When "Just Pray About It" Isn't Enough: A Faithful Response to Mental Health Struggles
Too many Christians suffering from anxiety, depression, trauma, or chronic stress find themselves silenced by one well-meaning but deeply dismissive phrase: "Just pray about it."
And while no believer would ever question the power of prayer—it is sacred, essential, and sustaining—prayer is not the only tool God has given us. When prayer becomes a substitute for action, empathy, or real support, it can hurt far more than it helps.
The Impact of Spiritual Dismissal
Imagine a drowning person calling for help—and someone on shore shouting, "Just swim! You'll be fine!" That’s how it feels to many who are battling mental health issues in faith communities. It’s not a lack of belief in God—it’s the pain of being unheard.
I’ve experienced this firsthand. When I tried to share why spiritual conventions are hard for me to attend because of anxiety, the response I received was, "Just pray about it. God is the answer." While it may have been well-intended, it didn’t feel like comfort—it felt like dismissal.
And that’s where the deeper damage begins: you begin to question your own faith. You wonder, "If I still feel this way, is my faith broken? Am I not doing enough?" Shame creeps in quietly. And then you stop talking about it altogether.
Psychology Meets Faith: Why This Matters
From a psychological perspective, invalidating someone’s experience—no matter how lovingly—is still invalidation. It cuts off connection. It says, "I’m not safe to open up to." People need emotional safety before they can even begin to heal.
Emotionally safe relationships reflect Christ’s model of compassion. Jesus never ignored pain. He never said, “You just need more faith.” He wept with those who wept. He touched lepers. He sat with the outcasts. That’s the kind of love that leads to healing.
Biblical Foundations for Practical Help
Some might think offering support outside of prayer dilutes faith. But Scripture teaches otherwise:
"Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?"
— James 2:15–16
The message is clear: words without action fall short. Faith isn’t shown by saying the right thing—it’s shown by doing the right thing. That includes listening without judgment, offering a ride to therapy, helping someone find a counselor, or just sitting in silence with someone who’s grieving.
What Real Support Looks Like
If you want to truly support someone in emotional or spiritual pain, try this instead:
Listen without trying to fix it. Just being there is ministry.
Say, “That sounds really hard. I’m so sorry you're going through this.”
Ask, “How can I support you right now?”
Offer both prayer and presence.
Normalize tools like counseling, journaling, support groups, or medication—none of these negate faith. In fact, they can be instruments of healing through faith.
A Final Word to the Hurting
If you're someone who has been hurt by spiritual dismissal, let me say this clearly:
Struggling does not mean your faith is broken. Having anxiety, depression, or trauma doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human.
Faith is not the absence of struggle. It's the courage to keep reaching for God even when the waves are high.
Let’s be people who reflect the fullness of Christ—not just His holiness, but His humility. Not just His divinity, but His deep compassion.
Let’s not dismiss pain. Let’s not cover wounds with silence and call it faith. Let’s be the kind of believers who pray and listen. Who pray and show up. Who pray and point others toward healing—not shame.