Spiritual Warfare or Mental Health Issue? Discerning the Difference

Understanding the importance of both spiritual and mental health perspectives is empowering. It allows us to discern the difference between spiritual warfare and mental health issues and to take control of our well-being. Many times, these two forms of healing work together to reach high peak peace, if I may make up a term?… So, let’s dive deeper into a couple of different things: when to seek pastoral guidance and professional help, how to battle spiritual warfare, what is spiritual warfare or mental health, or how they come together.

Spiritual Warfare or Mental Health: When to Seek Pastoral Guidance or Professional Help

Pastoral guidance and professional help can go hand in hand on your life’s journey. Spiritual insights can help you break through your mental barriers by challenging how you think in a biblical sense. However, the same can go for professional mental health, just in a more worldly manner. My biggest suggestion in either situation is to make sure whichever and whoever— is the right fit for you. Personally, I think seeking out both can usually be the best route.

Both allow you to explore your mind and soul and find your issues’ root causes. Yet, there are mental health issues that would be best suited to talking with a professional mental health provider where you can explore if medication and therapy can solve the problem.

If you are dealing with:

Severe internal explosive feelings
Extreme depression and hopelessness
Anxiety that interrupts your daily life
Experiencing hallucinations
Mood swings

These are just a few, but I’d suggest reaching out to a mental health professional. Don’t get me wrong—God is a miracle worker, no doubt—yet sometimes we need medical intervention to get back on track. And seeking professional help can bring relief and reassurance. We are all on our own journey. Some experience intense enlightenment, and some experience it a bit slower over time.

How to Understand Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is the internal and external battle we face on a daily basis. This struggle is described in the Bible in Ephesians 6:11-12, which points out that we should wear God’s full armor to protect ourselves against the devil. Wearing God’s armor sounds a heck of a lot better than some iron, man-made stuff. This armor is coming from our almighty Lord. All things are possible through Christ, through God.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:11-12

It is the battle between influencing us to sin and live a sinful life while trying to resist and live the way Jesus modeled. We all have sinned because we are born as sinners. However, we can choose to follow Jesus and turn from our sins. That is repentance. We may still stumble on our walk, but leaning into God’s understanding and Jesus’ way helps us get back on track.

Understanding that you can find forgiveness even through darkness is a massive part of redemption. It also magnifies the target on your back for spiritual attacks.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Ephesians highlighting that the struggle is not against “flesh and blood” but against spiritual entities. To withstand these challenges, he advises believers to equip themselves with spiritual armor, including truth, righteousness, faith, and the Word of God.

3 Ways to Combat Spiritual Warfare

Prayer and Fasting: Engage in dedicated prayer and fasting to seek divine intervention against spiritual adversaries. Fasting is a way to feed yourself spiritually.

Scripture Memorization: Equip yourself with biblical truths to counteract spiritual deception. Knowledge is power. In scripture, knowing the Bible and how to use what you know will help you fight your spiritual battles.

Community Support: Surround yourself with other believers because joining together for collective prayer and encouragement helps support each other in Christ. We are stronger together.

How to Understand Mental Health

I think many of us can understand what mental health is all about as the stigma continues to thin out. It’s something many of us face on a daily basis, although there are several different variances and degrees that each of us faces. One person’s struggle may be totally different than another, and some may find each other relatable.

When faced with these struggles, it’s best to remember to take it one day at a time. We can’t solve all the issues in one day, some may never totally resolve, but we can learn how to cope with them. Have you ever heard that phrase before? In the past, I had to take it one minute at a time, depending on the day! Don’t feel ashamed. You are not alone in the struggles. When you are trying to grasp the best way to handle your mental health, it’s not easy to see a clear path. Yet, I hope you can find some comfort in this article…

I remember scrolling good ole Facebook and having a Bible story come across my feed, and I felt this really hit home about mental health challenges. The story of Elijah…

The Story of Elijah

This story is about a man named Elijah who called out to God angrily and told Him he would rather just die, asking for Him to take his life. An angel came to Elijah, bringing food, and told him to eat and sleep. The angel did this a second time, and Elijah ate and slept again. When he did, he woke feeling much better. Furthermore, Elijah was being prepared for a difficult journey, where he embarked on a 40-day and night journey. You can read more on this story in 1 Kings 17-19 and 2 Kings 2:11.

Have you ever felt this way? I definitely have! Sometimes, you just need to eat something and take a nap.

I love this story because I find it to be a great example of how God will remind us to nurture ourselves before continuing on the journey. Nurturing oneself is not just a suggestion. It’s a necessity for our mental health.

How Does Spiritual Warfare and Mental Health Issues Compare?

So, how do these two compare? Honestly, I believe that spiritual warfare and mental health go hand in hand with each other. Working on both aspects of your life will increase peace in your life. Finding the right fit in both a pastoral guide and a mental health professional are both beneficial.

There can be a challenge that is occurring based on the spiritual side of things that should be addressed through spiritual means. On the other hand, a challenge that is manifesting due to our mental health should be addressed through therapy or medications, for example. Yet, I still come back to either one you are facing— pray on it, seek God through the struggle, is the ultimate way to handle it. Sometimes, we just need extra help, not that God does.

Learn how to fight on both battlefields. There are instances where a person finds absolute healing in Christ through speaking with their pastoral council. There are also times when working with a mental health professional and starting medication improves the quality of life. Find the balance between both. Seek God first, and the rest will be given. What does that look like? Well, I have no idea— that’s all in God’s hands.