“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22
Research has shown that having faith can significantly impact a person’s overall health and well-being. While there are controversies regarding faith and health, much evidence suggests that faith can positively affect physical, mental, and social health outcomes. To make it personal, during a difficult time in my life, my faith in God was the anchor that kept me holding on. (You can read about my deliverance in my previous blog post https://nicoleluallen.wordpress.com/2023/05/07/just-hold-on/)
So how does faith improve your health, you ask? This blog post aims to bring to light the connection between faith and a person’s overall health and well-being.
- Stress Reduction
One of the most significant ways faith can improve health is by reducing stress. Engaging in faith-based practices such as prayer, meditation, and attending church has been proven to lower stress hormone levels in the body. Psalm 1:2-3 teaches us that if we meditate on God’s word day and night, we will be “like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” Focusing on God shifts our perspective and takes our minds off worldly thinking into Kingdom thinking.
A study published in the ‘Journal of Behavioral Medicine’ found that people who attend church services regularly had lower cortisol levels, a stress-related hormone.
In addition, faith provides comfort and hope in difficult times, which can help to reduce stress and anxiety. People with a strong belief in God often report feeling more resilient and better at coping with stress.
2. Mental Health
Faith can also have a positive impact on mental health. Studies have shown that people who strongly believe in God are less likely to experience depression and anxiety. God’s word reminds us that worry and fear do not come from God. If you are reading this and struggle with mental health issues, know you are not alone. I wrestled with anxiety for a significant portion of my life. And have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. My life became much lighter when I fully surrendered to Christ and gave Him all my baggage. There are numerous stories in the Bible of people who also suffered from similar issues. As we become familiar with the word and its teachings, we can walk those out in our everyday lives, thus transforming our minds. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2
1 Peter 5:7 teaches us to “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Worship and anxiety can not exist in the same place. When worry steps in, count your blessings. Fully trusting in God, knowing that He has a plan and a purpose for your life, is extremely important for mental health. A study published in the ‘Journal of Religion and Health’ found that people who reported a sense of meaning and purpose in life had lower levels of depression and anxiety.
3. Physical Health
Faith can also have positive effects on physical health. For example, studies have shown that people with a strong belief in God are likelier to engage in healthy behaviors. In addition, as believers in Jesus Christ, we have the pleasure of the Holy Spirit. One of the countless delights the Holy Spirit gives us is conviction. In turn, it also helps us to live a healthier lifestyle.
Among other things, faith can provide social support, which is linked to better health outcomes. People who attend church services and activities regularly often have a solid social network of like-minded friends who can provide emotional and practical support during difficult times. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20). A wise man, my father, once told me, “You are the company you keep, and if a relationship is toxic, you love them from a distance.” In doing so, this keeps our lives healthy.
In conclusion, God is our source for a healthy lifestyle. We were created by Him and in His image. His presence is our natural inhabitation. If you take a fish out of the water, it dies. So likewise, when we embody disconnection from God, we die.
Kingdom Influencer 