Nature, Nurture, or Spirit? A Biblical View of Mental Health

Which is it—nature or nurture? Or maybe the real answer is psychological, biological, or spiritual?

Yes.

Confused by my answer? I’m not surprised—it is confusing. Why? Because human beings are not one-dimensional. We carry layers of influence and complexity. Our experiences, environments, and even our biology interact with the spiritual reality of who we are. And if we’re honest, the lines blur.

But here’s the good news: this complexity doesn’t mean God is confused. He is the One who made us, and He knows exactly how every piece of our design fits together. As Scripture reminds us, “You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:13–14). Although each of us is unique—shaped by our family history, personal experiences, and even trauma—we also share common design elements. God created us in His image, with a mind, body, and spirit meant to work in harmony. Sin disrupts that harmony, but it doesn’t erase His design. That’s why we sometimes feel torn when trying to explain mental health. Is depression biological? Is anxiety environmental? Is trauma psychological? Is hope spiritual? The truth is that it can be all of these at once.

I want to be clear: I am limited. My understanding comes from what I’ve studied, lived, and what the Holy Spirit has graciously taught me. Unlike God, I am bound by time, space, and matter. He alone sees every angle perfectly. But based on what I know, I can say this: yes, we are influenced at times by our environment, at times by our biology, and at times by our psychology. And always, our spiritual condition weaves through it all.

Why This Matters for Mental Health

If we ignore the biological, we may dismiss someone who needs medical help. If we ignore the psychological, we may overlook the power of thought patterns that need renewing. If we ignore the environment, we may miss the healing (or harm) of community. And if we ignore the spiritual, we miss the deepest truth—that only in Christ can the human heart find peace. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” Mental health from a biblical perspective calls us to recognize every layer of influence while always anchoring in the One who transforms. So, nature or nurture? Psychology, biology, or spirit? The answer isn’t either/or—it’s all of the above. And yet above it all, God reigns. He uses every piece—our background, our biology, even our brokenness—for His good purposes (Romans 8:28). That’s not confusing. That’s hope.

I want to lay some groundwork. It’s important to recognize that sometimes the root of a mental health struggle is not just one thing. It might not only be biology. It might not only be the environment. It might not only be spiritual. Instead, it’s often a mixture of influences layered together. When we look at Scripture, we see that God created us as whole beings. We are not just bodies, not just minds, and not just souls—we are an integration of all three. The psalmist declared, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalm 103:1). Notice how he doesn’t divide himself into parts—he calls his whole self into worship. In the same way, our struggles cannot always be separated neatly into categories. This foundation matters because it reminds us not to oversimplify what God has made complex. If we reduce mental health only to the spiritual, we risk telling people that faith alone should “fix” them, which can produce guilt and shame when healing doesn’t happen instantly. If we reduce it only to the biological, we risk neglecting the hope, peace, and transformation that only Christ can give.

The biblical view calls us to hold the tension: we are embodied souls, created in God’s image, affected by a fallen world, yet being renewed day by day through His Spirit. That’s the bigger picture. So, as we move forward into specific topics—like anxiety, depression, trauma, and resilience—remember this: God sees the whole you. And because He made you, He knows exactly how to restore you.

References

New International Bible (2011). Zondervan. (Original work published 1978).