There’s a strange tension in the church world sometimes—a kind of unspoken rule that if you really trust Jesus, you shouldn’t need help beyond prayer and Scripture. I don’t believe that anymore. Actually, I stopped believing that the moment I found myself praising God on Sunday and then quietly crying in my car on Monday.
Let me say this plainly: You can love Jesus with your whole heart and still need a therapist. That doesn’t make your faith weak—it makes you human.
I didn’t grow up hearing people talk about therapy. What I heard was, “Take it to the Lord in prayer.” And don’t get me wrong—I did. I still do. But there came a time when I realized I was praying for healing while avoiding the process of healing. I had scripture, but I also had scars. I had faith, but I also had feelings I hadn’t unpacked.
There’s a verse in Proverbs 4:7 that says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” That understanding may come through your devotion time and through a trained counselor who helps you sift through the weight of things you’ve carried silently for years.
For me, it was sitting across from someone who didn’t quote a scripture but instead asked, “And how did that make you feel as a child?” I felt seen. I felt challenged. And for the first time in a long time, I felt safe enough to say, “That hurt me more than I thought.”
Jesus is a healer—yes, absolutely. But healing sometimes involves community, conversation, and counseling. I think about the story of Lazarus. Jesus raised him from the dead, but then He told the people around Lazarus to “take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:44) Even after resurrection, there was still some unwrapping to do.
Some of us are resurrected in spirit, but still walking around with grave clothes on our emotions. We’re breathing but bound. That’s where therapy can help. It’s not replacing Jesus—it’s honoring the healing He wants for your whole self.
And if I’m honest, I still have moments where I wrestle with both faith and feelings. But now, I don’t wrestle alone. I have trusted people in my life—pastors, friends, and yes, a therapist—who help me walk through the valleys with grace and understanding.
So if you’re reading this and you’re afraid to reach out for help, hear this from someone who’s been there: It’s okay. It’s not a betrayal of your faith. It’s a step toward wholeness.
Because you can love Jesus… and still need a therapist.
And sometimes, that’s the most courageous kind of faith there is.
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