I’m Precious, and this is how I learned that faith and therapy can walk hand in hand.
Growing up in a deeply Christian home, I believed prayer was the cure for every wound. When I first felt the crushing weight of anxiety, a tightness in my chest, and sleepless nights filled with racing thoughts I turned to my church family. I prayed for hours, fasted, and sat through countless sermons, hoping that my devotion alone would lift the fog. My pastor would remind the congregation: “God is our healer; trust Him first.” I believed him wholeheartedly.
But as months passed, the anxiety only grew louder. I began to feel ashamed, was I lacking faith? Was I not praying hard enough? Seeing a counsellor felt taboo like I was saying prayer wasn’t enough. Just as the Holy Spirit always knows what I need per time, an organization (MANI) came to our church for a mental health awareness program and the speaker was able to make it make sense how I could seek professional support without betraying my faith. Talking to a professional will help you understand your thoughts and emotions in a new way and your faith is also super important as it helps you trust the process. Her words struck me: perhaps seeking help could be an act of faith, not a betrayal of it.
That week, with trembling hands, I booked a counselling session. My first appointment felt surreal, I was on the phone, admitting that prayer alone hadn’t eased my mind. My counsellor, with understanding, encouraged me to keep my faith and also taught me coping strategies to manage my symptoms. “Your beliefs are sacred,” she said, “and using medication or tools God has given us does not diminish your faith. It enriches it.”
Since this had been long ongoing, after the second session, she recommended I get a comprehensive psychological assessment. She sensed my reluctance. But I feel much better, I said but she took her time to explain the importance of the assessment and not stopping at this point because of the initial relief from the counseling sessions. It was also helpful to know that MANI had a referral system in place that guided people like myself to further appropriate support.
After I got my assessment done, my doctor suggested a low-dose anti-anxiety medication and recommended psychotherapy alongside. I hesitated. I prayed for clarity, for guidance. Eventually, I realized that my worry was clouding my ability to hear the gentle whisper of peace that God wanted for me. I began taking the medication alongside daily prayers. Slowly, I noticed the fog lifting, the space between my panicked breaths widened, and I could hear myself think more clearly.
After about 3 months of receiving support, I shared my journey during a women’s fellowship meeting. Some looked surprised; others nodded understandingly. I discussed how prayer grounded me in hope while therapy taught me to identify triggers and process painful memories. I talked about medication as a gift, something to restore balance when my body’s chemistry was out of sync. By the end, a few women approached me saying, “I thought I had to choose between faith and help. Thank you for showing me I don’t.”
Today, my relationship with God feels deeper than ever. Prayer is still my anchor, but I also walk through life equipped with practical tools: breathing exercises, an emergency phone number for a counsellor, knowledge of where to seek help and a daily medication that steadies my heart. My spiritual community and my therapist both celebrate when I share breakthroughs and hold my hand when I stumble. I’ve learned that seeking mental health support isn’t a sign of weak faith, it’s a declaration that I believe God wants me whole in both spirit and mind.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you can truly “trust God” and also trust a counsellor or medication, know this: you can. Faith and therapy are not opposing forces; they are allies in your journey toward wholeness. In combining prayer with professional care, I found a fuller, richer peace, one that reminds me daily, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made, and you deserve every tool God has provided to be well.”
