Faith Doesn’t Mean You’re Fine: Mental Health Isn’t a Sin — Silence Is: Real Christians Get Help Too

Lashiera B.
Jul 7
13 min read

Updated: Jul 8

This past Sunday (7/6/25), I couldn’t make it to my own church — but I was eager to hear the Word. I ended up at Liberty Church in Cleveland, TX, and man… I needed that word more than I realized.

I sat in a message preached by Pastor Paige Bostwick, part of her Mental Health Series called “Peace of Mind: Lies We Believe, Peace We Need” — and something in me unlocked.

Because here’s the truth: The enemy loves to manipulate our minds. He plants lies, sows confusion, and tries to keep us stuck in shame and silence. But we don’t have to let him win — not when we have the truth. Not when we have Jesus.

As someone who loves Jesus deeply, I’ve wrestled with the idea that I shouldn’t be struggling mentally. That if I pray hard enough, quote enough Scripture, or have enough faith… the anxiety, the sadness, the spiral of overthinking would just disappear.

But here’s what I’ve learned — and what the church needs to talk about more boldly:

Faith doesn’t cancel your feelings. It anchors you through them.

The Church Has to Do Better

For far too long, the Christian community has swept mental health under the rug. We’re told things like:

“Just pray about it.”
“You need more faith.”
“Don’t speak that over yourself.”
“Let go and let God.”

And while prayer is powerful, it doesn’t mean the healing is instant. Sometimes we do pray — earnestly, wholeheartedly — and still

Wake up with heaviness.

Still struggle with panic.

Still feel like we’re drowning silently in a sea of thoughts.

But let’s be honest — not every church is the same.

There’s a difference between the Big “C” Church — the institution focused on image, numbers, performance, and control — and the little “c” churches that are truly rooted in biblical truth, compassion, and Spirit-led healing.

One is built on appearance. The other is built on authenticity. One chases crowds and platforms. The other nurtures people and discipleship.

We need less spiritual marketing and more Spirit-filled ministry. Less pressure to look perfect and more permission to heal openly.

Let me say this clearly:

You can love Jesus and still need therapy. You can be saved and still struggle with depression. You can be in leadership and still feel overwhelmed. You can be a strong believer and still wrestle with anxiety.

Healing is not always a miracle moment — sometimes it’s a process. A layered, messy, God-led process.

The Lies That Steal Our Peace

In the message, Pastor Paige Bostwick shared some of the lies many of us silently carry:

Lie #1: “If I had stronger faith, I wouldn’t feel anxious.”

Truth: Faith doesn’t mean you never feel anxious — it means you stop trying to be your own god.

Let’s be real: Anxiety often stems from control — or more accurately, the illusion of it. We exhaust ourselves trying to manage outcomes, hold people together, predict the future, and avoid disappointment.

We spiritualize it by saying, “I’m trusting God,” but inside we’re micromanaging our lives out of fear.

“If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.” “If I don’t hold it together, everything will fall apart.” “If I’m not strong, I’ll look weak.”

But here’s the hard truth: The more you center yourself as the solution, the more pressure and panic you will carry. We were never designed to hold what only God can carry.

The Problem with “I”

“I need to get it together.”

“I should be stronger by now.”

“I shouldn’t feel this way.”

“I can fix it.”

Notice the common denominator? “I”.

We often stay anxious because we’re too busy being our own god — taking responsibility for outcomes God never asked us to manage.

The world has convinced us that strength looks like independence. But in the Kingdom, strength looks like dependence on God.

We must remove “I” from the situation and allow GOD to take His rightful place.

Surrender is not weakness.

Surrender is wisdom.

Truth: Faith isn’t the absence of emotion — it’s the anchor in the middle of it.

Even Jesus, in Luke 22:44, was in such deep anguish that He sweat blood.

If the Savior of the world can feel that kind of weight, why do we think our emotions disqualify us?

Let’s Talk About “Stronger Faith”

We need to stop equating stronger faith with a lack of struggle.

Strong faith doesn’t mean you never feel anxious — it means you know where to run when you do. Strong faith doesn’t mean you never cry — it means you cry out to the One who can catch your tears. Strong faith doesn’t mean you have all the answers — it means you trust the God who does.

Faith is not a performance. It’s a posture.

It’s not “the more faith I have, the less I struggle.”

It’s “the more faith I have, the more I trust God with my struggle.”

My Testimony: I Had an “I” Complex

See, in my season in the Wilderness, I had an “I” complex.

I will find a better job.
I will get through this.
I don’t have a backup plan.

And guess what? It kept leading me to dead ends and disappointment, because I was in the way of God moving in my life.

I was carrying pressure I was never meant to hold. I kept trying to force outcomes instead of letting God lead. But when I finally surrendered — when I laid my burdens down and removed myself from the equation — everything shifted.

Peace. Joy. Freedom. They all fell on me when I realized… it was never “I.” It was GOD.

Now I speak differently:

God is going to provide me with a better job — not just any job, the right job.
God is going to get me through this.
And God is my backup plan.

That’s not weakness. That’s surrendered strength.

God Uses People Too

Let’s be clear: God is our ultimate Healer.

But He is also a God of strategy and support systems.

Just like He sent Elijah an angel when he was emotionally drained, and just like Paul had Luke (a physician) walking with him — God sends people to help us heal.

Seeking God means also seeking God-led help. It’s asking: “Lord, who have You anointed to walk with me in this season?” “Who is trained, trusted, and Spirit-led enough to help me through this?”

Yes, go to the altar.

Yes, pray.

But also — go to therapy.

God can use both.

Faith and healing are not either/or — they’re both/and.

A Prayer for Surrender

If control has been your coping mechanism, here’s a simple surrender you can speak:

“God, I give up the illusion of control. I remove ‘I’ and invite You in. I trust You to send the right voices, counselors, and resources into my life. I lay down the weight I was never meant to carry — and I receive Your peace.”

Lie #2: “I shouldn’t talk about my struggles — it makes me look weak.”

Truth: You heal faster when you stop hiding. James 5:16 tells us to confess our struggles and pray for one another so that we may be healed.

We can’t be fully healed from what we’re too afraid to reveal.

But this lie is loud in today’s culture — and even louder in the church.

The Stigma of Struggling

We live in a world that has canceled the concept of being human. As Pastor Paige said, we live in a “canceled society.” If people don’t like what you say, how you feel, or what you post — you’re canceled. If you open up about your struggles, you’re frowned upon or dismissed as “too emotional,” “too much,” or “not strong enough.”

Struggle has become a bad word. Weakness has become something to hide. And silence has become a survival strategy.

But let’s be real — silence is suffocating. And in the Kingdom of God, struggle is not something to be ashamed of — it’s something God wants to walk through with you.

Vulnerability Isn’t a Liability — It’s a Bridge

We were never created to carry burdens alone. Galatians 6:2 says to “carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” That means community isn’t just helpful — it’s biblical.

But somewhere along the way, we got scared to be real — even with each other. We started performing faith instead of living it. We masked our pain with churchy words. We showed up looking strong but left broken.

We have to stop pretending. We have to stop performing. We have to start talking.

Because there is no healing in hiding. And there is no freedom in fear.

When You Don’t Feel Safe with People — Run to God

It’s true — not everyone is safe. Not every space feels welcoming. But here’s the promise: God is always safe.

If you don’t feel like you can open up to people just yet, you can open up to God. You can tell Him what hurts. You can cry in His presence. You can say, “God, I’m not okay,” and know He won’t turn away.

How can we expect God to help us if we never seek His guidance? How can we receive peace when we won’t release what’s hurting us?

Yes, we pray. Yes, we ask for help. But we also have to bring the full truth of what we’re carrying to the One who can actually hold it.

My Testimony: Leading Through Struggle

Pastor Paige said something that really stuck with me:

“Leaders lead with strength, but connect through struggle.”

And I 100% feel that.

As the founder of SHE Hustles with Grace, I’m finding myself becoming more and more comfortable sharing my truths, my struggles, and my reality — in real time. Not just after the storm passes, but while I’m still in the middle of it.

Because I know now: my testimony could be the very thing someone else needs to hear.

I used to care a lot about what people thought. I used to want to keep it all polished, all together, all “fine.” But I’m not here to people please. I’m here to spread God’s message and make disciples.

And if that means being real, being honest, being relatable — then that’s what I will do.

I don’t have it all together. None of us do. But God still chooses to use us anyway.

A Prayer for Breaking the Silence

Father, I thank You for being a safe space — the One I can run to when I feel like no one else understands. I confess that I’ve been hiding. I’ve been carrying more than I was ever meant to hold. I’ve been afraid to be honest about what I’m really going through. But today, I choose to release the fear of judgment. I choose to silence the voice of shame. I give You my struggle, my truth, and my reality — because I trust that You can handle it.

Help me to be vulnerable in the right spaces. Help me to walk in truth, not performance. Remind me that I don’t have to have it all together to be used by You. And when I don’t feel safe opening up to others, draw me into Your presence, where healing begins. Use my testimony to set others free. Let my honesty break strongholds in someone else’s life. Because this isn’t just about me — it’s about You, getting the glory through my surrender.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lie #3: “I can fix this on my own.”

Truth: Healing doesn’t come from trying harder — it comes from trusting deeper. Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

The Myth of Self-Sufficiency

We’ve been taught that needing help is a weakness. We’ve been told that if we just grind a little more, pray a little longer, hustle a little harder — we can fix it.

So we:

Take on too much
Hide how overwhelmed we are
Push through with spiritual language while silently drowning

We confuse strength with self-sufficiency — but there’s nothing holy about burnout.

And if we’re honest, this is just another version of the “I complex” — where we make ourselves responsible for what only God can redeem. We keep saying “I’ll fix it,” when God is saying, “Let Me.”

God Never Asked You to Fix It All

There’s nowhere in Scripture where God says:

“Carry it all yourself.” “Don’t ask for help.” “Figure it out alone.”

But He does say:

“Cast your cares on Me.” (1 Peter 5:7)
“Come to Me, all who are weary.” (Matthew 11:28)
“My power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

The “fix-it” mentality is just another form of control. It looks like independence on the outside… but underneath, it’s fear.

Fear of failing. Fear of being seen as not enough. Fear of admitting we need help.

But the very thing we’re afraid of — asking for help — is often the doorway to our healing.

Trying Harder vs. Trusting Deeper

Trying harder says:

“I can’t stop — if I do, everything falls apart.”
“I’ll deal with this later.”
“No one else can help me.”

Trusting deeper says:

“God, I don’t know how, but I believe You’ll make a way.”
“I need help — and I’m not ashamed to say it.”
“I surrender the outcome. Lead me.”

Trying keeps you striving. Trusting invites you into rest.

There’s Healing in Asking for Help

Let’s normalize this truth in the church: Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do… is raise your hand and say “I can’t do this by myself.”

There is no gold star for suffering silently.

Sometimes God will allow your strength to run out — so you finally let Him step in.

And sometimes, trusting God means trusting the people He sends:

The therapist
The mentor
The accountability partner
The support group
The prayer warrior
The safe friend

Healing isn’t always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it’s the quiet decision to stop pretending and finally receive help.

My Testimony: I Can’t Do This Alone

My whole Deuteronomy 8 season — the one I’m in right now — is teaching me that I cannot do this on my own. I can’t fix my problems by myself. I can’t out-hustle the pruning that God is doing in me.

This season has forced me to lean on God more than ever. And I’ll be honest… at the beginning, I felt guilty for going to God only once I was in a bind.

When I was up, living life carefree, not worried about anything — I unintentionally put God on the back burner. I was still going to church. Still praying. But my faith? It was lukewarm.

It was like texting a friend, saying “how are you?” — but only to talk about yourself. I wasn’t truly locked in. And the truth is… God has been too good to me for me to treat Him like a backup plan.

Now, I’m learning that even in hard times, even in correction, even when I feel exposed —

He is still my Father. I am still His daughter. We are still His chosen.

Deuteronomy 8 reminds us that God humbles us to remind us that man doesn’t live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from His mouth. And in this season, I’m learning to listen for that Word. To wait on that Word. To walk in that Word — not in my own strength.

A Prayer for Surrendering Control

God, I lay down the pressure to fix it all on my own. I confess that I’ve tried to carry things You never asked me to carry. I’ve tried to figure it all out — and it’s worn me out. Today, I choose trust over striving. Show me where to rest. Show me who You’ve placed in my life to help me heal. I surrender the outcome — and I trust You with the process. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s Talk About Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2, NIV)

This verse is often quoted, but not often lived through in the context of mental health. Let’s go deeper:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world…”

The world teaches us to numb our pain, fake strength, and keep pushing through at all costs.

But God says:

Don’t conform to that. He doesn’t want us to keep pretending or hiding behind polished faith masks.

He invites us to come as we are — anxiety, struggle, and all.

“But be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

The word renewing here means a complete renovation — not just a quick refresh. God doesn’t want to just comfort you in crisis — He wants to rebuild your thought life, rewire your patterns, and restore your peace.

This is real mental health work — and God is in the middle of it.

Healing your mind doesn’t make you less spiritual. It means you’re serious about transformation.

“Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is…”

An anxious mind is loud. It causes overthinking, confusion, self-doubt, and emotional chaos. But a renewed mind is rooted. Steady. Clear. It can discern God’s voice and walk in peace, not panic.

God’s will isn’t confusion. It’s clarity.

God’s will isn’t shame. It’s healing.

God’s will isn’t silence. It’s wholeness.

So What Do We Do With All This?

We tell the truth. We ask for help. We reject shame. We stop sweeping things under the rug. We create safe spaces in our churches and homes where people can say:

“I love God… but I’m not okay right now.” And instead of being judged, they are seen. Held. Helped.

If This Is You...

If you’ve felt like you’re failing God because your mind feels heavy…

If you’ve believed that seeking help means you don’t have enough faith…

If you’ve been hiding your mental health because you didn’t want to look weak…

Let me remind you:

You are not weak. You are human. You are not broken. You are healing. And you are deeply, wholly, unconditionally loved — right in the middle of the mess.

Don’t sweep it under the rug. Don’t stay silent. Don’t let shame hold you hostage another day.

Final Word: Normalize Faith & Therapy

You can have a therapist and a Bible. You can take medication and communion. You can be in prayer and a process.

And God is in all of it.

But let’s be clear —

We don’t idolize therapy. We don’t worship medication. We trust God above all else.

Therapy and treatment may be part of the journey — but healing ultimately flows from the One who created us, knows us, and walks with us through every valley.

We still lean on God. We still seek Him first. We still pray for full healing — even if it takes time.

And while we believe in resources, we also believe in miracles. We ask that if it’s His will, we won't need the medication forever. But until then, we walk by faith — not shame.

So let’s stop pretending. Let’s stop hiding. Let’s stop sweeping it under the rug.

Let’s walk toward peace — mind, body, soul, and spirit. With wisdom, with faith, and with God at the center of it all.

Romans 12:2 (One Last Time)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Your mind matters. Your healing matters. And peace is still possible — in Jesus and with support.

Looking Ahead

This message was just one part of Pastor Paige Bostwick’s Mental Health Series at Liberty Church — and I’m genuinely looking forward to hearing the rest. If this word unlocked something in me, I can only imagine what God is going to reveal in the weeks ahead.

If you’re curious or in need of encouragement, you can check out the sermon for yourself — I’ve linked it below. I pray it blesses you the same way it blessed me.

Because the truth is — healing is a journey. And I’m grateful to be in a season where I’m not just surviving… I’m being stretched, pruned, and made whole by God.

🎥 Watch “Peace of Mind: Lies We Believe, Peace We Need” by Pastor Paige Bostwick at Liberty Church.