When You Can't Pray the Pain Away

Debra K. Fileta Apr 25 2012

Why do so many Christians see counseling as a last resort? I heard a joke once about a man who was drowning, but he had faith that God would rescue him. A jet ski came by, but he declined, saying, "Ive prayed, and God will rescue me!" A rescue boat came by, but again he declined, saying, "No thanks, God will rescue me!" A helicopter came by, but a third time he declined, saying, "God will rescue me!" And finally, he drowned. When he awoke to heaven, he approached God and asked Him, "But Lord, you promised to save me." To which God replied, "I tried. I sent a jet ski and a rescue boat and a helicopter but you never got on board! It might get you to crack a smile or even chuckle, but I have found there to be so much truth in this concept, particularly within the walls of the Church. I recently met a young man who was praying for God to get him out of a really difficult situation. Praying, praying and praying. His life had been headed down a dangerous path, and he was waiting for God to rescue him. He had done nothing to get himself to a better place. He had sought no accountability. He had made no plans and taken no action toward improvement. He was just praying. I admire people of faith. Its important to believe and to live as though what you believe is already trueto trust God completely, fully, recklessly. The problem comes when people exchange the guise of faith for the role of passivity and sink into a pattern that lacks action and takes no responsibility. Faith without deeds can be paralyzing, particularly when we begin to expect God to live for us rather than looking for Him to work throughus.

As a licensed professional counselor who also happens to be a Christian, I run into people who dont always believe in my line of work. They are firm believers that prayer is enough. They dismiss the value of counseling and therapy, considering it a man-made replacement for the power of God. Im a firm believer in prayer and encourage many of my clients to pray, and sometimes I even pray with them. Prayer flings open the doors between heaven and Earth, inviting the power of God to invade our situation. But counseling doesnt negate prayer; it complements prayer. It is a beautiful partnership that challenges us to match our faith with action. It calls us to give to God what we cant control and to seek to change what we can. Maybe you are feeling stuck in feelings, behaviors or struggles you cant seem to manage on your own. Maybe the pain of your past or the fears of your present paralyze you from living your life the way God has called you to live. If so, consider the following things as you contemplate whether or not counseling is right for you. Are you dealing with a problem that has a daily effect on your life? Problems come and problems go; thats the nature of humanity. But there are some seasons in life in which problems, negative feelings or destructive thoughts and habits start seeping into the day to day, becoming a part of our routine. These things can begin to take a toll on our lives, affecting our relationships, jobs and responsibilities. If you feel caught in a daily battle that doesnt seem to be letting up, maybe its time to consider trying something new. Is this something you've been struggling with for over one month and cant break free of on your own? Many times struggles begin small but eventually snowball into something that seems way beyond our control. It may be an innocent habit, a deficit in communication or a small sin that begins to take root in a way that you never imagined. When these seemingly insignificant seeds begin to take root, they can overtake your life and wreak havoc. Dont give your struggles the opportunity to settle in and grow by letting one more day go by. If youve been struggling with something specific for over a month, its time to take seriously the prospect of counseling now. Is this something that's causing you to engage in self-destructive or harmful behavior or is hurting those around you? Some habits and struggles are subtle, secret and out of sight. Others are loud and clear, unable to be hidden from the eyes of others. Either way, both have the potential to do damage in the life of a believer. Whether it's in the form of an eating disorder, addiction or even a harmful relationship, these things can silently sneak into your life in so many different ways. If you are caught in a pattern of thinking or behaving that is causing pain or harm to your life or the lives of those around you, now is your opportunity to consider getting some help. You want to prevent struggles before they happen. This is not something normally thought of when it comes to the arena of counseling, but its so crucial. The best way to tackle a problem is to deal with it before it begins. Working in the area of relationships, I see a lot of young men and women who are trying to get a head start on healthy relationships through counseling focused on premarital issues and marriage communication enhancement, and even singles wanting to make the best choices before they take the plunge into a relationship. From emotional management to addictions prevention, the list goes on and onbut the goal is always the same: to continue the lifelong process of healing and growth.

Its time for Christians to stop talking about prayer and begin living a life that reflects our prayers, a life that puts deeds to our faith, a life that seeks to engage the avenues and opportunities that God has put in place for our healing and growth. He doesnt grab our hand and lead us into this process by force. He simply asks us to stretch out our hand toward Him in faithour weak, tired and powerless hand. And just like the paralytic in Matthew 12:13, when we begin to act in faith, we find that we are empowered and enabled to do exactly what He asks of us. Perhaps for you, its time to stretch out your hand and begin your journey of healing. That may mean shutting off the Internet, getting rid of the alcohol, forgiving a relative or finally breaking up with that boyfriend or girlfriend. Or it may mean seeking accountability, admitting that you need help and confessing some hidden sins. No matter the size of your pit or how long youve been living in it, today is the day to start climbing out of iteven if it requires assistance. Debra K. Fileta is a licensed professional counselor specializing in relationship and marital issues. She, her husband and their daughter live in Hershey, Pa. She is currently writing her first book on dating and finding true love. Visit her blog at www.debslessonslearned.blogspot.com.

Consider finding a licensed professional counselor through the American Association of Christian Counselors.