As someone who lives with chronic mental illness, my understanding of how faith intersects with my illness is different. Many Christian influencers think mental illness is temporary in all cases and talk about being completely healed from things like depression and anxiety. And, while I myself no longer let worry and hopelessness consume me, I still have bipolar depression and yep! I still get anxiety. Just sayin’… anxiety attacks don’t stop because you’re a Christian or because the enemy isn’t attacking you. They can happen to the best of us!

I also talk in this video about how our joy for Jesus – the unshakable joy we get from being saved – doesn’t always replace our emotions. While we should not obey or make choices based on our emotions (unless that choice is to lie down and rest!), we still are allowed and encouraged to feel them. God values authenticity. Faking joy or forcing yourself to feel joy when you’re not feeling joyful is like lying to yourself, others, and God. Plus, understanding our emotions helps us repent, share in the sufferings of Christ, and grow closer to Jesus.