In recent years, there has been a lot of conversation and research surrounding the positive impacts prayer can have on individuals both psychologically and emotionally.
Paula White of Paula White Ministries reflected on faith during the height of the pandemic, finding that people of all walks of life committed to prayer to motivate themselves and others through crisis.
Among all forms of complementary medicine, prayer is by far the most widely practiced modality for healing. Even so, many are not fully aware of the healing capabilities that prayer can have for its practitioners.
Here, Paula White explores a few of the most widely recognized benefits of prayer- as well as how they can be harnessed by practitioners for wholistic health and wellness.
What is Prayer?
Paula White recognizes that- for many of members of religious communities- prayer is compulsory. We often do not think about what exactly constitutes prayer because it is a practice that we uphold naturally.
When exploring the benefits of prayer, however, it is important to consider what prayer means to the religious community.
Prayer is largely defined as some form of communication with a higher power.
Prayer has a very personal meaning and may look different from person to person, especially depending upon their religious background or spiritual practice.
While there is no set way to pray or reason that practitioners pray, there are many commonalities between how and why we do. We may pray for acceptance, peace, health, advice, or even just to further fuel our relationship with our creator.
What are the Psychological and Emotional Benefits of Prayer?
Over the years, scientists have found many different correlations between prayer and the ability to balance our psychological and emotional health.
One of the most powerful aspects of prayer is that it is accessible to many- regardless of their creed, color, or background. None of us are in higher standing than one another in the eyes of a higher power. The potential scope of prayer emphasizes the importance of research that can evaluate its capacity to heal.
When exploring the research that has been provided over the years, Paula White of Paula White Ministries finds that there are several ways that prayer is positively correlated with improved psychological and emotional regulation.
Improves Stress Management
Prayer has been found to inhibit the release of cortisol- the stress hormone- and is considered a positive form of stress management.
Stress can be a contributing factor to a variety of different ailments such as body pains, exhaustion, headaches, high blood pressure, muscle tension, and stomach issues. Stress management is a resource to indirectly alleviate some of the havoc that stress can place on our bodies and minds.
There are many reasons why experts suggest that prayer can help manage stress. For example, individuals who pray often do so to find clarity during obstacles and difficult situations.
Finding solace in God and members of the religious community through prayer can impact stress by combating feelings of loneliness. Making it through difficult situations can seem more manageable when we do not feel as though we are carrying the load by ourselves.
It is important to note that prayer’s positive effect on stress can be dependent on a few factors. For example, Blake V. Kent- who studies prayer at Baylor University- found that one’s perception of a higher power can influence their stress levels.
Practitioners who view God and his influence in a positive light will associate prayer with positive mental health outcomes, according to Kent. Meanwhile, those who view God’s influence as distant or vengeful are more likely to have prayer associated with negative outcomes.
Reduces Anxiety and Depression
In addition to helping practitioners manage stressful emotions, researchers have also found that those who keep up with prayer can be less prone to anxiety and depression.
According to the American Psychological Association, those who pray and maintain strong religious beliefs may experience less anxiety response and are more likely to report calm feelings.
A 2009 study by Dr. Harold Koenig- the director of the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health at Duke University found that six weekly in-person Christian prayer sessions with patients at a primary care office reduced their depression and anxiety symptoms while increasing their optimism.
There are many proposed reasons why prayer can reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. One of the most common provided is that prayer offers emotional comfort through maintaining a relationship with a higher power.
It is important to remember that, for many of the studies on prayer’s impact on depression and anxiety, prayer was used as complementary treatment.
This means that prayer should not be a substitute for medical care- but it can be a great way to bring about positive feelings that help practitioners recontextualize events in their lives and keep up with their other methods of treatment.
Some professionals turned to prayer to prayer during the height of the pandemic to combat feelings associated with burnout
Helps Manage Anger and Aggression
Paula White recognizes that the scientific community has long since discovered a link between anger and negative health implications.
Chronic feelings of anger and aggression can make an individual susceptible to conditions such as high blood pressure, heart problems, digestive problems, headaches, and even skin disorders.
Anger is also linked to issues such as emotional and physical abuse, crime, and other violent behaviors that can impact our health outcomes.
Research has shown that prayer can help reduce feelings of anger and aggression. In a
2011 study performed by Ryan H. Bremner, Sander L. Koole, and Brad J. Bushman, researchers found that participants that prayed over a stranger, friend in need, or person who recently angered them, they were more likely to report lower feelings of anger and aggression.
There are many reasons why experts believe prayer can be utilized as a resource for anger management, with many being linked to the perspective that prayer can bring to its practitioners.
When we can recontextualize negative situations in another light, we can be more forgiving and empathic in our interactions with others.
Sure, this has a positive impact on the people that surround us, but it can also be a great method for avoiding stewing over negative emotions and impacting our own health as a result.
How Can We Harness the Power of Prayer?
Paula White Ministries upholds the belief that prayer is a very personal process that can look very different from person to person.
Regardless, Paula White maintains that there are certainly tried-and-true ways to harness the power of prayer to help ourselves and others.
One of the most important things to remember is that how we contextualize events that happen in our lives matters. When we associate God with understanding, strength, and support, we are much more likely to see positive outcomes as a result of our prayer.
Paula White also speaks to how harnessing the power of prayer is made easier through the support of the religious community.
The positive emotions that we feel through prayer can be used as a foundation to benefit people who need support the most- empowering us to each other shoulder the burden of stressors that can negatively impact our health.
