Today I want to speak about the impact of unanswered prayers on our mental health. I am not a Psychologist but I am the student of the Word of God and the student of life. What I have observed in the body of Christ we hardly speak about mental health issues and this subject is stigmatised. We are all facing various personal struggles to the extent that some Christians live in bitterness and subsequently develop the character of jealousy.
I do not know where you are as far as the struggles of life are concerned, and I do not even know the battles you are fighting. Perhaps you have fought to an extent that now you feel exhausted and drained. You have fasted and prayed, but nothing is happening. Instead, more negative thoughts are running in your head, and you even question whether Jehovah cares, as every day feels like a battlefield.
It is true that unanswered prayers impact our mental health and sometimes we are too shy to publicly share these personal and individual struggles. However, I want to encourage you today that you are not alone and you are not the first one to be loved by God or used by God but still have feelings of despair and depression. Let us please have a look at the life of Jonah in chapter 4.
“Jonah’s Anger and God’s Kindness
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore, I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”
4 Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
5 So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. 6 And the Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. 7 But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. 8 And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!”
10 But the Lord said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?” Jonah 4:1-11 NKJV
Like Jonah, you are so angry with God and now you are angry with everyone around you even those who truly care for you, but your bitterness has clouded the compassion and loving kindness that people genuinely have towards you. You feel alone, struggle to sleep, and suffer unexplainable anxiety leading to depression. Today, I am here to tell you that you are not alone God sees you!
#you are loved!
#you are not alone!
#”And he said: “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice.” Jonah 2:2 NKJV
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