Hannah in the Group Therapy Circle — Praying and Processing (I Samuel 1-2)
Scripture Focus: 3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
MENTAL HEALTH
Linda F. Williams, M. Ed., M. Th.
8/29/20252 min read
Picture Hannah, the mother of Samuel, not just as the tear-stained woman praying silently in the temple (1 Samuel 1), but as a modern woman sitting in a group therapy circle. She’s clutching a coffee cup, listening as others share their pain.
She still prays — oh, does she pray — but she’s also learning breathing techniques for anxiety, how to set healthy boundaries, and how to identify triggers that deepen her sadness. She is tuning out the outside noise of mockery and being misunderstood.
Why? Because even the most faithful believers can benefit from wise counsel. Because sitting in a situation and observing it in the natural and seeing no change can be overbearing. While Hannah’s prayer was powerful, it didn’t erase the ache of years of longing and ridicule. It did not accelerate the process. It did not remove the sadness and anxiety she felt. She needed space to process that pain, not just suppress it in the name of “being strong.”
The False Divide
Too often, therapy and faith are treated as rival teams, like choosing between Scripture and science. But God is the author of both wisdom and healing. Just as we would never tell someone with diabetes to “just pray” without also seeking medical care, we shouldn’t tell someone with depression to “just have faith” without exploring mental health support.
Hannah’s healing came through prayer and action. She poured out her soul before God, but she also went home, ate, and cared for herself. She returned to her daily life with renewed hope — because healing is not only about the spiritual, it’s about restoring the whole person.
Call to Action:
If you’ve been feeling like you have to “choose” between your faith and mental health care, remember this:
God is not threatened by your therapist.
You can pray in the morning and process in the afternoon.
You can take medication for anxiety and still sing worship songs with a full heart.
Ask yourself: What’s one step I can take this week toward mental wellness that honors both my body and my faith? Then take it.
Because your wholeness is God’s will for you — and healing WHOLLY is HOLY.