Bible Stories About Mental Breakdowns

It can be very tempting to open the Bible and see characters as great heroes of the faith. These are the paragons, the giants of spirituality. Perhaps you think you will never achieve that level of righteousness.

However, the fact is the characters in the Bible are, well, quite human. The Bible is full of stories of their failures, their issues, and in some instances mental breakdowns and madness. Let’s look at a few Bible stories where madness seems to carry the day in a time in society that would not have recognized mental illness as something other than demonic possession. What can you learn from these characters about the goodness of God?

The Pride and Fall of Nebuchadnezzar

Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.Daniel 4:33-34 (NIV)

Have you ever found yourself feeling like life is just going your way, only to have a sudden catastrophe strike? King Nebuchadnezzar did. While the tale of Daniel is full of visions and immediate repercussions, it still holds encouraging words for the modern reader.

Maintaining humility and gratitude is essential to leading a life of faith. If you have not been practicing those things in any real way you may find yourself being confronted with your insecurities when catastrophe strikes.

Saul, A King Tormented

Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.

Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”

So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”1 Samuel 16:14-18 (NIV)

The people of the ancient world may have used different terms for the awful things that can possess humans. Bipolar disorder, deep distress of OCD, and PTSD can cause previously normal people to become violent and terrifying.

Modern medicine and therapy have brought some stability to these conditions for many people. Self-care can look like creating a calm environment, perhaps through music, exercise, and a healthy diet. It is important to seek wise counsel. There are many more resources available to you now than King Saul had available to him.

If you are in a spiritually dark season, seeking Christian counsel will act as a stabilization for the challenges you face.

The Pretexts of David

David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.1 Samuel 21:12-3 (NIV)

David is a complicated character. He is beloved by God and demonstrates great faith. He commits horrible acts of violence and folly. His reputation in war made him feared by his king and the kings of other tribes.

In the story above he felt that he was safer behaving in madness rather than being sane. Hopefully, you never encounter any situations where you need to feign madness to feel safe, but there may be spaces that make you feel crazy. Burnout and stress can be particularly problematic in certain areas of life. Take time to evaluate what areas might be making you feel crazy and find ways to set boundaries for your mental health.

When Legion Returns to Right Mind

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!”For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” 

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 

When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”Mark 5:2-9,15-19 (NIV)

Some stories do include miraculous, almost instantaneous healing from a horrific illness or injury. But sometimes you get so used to a horrible situation that you don’t always know how to cope when things are better. If you have always lived in survival mode, learning how to thrive in healing is different.

In the story of Legion, the people were more afraid of the healer than they ever were of the demon-possessed man. The man himself felt unsure about staying with those people. He had been assigned the role of a madman and people knew what to expect of such a role. His new role was to be a witness to the power and mercy of God.

When chaos and survival mode have been your modus operandi, living an ordinary life can seem boring. It takes time to settle into the goodness of an ordinary day with mundane work. When you heal from trauma and learn to manage mental health issues, you become able to experience a fuller and richer life in God.

Draw near to God

Come near to God and he will come near to you.James 4:8 (NIV)

What role does God play in all of these stories? God is present, ready to be in a relationship with his children. He can see into the darkness of your mind and not be afraid. Your journey should draw you into a closer relationship with Him, without expectations. You may not ever be completely free from depression or mental disorders. The recovery from trauma could be arduous. Yet God does not shy away from the hard parts of you and your life. He is often more present in such seasons than any other.

Reach out to a Christian counselor for help if you feel like you are experiencing a mental breakdown. A caring counselor will work with you to address the roots of your condition and form a specific treatment plan for your unique needs.