Resist The Urge to Make Self-Help Your Idol

In a world where self-help books line our shelves and mental health resources are just a click away, it's easy to fall into the trap of relying solely on our own efforts to find happiness and fulfillment. While "all the things" can offer valuable tools and strategies, they can never replace the power of faith in God.

As a Christian life coach, I've seen firsthand how easily self-help and mental health work can become idols in people's lives. I mean shot, many of the people who call me to work with me fall into this line of thinking!

That's why I wanted to just write a quick reminder today. It's not just easy, it is a major temptation of the flesh to start to believe that if we just follow the right steps, read the right books, or practice the right techniques, we can somehow achieve lasting peace and joy on our own terms.

But the truth is, true fulfillment can only be found in a relationship with our Creator.

Scripture reminds us time and time again of the importance of placing our trust in God above all else. In Proverbs 3:5-6, we're encouraged to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Not only should we place our trust in God (and not ourselves or any other human), but we can place our hearts in His hands as well, and in so doing we acknowledge that He is the ultimate source of healing and restoration. While self-help techniques may provide temporary relief, only God can offer true comfort and healing from the inside out. As it says in Psalm 34:17-18, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

That's not to say that "doing the work" has no value. On the contrary, when approached from a place of faith and with the Biblical worldview they can complement our spiritual journey and help us grow closer to God in radical ways. However, we must be careful not to let these tools overshadow the importance of cultivating a deep and intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father on our own. 

Friend, if you find yourself caught up in the pursuit of self-help or mental health work as the answer to all your problems, I encourage you to take a step back and put that work in it's proper place.

Remember that true healing and fulfillment can only be found in God's presence. Yes, I said it. It's true still... today in 2025. There are no shortcuts to the satisfaction your soul longs for, the sanctification you desire or the power you seek. They simply can not be found outside of God because they don't exists outside of Him.