Shatter the StigmaSample

Knowing When to Get in the Boat

When God commanded Noah to build the Ark to save himself and his family from the coming flood, Scripture tells us, “Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.” The Creator of the universe didn’t need a human to build a boat to fulfill His plan, but He chose to involve Noah—reasons we, as mortals, may never fully understand. Noah obeyed without hesitation, using the materials God provided on this earth to follow His direction.

Everything humanity invented—from antibiotics to rocket fuel—came from the resources God placed on this planet. We haven’t created anything entirely new; we’ve merely discovered and repurposed what God provided. When used for good, these inventions can benefit humankind in extraordinary ways. When corrupted by evil, they can cause great harm.

When you’re in the depths of a mental health struggle, praying desperately for hope and healing, it may feel like God’s intervention should come in a miraculous, supernatural way. But our God is not limited by human thinking! The Creator of the universe, who designed the stars, the animals, and us—His most beloved creation—works in countless ways. As we discussed earlier in the story of the drowning man, sometimes God answers our prayers through a rowboat, a motorboat, or a helicopter.

God gave us the ability to think, reason, and invent, leading to the development of traditional and modern medicine. Across the world, traditional remedies—leaves, roots, bark, and vegetables—continue to treat ailments like fever, infection, and more. Even the vitamins and supplements we find in stores—vitamin C, iron, calcium—are derived from the resources God placed here for our benefit.

So why are we willing to take aspirin for a fever or allow a broken leg to be cast but hesitate to consider mental health treatments? Just like any other tool, treatments for mental health can be used for good or harm—it’s the intention that makes the difference. A hammer can build an ark in faithful obedience or be wielded to destroy.

If you’re struggling with mental health, there are many effective treatments available—talk therapy, medications, and groundbreaking options like neuromodulation. These treatments, developed through the ingenuity God has given His creation, are no different from the tools that provide us with clean water, abundant food, heat in winter, and global communication. They are part of God’s provision.

The last thing God would want is for stigma to prevent someone from seeking help or to discourage others from supporting those in need. Mental health, physical health, and spiritual health are all interconnected. Health is health.

Let us approach mental health struggles with the same compassion and care we would for any other ailment, remembering that God works through the tools He has given us—and He desires healing for us all.