When it comes to the pain in your life, shouldn’t your faith be enough?

Let’s address a deeply harmful thought some Christians sometimes raise and, so very harmfully, some church leaders teach.

When someone is dealing with real, staggering, life-upending pain (mental, emotional, or physical):

– A Christian surmises: “My faith should be enough to heal my pain,” or …

– A church leader tells them, “Your faith should be enough to heal your pain.”

Innumerable people have had their lives wrecked from believing that biblically inaccurate and irrational idea.

First, let’s clarify that our faith in God should always be our starting point, and that in some cases, even many cases, your faith may be sufficient; sometimes God honors a person’s faith by providing miraculous healing. But that isn’t the only way God provides for healing.

Let’s look at what is wrong with the statement that “my faith should be enough to heal my pain.” Here are a few points to consider:

Misunderstanding of God’s will. The Bible acknowledges that God is a healer and can bring comfort and peace. However, it does not guarantee that believers will be exempt from pain and suffering in this life. Misinterpreting faith as a guarantee of a pain-free existence can quickly lead to disappointment and confusion.

The role of human agency. While faith is essential, the Bible also encourages believers to seek help and support from others, and that would not exclude medical and mental health professionals. Relying solely on faith without considering in addition to or even from faith practical steps to address physical, mental, or emotional pain may neglect the resources and means that God has provided.

Understanding the purpose of pain. The Bible teaches that God can use pain and suffering for a greater purpose, such as spiritual maturing, character development, and drawing individuals closer to Him. Assuming that faith should eliminate pain may overlook the transformative potential of difficult experiences.

Overemphasis on prosperity theology. The mindset that faith should lead to the immediate removal of pain can be associated with certain interpretations of prosperity theology. This teaching suggests that God rewards faithfulness with material and physical prosperity, suggesting that if pain persists in your life, then you must not have an adequate faith. That’s a twisting of scriptures into a lie.

While Christians and our church leaders have improved in this matter regarding physical illness and more widely approve of, and even recommend, seeking professional medical care, the same isn’t true when it comes to the pain from mental health issues, mental illness, and emotional pain. If God chooses to, He can heal all of those things, but we also need to understand He often brings healing through seeking help from others, like working with mental health and medical professionals while having faith that any healing ultimately comes through Him.

Why is this issue a dangerous one? It’s dangerous for the many who believe, or have been told, their faith should be enough and, believing that, fail to take practical steps that God may use to bring healing, leaving them to suffer in their pain.

This needs to change.

Scotty