Overcoming Mental Anguish

Do you struggle day to day with various episodes of anxiety, depression, loneliness, or simply lack of motivation? I'm here to tell you that you are not alone.  This mental battle may take place every other day or it could seem to be hour by hour.  The reality is that the Christian is not exempt and oftentimes has more struggle than the unsaved world. 

You may be thinking, "how can this be true if I'm a Christian?"  We know the Scriptures teach that, "Ye (believers in Christ as Savior) are of God, little children, and have overcome them (evil or unbelieving spirits of the world): because greater is he (Holy Spirit) that is in you, than he (the Devil) that is in the world." (1 John 4:4) Yes, the believer in Christ has the Holy Spirit permanently indwelling inside of him/her.  The problem remaining is that we are still susceptible to our sinful flesh (old nature), the Devil, and his evil spirits of terror and temptation. 

Physical concerns are not our greatest battle.  The believer's warfare is within the spiritual/mental realm.  Scripture tells us, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Eph. 6:12) The spiritual world is unseen, but it is where God and Satan are both working to influence the Christian. Jesus said, "The thief (the Devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) The Devil seeks to rob the person of joy, peace, comfort, and contentment, while Christ wants to fulfill these pleasures in the believer's life.

The secular world realizes the mind is the human's greatest asset.  Buddha said, "The mind is everything. What you think you become.” If we realize the mind is our greatest asset, we must also understand that the mind can be our ultimate demise.  So how does the individual deal with their daily mindset? Let's look at both the unbeliever and believer in Christ.

The secular and unbelieving world seeks to keep their mind busy by filling their day with endless tasks. "If I can have that item, it will make me happy."  "If I just get that promotion and make more money, I will be content."  "If I could just get that man (or woman) to be mine, it will fulfill my life."  Treasures, wealth, fame, success, busyness, or relationships cannot bring lasting joy and contentment.  King Solomon (the wisest and most experienced man) tried all of these avenues and more to bring about happiness, but his final statement revealed his sad truth. "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity (worthless/emptiness)." (Eccl. 12:8)

The believer in Christ defeats mental anguish by applying Christian principles. You can't just know what God has said in His Word, you must anchor your livelihood on His Truth. The Christian theologian Augustine made a remarkable statement when he said, "man will find no rest until he finds his rest in Thee (God)."  The Christian's duty is not a "pick and choose" when to obey God our Father.  Rather, it is a daily yieldingness to the Holy Spirit in order to build a more intimate relationship with the Lord.  This involves centering your mind daily on God's Truth and His ways. Scripture tells us, "I beseech (beg and plead) you therefore, brethren (Christians), by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Rom. 12:1-2) Jesus said, "If any man will come after me (Christian service / discipleship), let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23) 

Understanding the Scriptures above teach the believer in Christ to make a conscious, daily effort to serve God.  What we have in common with the secular world is that we must stay busy to keep our mind engaged.  However, we differ from the secular world in that we daily choose to serve Christ.  We do this by several different avenues.  We must pray daily, read our Bible daily, fellowship (meet and engage) with like-minded believers daily, evangelize the lost (share the Gospel) daily, demonstrate love daily (be friendly, show kindness, show care and empathy, seek others needs over your own), etc, (see my article titled "Are You Completely Yielded to God?")  The primary difference in Christian busyness for the believer compared with secular busyness of the unbeliever is that ours yields lasting peace, lasting joy, and lasting hope knowing that our Christian labor for the Lord is not in vain. (see 1 Cor. 15:58 & Heb. 6:10) 

Don't let the Devil ruin you in mental anguish.  Transform your mind daily through the Holy Spirit by centering it on the Lord and seeking to please Him.  One day at a time...