The Link- mental health and God

By Shameka Williams

I never thought I’d be “the one with the crazy.”

That’s how my 25-year-old self described it when I was first diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. In my mind, mental illness was something dangerous—something communities whispered about, avoided, or treated like a moral failing. The diagnosis shook me to my core, and my first thought was, “I must not have any God in me. I must have done something to disappoint Him.”

Back then, I couldn’t imagine that a mental health condition could coexist with the presence of God’s anointing in my life. I thought it had to be one or the other.

Over time, as I learned more about my diagnosis, I became something of a researcher. I dug into the statistics, the genetic factors, the treatments—searching for answers. What I found wasn’t comforting: high suicide rates, the possibility of passing it to the next generation, no permanent cure, and a risk of worsening over time—especially for women.

It was overwhelming. It was discouraging. And it was real.

But here’s what those statistics didn’t account for: the presence of God.

The Lie I Believed

For years, I believed a lie: If you have a mental illness, God can’t be with you. But that’s not true.

Here’s the truth—nothing touches you unless it’s first “Father-filtered.” Even depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia… if it has reached you, it has passed through God’s hands. That doesn’t mean it’s a punishment. It doesn’t mean God hates you.

The enemy wants to twist what God allows, using it to discourage you, isolate you, and convince you that you’re disqualified from your purpose. But mental illness is not the end of your story—it can be part of your calling.

Why Me?

Can I tell you exactly why God allows certain illnesses? No. I stopped trying to figure that part out.

What I do know is that my diagnosis has given me a story that can help others. It has taught me compassion, resilience, and how to rely on God in ways I never imagined.

Even Jesus—the Son of God—experienced the full range of human emotions. He wept. He got angry. He felt sorrow. And he prayed and fasted to process those emotions. Being God’s child doesn’t exempt us from human struggles.

Jesus & Therapy

We have more resources today than people did in biblical times—and that’s not an accident. God works through medicine, counseling, and community.

Let me say it plainly: Jesus and therapy is self-care. Praying and taking your medication is not a lack of faith—it’s wisdom. Seeing a therapist doesn’t mean you don’t trust God—it means you’re using the tools He provided.

Defying the Odds

When I was first diagnosed, my psychiatrist told me I’d be lucky to make it past 35.

Well… I’m 40 now. So clearly, they didn’t have the final say.

By statistics, I shouldn’t have been able to:

• Be in a long-term relationship

• Maintain lasting friendships

• Earn a degree

• Raise a God-fearing son

But statistics don’t account for my Father.

The more I pressed into who God is, the more I learned to use both the spiritual and practical tools He gave me. I take my medication, but I know God is the one who allows it to work. I go to therapy, but I know God sends the right counselor. I rely on friends, but I know God places them in my life.

Your Diagnosis is Not the End

Mental illness doesn’t mean you’re abandoned by God. It means you have a unique journey where He can meet you in powerful ways.

Whatever your diagnosis—depression, anxiety, bipolar, PTSD—God is willing to walk with you through it. He doesn’t wait for you to “get better” to be near you. He’s already there.

The question is: Will you let Him in?