Easter and Mental Health

“It’s Friday. But Sunday is Coming!”

I remember this being a phrase within the Christian world several years ago and a sermon going viral from S.M. Lockridge of the despair of Friday when Christ was crucified, but the hope is of Sunday to come. I’ll be honest, as a counselor for the broken, advocate for the voiceless, and therapist to those whose parenting and marriages feel unfixable, this story is a powerful reminder of the need for hope.

Here’s the video I’m referencing:

How Easter Can Impact Individuals With Mental Illness

Easter is a time of profound significance for Christians worldwide, marking the pinnacle of the Christian faith with the celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. It’s a season of hope, renewal, and spiritual rebirth. However, for individuals grappling with mental illness, Easter can evoke a range of emotions and challenges that require sensitive and compassionate support. As Christian counselors, it’s essential to recognize and address the unique impact that Easter may have on those struggling with mental health issues. Here are some of the concerns they could face:

Navigating Emotional Turbulence: For individuals dealing with mental illness, Easter can intensify feelings of loneliness, despair, or inadequacy. The emphasis on joy and celebration may contrast sharply with their inner struggles, leading to increased emotional turmoil. As counselors, it’s crucial to provide a safe space for clients to express these emotions.
Challenging Spiritual Beliefs: Easter often prompts deeper reflection on spiritual beliefs and questions of faith. Individuals grappling with mental illness may wrestle with feelings of guilt, shame, or doubt, believing that their struggles are a reflection of spiritual inadequacy or punishment.
Coping with Social Pressures: Easter gatherings and church services may exacerbate social anxiety or feelings of isolation for individuals with mental illness. The pressure to appear happy or “put together” in front of others can be overwhelming, leading to increased stress and avoidance behaviors.
Finding Meaning in Suffering: The Easter story offers a powerful message of redemption and hope, but for those struggling with mental illness, finding meaning in their suffering can be a daunting task. Counselors and pastors can help individuals explore the themes of pain, redemption, and transformation within their own lives, guiding them toward a deeper understanding of their journey and the possibility of healing and growth.
Embracing the Resilience of Faith: Despite the challenges they face, individuals with mental illness possess a unique resilience rooted in their faith. Easter serves as a reminder of the transformative power of hope and the promise of new beginnings.

Hope In Sunday, Sunday’s Coming

Easter holds profound significance for individuals struggling with mental illness, offering both challenges and opportunities for healing and growth. As Christian counselors, it’s our responsibility to provide compassionate and affirming support, acknowledging the complexities of our clients’ experiences and guiding them toward resilience, hope, and wholeness in Christ. Pastors and other church leaders, I encourage you to take perspective and not rush by this Friday. It’s not fun, we want to offer that hope right away, but we ourselves need to be reminded that many are living in that hopelessness. By embracing the transformative message of Easter, we can journey alongside individuals with empathy, grace, and unwavering faith.

As the words of S.M. Lockridge are still ringing in my ears, I see the teenage client across from me unable to quit using marijuana and feeling hopeless. They understand Friday. My job is to help them with hope, because Sunday is coming. My client who was abused most of her marriage is feeling isolated and panicked. She understands Friday. My job is to help them with hope, because Sunday is coming. The client who cannot find the motivation to get a job and is suicidal understands Friday. My job is to help them with hope, because Sunday is coming.

It is my hope that we as the Church can gain perspective of our day of Friday and know that the world can be trapped in that hopelessness. We must be intentional to not disway them of their emotions. Sometimes Friday feels like it will never end. But when that stone is turned away, we know there is a gift of hope. Because Sunday is coming.