Do you have the courage to rise and believe—even in the middle of deep depression? Can peace be found on a day filled with despair, or in a season marked by suffering?
If you live with bipolar disorder, you know the ups and downs can feel relentless. Some mornings, just getting your feet on the ground feels impossible. On those days, take a deep breath—and lean into God’s Word like your life depends on it. Because, honestly, it does. When you’re stuck in a dark cycle, that’s when the enemy comes for your mind. He knows you’re vulnerable. That’s why you must wear the helmet of salvation and remind yourself that peace is possible even in the chaos. The Holy Spirit is with you in the middle, not because the storm disappears. So don’t pull the covers back over your head. Don’t keep hitting snooze until you turn off the alarm completely. Don’t give up on the day before you put on His righteousness, strength, and armor. Plant your feet on the floor, take another deep breath, and lay everything—your pain, your fear, your exhaustion—at the feet of Jesus.
Easier said than done, right? When you’re suffering—when your body aches, your energy is gone, and it feels like you’re dragging heavy chains behind you—it can be hard to hold on. But whether you see it or not, the Lord is using this moment as preparation for what’s coming next. These are the seasons when we’re in over our heads and can’t stand on our own strength. And it’s in these moments that God often does His most significant work, because we realize we were never meant to do it alone.
Living with bipolar disorder takes an army of daily practices. We need sleep. We need routine and consistency. We may need medication if it helps us function as the best version of ourselves, even just for a season. We must eat well, exercise, and protect ourselves from overstimulation, like too much stress or noise. The list is long. But the most important source of healing I’ve discovered on my journey is learning how to rely on God. Building a real relationship with Him has been the lifeline that pulls me out of despair when the thunder rolls in.
We have to lean on Christ’s strength and trust His power. Think about David and Goliath—David didn’t win that battle because he was strong. He won because he depended on the Almighty. When we choose humility and rely on God’s power, all the demons in hell cringe. In those moments, we are no longer showing off our strength—we’re reflecting His. And He is more than enough.
You cannot fight this alone. You are not alone. Trying to handle your illness by yourself won’t work—and you weren’t meant to. As Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” And with God? You are never, ever alone.
When you’re on God’s side, your options are limitless. The next time you feel the shift—that gap in your mood beginning to widen—think of Jesus. My life and my story are living proof of who our God is. He has the power to take you from a psych ward and turn that painful, even horrific experience, into something that can one day help someone else. Only the living God can bring that kind of redemption—if we choose to trust Him.
The timing won’t be ours; it never is. The timeline belongs to Him. But our part is to be ready—to open the door when He comes knocking. Don’t ignore the knock. Come as you are—tired, broken, and worn. He will give you rest.
Below are some of my favorite verses about the peace of God that passes all understanding:
Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Numbers 6:24–26 (NIV)
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
John 14:27 (NIV) – Jesus speaking:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Romans 5:1 (NIV)
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Do you have the courage to rise and believe?
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Jesslyn McCutcheon-Fighting Goliath for Mental Illness
Featured Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
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