In 2019, I began walking through one of the most difficult seasons of my life. I had clinical anxiety and depression, numerous stomach issues, and had just been diagnosed with possible endometriosis. But instead of receiving the usual get-well cards, hotpots, and encouragement, I was repeatedly told the unsettling words, “Just pray.”
I knew he meant it well, but I couldn’t shake the feeling gnawing deep in my stomach. Did they know about me? Of course I was praying.. There is power in prayer. James 5:16 reminds us that the prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective. Nevertheless, this advice to “pray more” may feel negative and invalid. Sadly, I’m not the only one who’s heard this cliché.
If you are asked to “pray more” in response to your suffering, I want you to know that I am truly sorry. Prayer is great, but it is a powerful reminder that it is okay to ask God and the people He has blessed us with for practical help from the Bible. Here are three things to keep in mind when these Christian clichés aren’t enough.
1. Prayer is the starting point
A few weeks ago, my pastor preached a great sermon series on depression. It was raw, real, vulnerable, and honestly one of the best things I’ve ever heard. In this series, he featured biblical figures who struggle with depression and explained what can help them recover. He mentioned prayer as a helpful antidote. But there’s a catch here. Prayer is the starting point. That’s definitely where you should start when you’re struggling. God wants us to start with Him. He wants to hear what’s in our hearts. But he also gave us permission to find and get practical advice.
Prayer is never intended to replace practical steps, but to guide them. Why else does the Bible tell us to pray without ceasing, always praying under all circumstances? Nehemiah prayed, but he also rebuilt the city wall. Elijah prayed and took care of his physical needs (food, water, rest).
There is a common misconception in Christian circles that prayer is about rattling your tongue and moving on. But prayer is alive and active. It guides, guides, instructs; It lets you know the best next steps and helps you take those actions.
Hebrews 4:12 says: “For the word of God is living and active; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (NIV).
2. Faith and emotion can coexist.
The second thing I learned about the power of prayer is that faith and emotion can coexist. Again, many Christian platitudes try to assert this fact. We hear comments like, “If you trusted God, you wouldn’t have anxiety” or “Depression is a sin,” but nothing could be further from the heart of our Creator.
God created us as human beings with a wealth of emotions. We feel every emotion, but I sometimes feel it too much. Nevertheless, there is a reason why God gave us these feelings. If you need help, it doesn’t mean your faith is weak. You shouldn’t make decisions based solely on emotion, but there’s no shame in doing so. They help us identify signals and move forward in faith regardless of our emotions.
Jesus Christ, the founder of our faith, could also feel emotions. Fully human and yet fully divine, He wept, rejoiced, laughed, and mourned. He prayed, but also asked for support from those around him. This is a reminder that emotions are part of the human and spiritual process. God is not discouraged by our emotions and is with us through them.
3. God also works through people.
Through prayer to the Lord, I have learned that it is okay to need and rely on others. I will never stop praying, but I will also never stop asking people to walk with me on this journey of life. We were never created to live life alone or to view communication with God as legalistic.
Yes, God wants us to seek Him first and to continually speak to Him through prayer. However, it is ignorant to ignore the people, blessings, and resources that God has given us here on earth.
When I was in high school, I heard a story like this. A man drowned in a local city. A neighbor threw a lifesaver at him, but he replied, “No, I’m waiting for God to save me.” So did a fire engine and an ambulance when they arrived on the scene. When he reached heaven, the man asked God, “Why didn’t you help me?” God answered, “I sent lifesavers, fire trucks and ambulances!”
My point is that community, counseling, medication, and support groups are often answers to prayers, not substitutes or substitutes. We need prayer like oxygen, but we also need practical solutions and it’s okay to take advantage of them. We pray for healing, but that healing comes at the hands of humans.
Today’s practical steps
If you are struggling right now, I want you to know that while there is power in prayer, it is okay and often necessary to ask for real, concrete help. God does not despise you. God is proud of you for utilizing the resources He has given you. If that’s scary, start small.
-Pray for peace and Schedule a therapy session.
– Pray for strength and Set healthy boundaries with people who cause you harm.
– I pray for clarity. and Please talk to someone you trust.
– Pray for courage and Try prescribed medications.
-Pray to gain confidence and Tell your best friend what’s on your mind.
– Pray for joy and Please take time to mourn.
-Pray for patience and Ask God what practical steps you can take here and now.
Prayer is powerful and effective, but it should never be used as a cliché to hurt those who are suffering. God meets us in prayer because life is a process.
prayer
Dear God, remind us to be merciful and kind to ourselves when people of goodwill tell us to pray and move on. Let us know that it’s okay to ask for practical help and that you want it. Prayerfully listen and help us identify practical action steps we can take in our daily lives. Thank you for the gift of communication with you, the blessings of others, and the support you have given to our lives. We were never meant to live alone, and don’t feel bad for us for needing concrete hope.
Mark 11:24 says: “Therefore I say to you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (NIV). Therefore, Lord, we pray this with bold and rich faith. Our words are not half-hearted wishes, but come from the deepest part of our hearts. And you feed us through prayer and practical next steps. We love, praise and thank the Lord.
Photo credit: Getty/Jantanee Rungpranomkorn
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up, Amber looked for resources on faith and mental health, but couldn’t find anything. Now, she gives hope to young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond just reading the Bible and praying more. Because even though we love Jesus, we can still be plagued by anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help you navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.
