Question: I recently heard a ministry leader say that everyone—no matter how healthy they seem—could benefit from counseling. Do you agree? If I’m praying and reading the Bible, would counseling otherwise benefit my walk with Jesus?
Answer: I agree we all may benefit from counseling at pivotal points in our lives. Working with a qualified Christian counselor can help to enrich and deepen our relationships with one another, and with God.
Most of us have gone through times in our lives when we worked hard to do all the right things, including reading Scripture and praying faithfully. At the same time, we may have felt distant or even overlooked by God. I agree, the sanctifying acts of reading God’s Word and praying are vitally important and should be part of our everyday Christian obedience; however, I have counseled many obedient Christians who found themselves feeling utterly alone. Counseling can help us discover more fully the nature of God, the grace of God, and the enjoyment of God.
God’s relationship with us is built upon his qualities, not our own. Counselors are relationship experts who know that when we are enjoying the presence of God, we are actively engaged in a healing relationship. You may have experienced this in your other relationships. Have you noticed how much closer you feel to a child, a parent, or a co-worker when you enjoy their company? The enjoyment of God is a choice we can make all day long. Developing a meaningful understanding of God’s grace will motivate us to read the Bible and pray to know him more.
As Christians we often refer to our walk with the Lord; how might it change our relationship with God to realize it is his walk we have been invited to join?
Happily, I see less stigma attached to counseling within the Christian community today than ever before. I am also encouraged that your ministry leader understands the challenges and potential anxiety we all will face. A mentor of mine once made this unforgettable observation, “No one gets through this life unscathed.”
Mark McCormick is director of clinic operations for Illinois Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services.