‘When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ Romans 5:12-21 (NLT)
You should rationally bring to mind many thoughts about Christ and grace for each thought you have about your sin and misery. God requires you to see your sin and misery, but in a manner that tends to direct our attention to the solution and to cause us to embrace it. Are your sins ever before you? Why not also the forgiving grace in Christ too? Are your struggles and guilt open before you? Why is not the Redeemer also before you? God has set life first before you, and not only death. He has put Christ, holiness, and heaven on his side of the scales; the Devil puts the pleasure of sin for a season on the other. The one you choose without any pretense is yours. God has given you your choice. Nothing is more true than this: God has so fully given Christ and life to all who hear the gospel that nothing but their final obstinate refusal can condemn them.
Romans 5:12-21
“There is a lot of difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God’s gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to Him, even though we have sinned many times… God has treated us with undeserved grace, and He has accepted us because of Jesus.”
Throughout the devotions above, you probably noticed that many of them direct your thoughts and heart toward God. By this, it helps us to remind ourselves that we struggle with our mental health for a season. He has set life before us to live. Mental health is the ability in which we cope with different stressors in our lives & ability to overcome difficulties. How much more health to your mental health can we gain by allowing God to assist us through these life challenges?
from Mental Health Devotional in ASL