"My mental illness brings me closer to God through dependence on Him."
How it sounds in your head: At least when I'm depressed I pray more. Maybe God allows this anxiety to keep me seeking Him. Without this struggle, I might drift away.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
-- 2 Timothy 1:7Religious teaching that God uses mental torment as a discipleship tool, making the enemy's attack seem like the Father's strategy.
Prayer increases during panic attacks and dark nights. The correlation between suffering and seeking feels like proof that God orchestrates the pain.
He was tormented by thousands of demons, cutting himself, living in isolation and terror. Jesus cast them ALL out in one encounter, and immediately the man was found 'sitting and clothed and in his right mind'—instant mental wholeness.
I REFUSE the lie that mental torment brings me closer to God. IT IS WRITTEN that God gave me a sound mind, not a spirit of fear. Depression is not my discipleship program. Anxiety is not my prayer alarm. My Father doesn't terrorize His children to get their attention. IT IS WRITTEN that perfect love casts out fear. I have the mind of Christ, and that mind is whole, sound, and free. Peace is my inheritance, not panic.
Your Father is running toward you with the sound mind you were created for, not standing back watching you suffer to build dependence. He's already given you His peace—He's not withholding it to manipulate you into prayer.