The Bible is full of wisdom from the ages. Reading scripture can directly support your mental health, grounding your thoughts and bringing you to new places of hope and healing.
What do you think about all day long?
If you’re like me, your mind most likely drifts toward what you’re doing, your stresses, worries, and immediate problems.
In my Thinking Compass, I have a couple of core insights that I read every single day to reset my focus:
- What I focus on gets me: Focus on the negatives and challenges will always take me down. Focus on the positive and good things will always give me hope.
- The thoughts I indulge grow stronger: The thoughts I acknowledge and put in their place lose their power to discourage me.
- No mood can resist the right truth at the right time.
Just take a moment and ponder: What gets your focus? What is the cumulative effect on your emotions of having this particular focus all day long?
Something I try to do at the start of every day is to read my Bible. I consistently find it full of truth, stability, and wisdom for the day ahead.
3 Ways the Bible Helps My Mental Health
1. It connects me with the stories of real people.
The Bible is full of stories of messy, everyday people going about their lives and encountering God. None of them were perfect—just like me—but their journeys are woven into a much larger narrative. From their vulnerabilities, struggles, and triumphs, I learn wisdom and find renewed hope.
2. It connects me with timeless wisdom.
The scripture holds a truth that is timeless, passed down from generation to generation. The Book of Proverbs, for instance, contains practical psychological insights that are just as applicable today as they were thousands of years ago. Take this verse as a perfect example:
“Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.” — Proverbs 18:13
3. It connects me with something much bigger than myself.
As I read and ponder scripture, I recognize that I am part of an grand meta-story unfolding across human history from Genesis to Revelation. You won’t find my literal name written on those pages, but I am intimately included in it. Knowing God has plans for us allows me to feel safely swept up in a blockbuster epic, moving my focus off my immediate anxiety.
Your Daily Challenge
Spend some intentional time reading the Bible today. It may only be a few verses—remember, less is often more. When a specific verse speaks directly into your life, try this practical exercise:
- Write it down: Keep it on a small card that fits easily into your pocket, wallet, or purse.
- Keep it close: Ensure it stays with you throughout the day.
- Anchor it to habits: Read the verse every single time you have something to eat or drink. Let that little verse become literal food for your soul.
- Share your journey: Drop me an email or leave a comment below to let me know how this practice worked for you.
Questions to Consider
I would love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below or send me an email responding to these questions:
- What unique challenges do you have to overcome to read the Bible on a consistent basis?
- What specific scriptures or stories always help you ground your mental health?
Further Reading
- Spiritual Exercises from the Bible for Mental Health and Illness
- Key Bible Verses for Supporting Mental Health
- How David Strengthened Himself in the Lord (And How You Can Too)
Barry Pearman
