The two most misused Bible verses on mental health

The Bible doesn’t forbid Christians from grieving. Neither does it teach that you should never feel anxious, argues Rachel Newham. This mental health awareness week, she takes a fresh look at the scriptures we most often misunderstand

The Bible is full of God-breathed wisdom and hope. It’s a gift from the father’s heart to ours, yet we often see verses isolated from the rest of the text that can obscure or even change the way we read scripture.

In my work as a theology of mental health specialist, it’s something I’ve become attuned to. Some passages come up time and again, quoted, half-quoted or misquoted in a way which heaps guilt and shame onto those who are living with mental illnesses and struggles.