you is GREATER - 1 John 4:4. You're delivered from darkness already - Col 1:...

See Truth 1 John 4:4

13-15 (Early Teen) Female

"I need to confess every single sin to stay forgiven and right with God"

LIE: Must confess every sin to stay right with God. TRUTH: One offering perfected forever. Hebrews 10:14

See Truth Hebrews 10:14

10-12 (Pre-Teen) Female

"I should be able to control my emotions better by now."

LIE: I should control emotions better. TRUTH: The joy of the LORD is my strength. (Neh 8:10)

See Truth Nehemiah 8:10

80-89 (Eighties) Male

"My past sexual sin or pornography disqualifies me from full restoration and authority."

LIE: Sexual sin disqualifies permanently. TRUTH: 'Such WERE some of you'—washed, sanctified, justified. Rahab: prostit...

See Truth 1 Corinthians 6:11

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"I failed as a father. My kids' struggles prove I messed up mentally and spiritually."

LIE: Kids' struggles prove I failed. TRUTH: Father doesn't bear son's guilt. David stayed God's man despite kids' disast...

See Truth Ezekiel 18:20

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"If I tell anyone, they'll think I'm losing it. I need to keep this private."

LIE: Keep it private or lose credibility. TRUTH: Confess to one another for healing. Job spoke openly and stayed righteo...

See Truth James 5:16

60-69 (Sixties) Female

"At my age, struggling with mental health means I never really dealt with my issues properly."

LIE: You should be done by now. TRUTH: He completes the work until Jesus returns, not retirement. (Phil 1:6)

See Truth Philippians 1:6

80-89 (Eighties) Male

"A real man of God wouldn't struggle with depression or anxiety at my age."

LIE: Depression means weak faith. TRUTH: David was cast down yet beloved. Elijah suicidal yet fed by angels. Your brain ...

See Truth Psalm 42:11

19-24 (Young Adult) Female

"I can't tell anyone at church I'm struggling mentally or they'll judge me"

LIE: Hide struggle or be judged. TRUTH: Healing comes through community. David publicly wrote about depression. You're n...

See Truth James 5:16

60-69 (Sixties) Female

"If I had enough faith, I wouldn't need medication for my depression or anxiety."

LIE: Faith means no medication. TRUTH: Paul prescribed medicine to faithful Timothy. Your worth isn't in your serotonin ...

See Truth 1 Timothy 5:23

16-18 (Late Teen) Male

"Your mental health struggles are punishment for secret sin in your life."

LIE: Depression is God punishing sin. TRUTH: There is NO condemnation in Christ. Mental health isn't judgment. (Romans 8...

See Truth Romans 8:1

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"I should be past this by now. Mature Christians don't need counseling."

LIE: Mature Christians don't need counseling. TRUTH: In multitude of counselors is safety. Moses took counsel from Jethr...

See Truth Proverbs 11:14

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"Real men don't cry. I need to hold it together for my family."

LIE: Real men don't cry. TRUTH: Jesus wept openly and remained fully God. Peter wept bitterly and built the church. John...

See Truth John 11:35

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"I wasted my life working too much. Now it's too late and I'm paying the mental price."

LIE: Wasted life, too late. TRUTH: Instead of shame, double honor. Thief got paradise in hours. Isaiah 61:7

See Truth Isaiah 61:7

30-39 (Thirties) Female

"I can't tell anyone at church about my mental health struggles or they'll think I'm not really saved..."

LIE: Hide struggles or be rejected. TRUTH: Confession brings healing. Weakness is where His strength shows. (James 5:16)

See Truth James 5:16

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"Anxiety proves I don't really trust God after all these years."

LIE: Anxiety proves I don't trust God. TRUTH: Jesus was sorrowful unto death and still perfect. Jehoshaphat admitted ter...

See Truth Matthew 26:38

13-15 (Early Teen) Female

"I can't tell anyone about my struggles or they'll think I'm crazy or demon-possessed"

LIE: Hide struggles or be labeled crazy. TRUTH: Confess to one another for healing; isolation isn't holiness. James 5:16

See Truth James 5:16

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"I'm too old to be dealing with this. I should have conquered this decades ago."

LIE: Too old to struggle. TRUTH: He completes His work until Jesus returns. Caleb conquered at 85. Philippians 1:6

See Truth Philippians 1:6

60-69 (Sixties) Male

"Taking medication for mental health means my faith isn't strong enough."

LIE: Medication means weak faith. TRUTH: Paul prescribed medicine for Timothy. God used figs to heal Hezekiah. 1 Timothy...

See Truth 1 Timothy 5:23