In this post, I want to introduce Jesus as a regulator.  

Because He regulates your emotions and nervous system. 

Mental illness comes along with emotions that are dysregulated. You can feel overwhelmed or like you’re living on an emotional rollercoaster. While going through mental illness, you rarely feel at peace. This makes it easy to be carried away by overwhelming thoughts and emotions. 

A biblical story that aligns with this characteristic of Christ is Peter sinking in the water (Matthew 14:22-33). The disciples were in a boat, and Jesus was walking on the lake towards them. First, the disciples were scared and cried out: “It’s a ghost.” Jesus answered: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then Peter stepped out of the water towards Jesus, but started to get afraid because of the wind. He started to sink and cried out to Jesus.

‘Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt? (verse 31).’ The story ends with the wind dying down. 

Can you resonate with these disciples? 

Do you feel fear during your mental suffering? 

Does it seem like you are sinking in your mental battles? 

I want to zoom in on the Lord’s response to Peter’s situation. Peter started to sink and, in his distress, cried out to Jesus. 

Immediately, the Lord reached out to him and grabbed Him. 

Jesus regulated Peter’s emotions by His presence (physically reaching out to him and grabbing him) and His word (His comforting words). 

This is exactly how Jesus responds to you when you cry out to Him in your emotional distress. 

He will respond immediately to your cry. 

He will regulate your emotions by relativizing for you. 

He will regulate you with His presence and His word.   

He will grab you out of your emotional distress by showing you a way out (a few examples could be going for a walk or doing breathing exercises). 

You’ll leave His presence better than the way you entered it.

In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. – Psalm 94:19