Finding Peace: How Divine Mercy and CBT Helped Me Heal from Anxiety and Depression

For a long time, I felt stuck in a cycle of anxiety, guilt, and sadness. I prayed, I journaled, I tried to “think positive,” but it all felt like I was treading water. It wasn’t until I started learning about Divine Mercy and exploring Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that things began to shift—slowly, gently, but deeply.

Divine Mercy, the message Jesus gave to St. Faustina, hit me right in the heart. “Jesus, I trust in You.” That one line became my anchor. Not because I always felt it—but because I needed it. When I couldn’t trust myself, when I was drowning in shame or self-doubt, that prayer reminded me: I don’t have to carry this alone.

At the same time, CBT gave me the tools to untangle the lies I was believing about myself—things like “I’m not good enough,” “I’ve messed up too much,” or “God must be disappointed in me.” I learned to pause, challenge those thoughts, and reframe them. It wasn’t about pretending everything was fine—it was about speaking truth to the fear.

What surprised me most was how well these two worked together. CBT helped me clear the mental clutter, and Divine Mercy filled that cleared space with hope, forgiveness, and real peace. When I started catching a harsh thought, I’d ask myself, Would Jesus say that to me? Spoiler: He wouldn’t.

If you’re in that heavy place right now—please know you’re not alone. There is healing. There is help. And there is a God whose mercy is bigger than the mess, more patient than your doubts, and more faithful than your fear.

Jesus, I trust in You. Even if you can only whisper it—start there. It’s more than enough.