Courage and Confidence: Developing Faith in the Fight for Mental and Emotional Health

God works through uncommon circumstances to build us. Although we do not fully comprehend the contradictions between faith and circumstance, it is part of believers’ spiritual maturity to accept that life happens. We are not encountering the Father’s wrath, but rather His goodness, when life uncovers a need to launch a mental and emotional health journey.

We nurture faith with the assertion that God’s plans are good, but He also works in and through mental and emotional health challenges to accomplish eternal outcomes (Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 4:17). On the canvas of human lives, He illustrates glory, tracing transformation through pain and purpose.

When we have committed our “yes,” inviting the Holy Spirit to move through our lives, God brings a harvest through the seed of our prayers. That can be invigorating initially, but over time and through trial, our initial steam tends to evaporate. Curiously, God remains unfazed, often operating outside of our comfort and convenience to produce what He’s planted, finishing what He’s begun (Philippians 1:6; 1 John 3:2).

Through challenging conditions, He changes what we see externally, beginning this transformation from the inside of the human heart (Romans 12:1-2). Here, faith is forged, where temporary circumstances contradict Scripture’s abiding truth (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Faith stands.

The fight we stand in is real, but it is also fixed in our favor. We still have to walk the process that standing in what we believe accomplishes in and through us, even when we have exhausted every avenue or known resource to shift our circumstances (Ephesians 6:10).

The warfare we encounter on the battlefield of our mental and emotional health is only part of the picture to be seen. Jesus communicated this with Peter, conveying a spiritual reality that the enemy plotted and sought to prey on the disciple (Luke 22:31-34). Satan’s evil intentions for us are the same as what early Christ followers encountered, but we can hold to our confidence that our savior advocates and intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25).

Faith speaks.

Jesus Himself has prayed that our faith endures, despite the enemy’s most vicious threats. When opposing our mental and emotional health, the adversary’s words may filter through a voice of accusation, shame, and condemnation. Yet, we do not fight this spiritual battle with natural weapons alone.

God has outfitted and equipped us with the Word that builds faith and enables us to bring those dark forces under captivity to what Jesus says (2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Romans 4:17). While the enemy pelts us with fear and torment, we pierce the silence with the spoken truth of scripture, reversing the attack against what has come to annihilate us.

Faith strengthens emotional health.

We can explore what Scripture reveals about Peter. Having transformed, he was able to admonish other believers and strengthen his brothers, just as Jesus had foretold. The apostle encouraged them (and us) that the same enemy who stalked him prowls as a roaring lion, seeking to devour the souls of the saints (1 Peter 5:8).

His example encourages that our faith is fortified through processes, including those impacting our mental and emotional health. God-confidence may originate as a mustard seed but retains the power and potential to produce more than we imagine (Matthew 17:20-21).

Next steps for emotional health.

Consider your path. You may have been fighting for your life and faith, but you do not have to do it alone. Embrace the Holy Spirit’s wisdom that led you to this site. Reach out and schedule an appointment with a Christian counselor in Thousand Oaks today. You will encounter support and bolster the confidence and courage to contend for your mental and emotional health.