Several years ago, I had back surgery. Before the surgery, I prayed and believed God could heal me. The night before the surgery, I had no pain and was convinced God had done a miracle. I rejoiced but woke up the next morning in excruciating pain and needed the surgery.

The surgery was a success, and I had my healing. Looking back at the night free of pain, I believe God gave me the rest I needed to go through with that procedure.

My healing was no less a miracle than if God had touched my back immediately and healed it without surgery. In this case, He used the skillful hand of the surgeon to accomplish the healing, even though I had faith that God could do it without the surgeon’s help.

God is all powerful. Healing, I have learned comes in many ways.

So why is it that when we talk about mental disorders like obsessive compulsive, depression, anxiety, etc., we believe prayer alone heals people? Why do we stigmatize people with these disorders and believe they somehow lack faith, have sinned or need to trust God more? Why would we steer them away from sources of healing that God provides?

Many mental disorders have clear biological roots. We can now see this on brain scans. And we are beginning to identify the genetic markers for these disorders. So just like needing a back surgery, some people need medication or other types of treatment.

I do pray for healing over my mental health clients. I believe God can heal their brain chemistry the same way He can heal a tumor. For years, I have prayed that prayer. However, what I see most often is God healing through the providers who treat people with these disorders.

This tension we feel in the church about mental illness and healing need not be. Our position is to believe for healing. Then we allow God to do what only He can do. That may involve the use of medicines, doctors, and mental health professionals.

God gave us the ability to see into the brain, to develop medicines, to discover the treatments that help people. God equips us to do His work.

We need to be careful in limiting God to heal the way we think He should. Sometimes, a progressive healing gives people the opportunity to work on various parts of their lives they wouldn’t consider under different circumstances. Only God sees the whole picture. He knows what is best for us. The outcome of someone struggling with a mental illness can be a more intimate walk with God, a conversion, or a new compassion and empathy.

So let’s stop stigmatizing those struggling with mental illness, continue to pray, but also use all our resources to facilitate healing.