Was just thinking about this while doing yoga today. Why do people rely on God when they are going through a bad phase. or increase their belief in spirituality? Like repeating or chanting hymns or mantras etc. Is it because they wish to block their mind from the sad happenings in their life? so that they can forget and move on??

When we take charge of our own lives, things seem to go astray.  When we call on God the plan is unveiled and we move into it smoothly and happily.

I think God is a psychological need of a person. In facing difficulties of life when a person find helpless, he ...think, like to think or forced to think, that there should be some power which is not helpless like human.  Slowly and silently it develops the concept of God in ancient people. You will find no nation even in prehistoric period who do not believe in God. As they are not one but spread on earth, so they arrive at different conclusions, which creates different religion and faith.
But in trouble everyone seek the help of mighty power and to amuse him chant hymns or mantras
When we are sure that God is with us, we feel calm .