But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
James 5:14 (NIV)Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.
1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)The Church Parking Lot Conversation
There is a conversation that happens in church parking lots. In small groups. In one-on-one conversations with well-meaning friends. It goes like this: "Have you tried praying about it? Have you tried just trusting God? I just think maybe you should try to get through it naturally."
How It Feels
For the person on the other side of that conversation, it feels like a judgment. It feels like their faith is being questioned. It feels like they are being told that if they just prayed harder, or trusted more, they would not need that pill.
The Diabetes Question
That conversation is wrong. Let me ask you something: if you had diabetes, would someone tell you to just pray about it and not take insulin? If you had a heart condition, would someone tell you that taking medication meant you did not trust God? No. They would tell you to go to the doctor, follow your treatment plan, and take care of your body.
The Mental Health Double Standard
So why is it different with mental health? Why is it that when the thing that needs treatment is in your brain instead of your pancreas, suddenly faith becomes the alternative to treatment?
Your Brain Is Physical
Your brain is an organ. Your neurotransmitters are real. Your nervous system is physical. And sometimes, the chemistry in your brain does not work the way it should. That is not a spiritual problem. It is a physical problem. And it deserves physical treatment.
God Heals in Different Ways
God heals. But He heals in different ways. Sometimes He heals instantly, miraculously, dramatically. And sometimes He heals gradually, through doctors, through medication, through therapy, through time. Both are legitimate. Both are from God.
Check Your Own Assumptions
If you are someone who has judged others for taking medication for anxiety or mental health, examine that. Ask yourself why you believe medication equals weak faith. Talk to someone who takes medication and listen to their story. If you are someone who takes medication and feels shame about it, write down 3 truths: God works through medication, my brain is physical and deserves care, and I am not failing at faith.
- What messages have you heard about medication and faith? Where did they come from?
- How do you view the relationship between spiritual healing and physical treatment?
- What would it look like to see medication as a gift from God rather than a failure?
- How can you support someone in your life who takes medication for mental health?
- Why do you think the church treats mental health differently than physical health?
- Can you see medication as part of God's healing rather than separate from it?
- What would it mean to take responsibility for your brain the same way you take responsibility for the rest of your body?
Father, forgive me for the times I have judged myself for needing help. Forgive the church for making people feel ashamed for taking care of their brains. Help me to see that you work through doctors, through medication, through the physical means you have provided. My body is your temple. My brain is part of that temple. Give me the wisdom to take care of all of it. And help me to extend grace to others who are on their own journey with medication and mental health. In Jesus' name, Amen.
You are not broken. You are being treated. There is a difference.
With honesty and hope, Claire