LET GOD INTO YOUR INNER WORLD BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU, "INSIDE OUT"

Kingsley
Aug 17
9 min read

Intro: All verses taken are from the New King James Version (NKJV) translation.

Recently, I started rewatching the movie “Inside Out”, a story that takes viewers into the mind of a girl named Riley, where her 5 core emotions - Joy, Anger, Sadness, Fear, and Disgust navigate her thoughts and reactions as she faces major life changes and key milestones in her time growing up. The movie speaks about how all emotions, even the difficult ones, all play a vital role in our emotional and mental wellbeing.

Just like Riley, we all have had our fair share of experiences wrestling with complex feelings we do not always understand. Be it the feeling of awkwardness when we do not fit in, the stress from working overtime, the time when we first “move house”, the doubts we had when we raised our children, or even grieving because of the loss of our loved ones - these are some moments when we might have felt at a loss for what to do. For some, we might speak to therapists, listen to music, or do something relaxing to take our minds off our worries. However, mental health is not about simply avoiding all these emotions, but rather learning how to embrace and healthily live with them.

After watching the movie, it occurred to me - Why must we hide our feelings all to ourselves when we have God with us? In a world that often tells us to suppress or ignore what we truly feel, God is here for us and we can rely on him. He created us, He understands us, He is here for us. The Bible reminds us that God offers peace that guards both our hearts and our minds. In this article, I will share about some Bible characters who have faced similar feelings, and what God says about mental health.

Bible Character 1: Job

When we think about Bible characters that have gone through very tough trials and tribulations, one name comes to mind - Job.

Job was a wealthy and righteous man who lived in the land of Uz, described as “blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). He was greatly blessed with a large family and immense wealth. However, Satan claimed that Job was only faithful because of his wealth and protection, and that without it, he would sin against God. So, Job’s faith was put to the test when God allowed Satan to strike him. In a short span of time, Job lost all his livestock, servants, and his ten children (Job 1:13-19). Despite his immense grief, Job responded in worship, saying, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). And in all this suffering, Job did not charge God with wrong (Job 1:22).

Next, Job was afflicted with painful boils (Job 2:7) and sat in ashes, scraping himself with broken pottery. Even his wife urged him to curse God and die, but Job replied, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10).

After all that suffering, Job felt abandoned and misunderstood. While Job fell into deep emotional anguish, cursing the day he was born (Job 3:11) and lamenting his pain (Job 30:16-17), he never once sinned with his lips. Though his friends wrongly accused him of sin, Job continued to cry out to God with honest questions. In response, God answered him out of a whirlwind (Job 38-41), not with direct explanations, but by revealing His divine wisdom and omnipotence, and that His purposes are always infinitely greater even if they are not visible to men. God also affirmed Job’s integrity, rebuked his friends (Job 42:7-8), and later restored his fortunes twofold after Job prayed for his friends (Job 42:10). In the end, Job was blessed with even more than before and lived 140 more years - a long, full life (Job 42:12-17).

As you can see, while Job was experiencing deep physical, emotional, and mental tribulations, he did not once sin against God, but rather openly continued praying to God, relying on him for comfort and support, even when faced with the opposition of the people closest to him. Job’s life shows that suffering is not always caused by personal sin. Even the righteous may face trials, not as punishment, but for a greater purpose. God welcomes our honest emotions, remains sovereign and near to us even in silence, and ultimately uses suffering to deepen our faith and understanding of Him.

Therefore, whenever we are facing deep emotional pain, we should not bottle up our emotions, but rather keep praying to God, continue reading the Bible and learning more about God’s word and finding relief in his presence, and keep having faith in God. While we may not truly understand why we face suffering and pain in the short term, we should always remember that God’s purpose far exceeds our mortal comprehension, and that He has an even greater purpose for us - and that is to go to heaven.

Bible Character 2: Jeremiah

Another Bible character who suffered great emotional anguish but still persisted through his service for God was Jeremiah.

Jeremiah was a prophet called by God during one of the most turbulent periods in Judah’s history - just before and during the Babylonian exile. He served for over 40 years, faithfully proclaiming God’s messages of warning and judgment to the rebellious people of Judah.

Though faithful, he suffered rejection, loneliness, persecution, and intense emotional pain. Jeremiah is often called the “weeping prophet” for his deep sorrow over the sins of his people and the destruction he foresaw.

From the beginning, when God ordained Jeremiah a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5), Jeremiah expressed doubts and fears over his inadequacy because of his youth, but God affirmed him, saying “For you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you.” (Jeremiah 1:7-8)

In his prophetic ministry, Jeremiah’s messages were unpopular because he boldly warned Judah of God’s coming judgment due to their idolatry and injustice. As a result, he faced harsh opposition, where his own townspeople plotted to kill him - “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be remembered no more” (Jeremiah 11:18-19). Jeremiah was beaten, imprisoned (Jeremiah 37:15), and thrown into a dungeon to die (Jeremiah 38:6). Jeremiah was even branded as a traitor for urging the surrender of Judah to the Babylons - “Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of all the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm.” (Jeremiah 38:4) Due to all the burden of his prophetic calling, Jeremiah cursed the day he was born (Jeremiah 20:14,18).

Often misunderstood and isolated, Jeremiah poured out his grief to God as he asked, “Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable?” (Jeremiah 15:17-18), further expressing feelings of abandonment - “You have moved my soul far from peace; I have forgotten prosperity… my soul still remembers and sinks within me.” (Lamentations 3:17-20)

Despite all the anguish he faced, he remained obedient in his service and faith to God. God sustained him through it all - assuring him of His presence (Jeremiah 1:8), strengthening him against opposition (Jeremiah 1:18-19), and reminding him of his unfailing faithfulness (Lamentations 3:21-23).

Therefore, whenever we are facing challenges in our lives emotionally, we still need to remain faithful to God and trust His direction. Jeremiah’s story teaches us that emotional struggle is not a sign of failure, and that God remains near, sovereign, and loving even in our deepest pain. Jeremiah was initially tasked to take on the role of a prophet in his youth, something he had never done before, and suffered pain and rejection during the process, but still continued on with his service and was blessed and affirmed by God. Similarly, we need to remember that when we face trials and tribulations emotionally and physically, it is an opportunity to be moulded and shaped into Christians with strong faith in God, eager and wholeheartedly committed to His service.

Well, now that we have learnt about the stories of Job and Jeremiah and how God helped them through their difficult times, let us conclude to find out more about what the Bible says about mental health from 3 important verses.

“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

This verse is a beautiful reminder that God draws close when we feel most crushed by life. In seasons of emotional pain, heartbreak, or deep discouragement like what Job and Jeremiah experienced, God does not stand far off. He sees our tears, hears our cries, and promises His nearness. When mental health struggles make us feel alone or unseen, this verse assures us that God is intimately present, offering comfort and guidance to us through His word (the Bible) in our lowest moments.

Philippians 4:6-7 - “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Whenever anxiety overwhelms us, this verse shares a solution that we can all adopt - bringing our burdens to God in honest prayer. Paul does not deny that worry exists, but he invites us to share it with God who listens to our prayers. In return, God gives us His peace. This peace may not always remove the problem, but it protects our hearts and minds - our emotional and mental health - by anchoring us in God’s unshakable presence. It gives us the assurance that even at our lowest of lows, we can trust in God that He will listen to us, and this blessed assurance can give us hope to face our challenges and continue labouring for God.

Matthew 11:28-30 - “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Jesus speaks directly to the weary, burdened, and overwhelmed - offering not judgment, but rest. Mental health struggles often feel like carrying a load too heavy to bear alone. Jesus invites us to come to Him just as we are, exchanging our “heaviness” for His “lightness”, and learning from His gentleness. True rest is not just physical - it’s the soul-deep restoration that only Christ can give.

Whenever we are facing emotional and mental struggles, whenever the going gets tough and we find ourselves in the rough, we must remember to always trust in God. Having faith that He means the best for us in His direction for our lives can not only give us assurance to tide through difficult times, but also prepare us for His future blessings and ultimately help us grow closer to Him.

Writing this article was an interesting experience. When we meet people each day, on the outside they might seem cheerful, but we do not truly know how they are feeling inside. Therefore, as I conclude this piece of writing, I just want to encourage everyone who reads this, to share with the person next to you, that God loves you, and that whenever you have any problems, you can pray to Him for guidance and direction. After all, God is and always has been here for us, so why are we still not relying on him and his Word (the Bible)?

Ask Yourself:

Who are the Bible characters mentioned in the article that experienced great emotional stress and tribulations?
How does God help us with our emotional and mental struggles?
Want to know more about the Bible and how God can help us with our challenges?