We all have to trust something in life. We quickly realize we are unable to live life completely independent of anything or anyone else. The human experience is an interdependent one that relies on others to live, sustain, and flourish. The fact of the matter is that I cannot even see myself fully and accurately […]
As a counselor, you will share some of the deepest and darkest moments with others. For me those moments are walking with women who struggle with suicidal ideation. Some of whom I’ve lost. Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in the US for all ages[1]. This statistic alerts us that the people who could be […]
Good Friday. It almost seems a contradiction in terms—good and Friday—when we consider the brutal crucifixion of the sinless Son of God. The One who healed the sick, calmed the storm, and called the dead to life was mocked, beaten, and nailed to a cross. And yet, it was through this very darkness that redemption […]
In our previous post, we considered a bigger picture of biblical counseling, originating in the Garden, with God offering counsel to mankind and calling mankind to share it with others in order to display His glory and serve the best interest of His people. We continue in this post, seeing throughout scripture how God’s counsel […]
Counseling ministry has existed from the beginning of the world, originating with God in the Garden towards mankind and for mankind to share with others. A Big Picture for Biblical Counseling Counseling is not a new kind of ministry or activity. People didn’t create it during recent centuries. Since the beginning of the world, God […]
Post-traumatic stress disorder, a profoundly intense response to profoundly dangerous experiences, manifests itself in fear, terrifying vulnerability, and lack of a sense of control. While these responses are often involuntary, Jeremy Lelek reminds us that they are still responses . . . and, thus, different responses are possible. Here he relates the narrative of creation, fall, and redemption to the experiences of PTSD, reminding us that the gospel speaks to our experiences with danger as part of its redemptive message. He points to the wisdom of God in our suffering and reminds us of the saving grace offered by Jesus, guiding readers to the peace and contentment found in seeking God’s glory. Sample Chapter: /sites/default/files/files/Sample chapter(1).pdf
For as bright as the holidays may be, it is equally dark for many, allowing us to live out our divine call to counsel in helping others find peace this Christmas! The holiday season is again upon us ushering in a seemingly magical transformation of social life. Celebration is the theme of the season, and […]
Is biblical counseling exclusively about passing along theological information from one person to another? As practitioners of God’s Word are we to only occupy ourselves with doctrinal understanding or scriptural application as it regards the sin and sufferings of others? While theology and doctrinal acuity are essential components of biblical counseling, wisdom guides us to understand that,
Among the most prominent paradigms in biblical counseling is that of idolatry. The profound and pioneering work in this area by men like David Powlison (1999), Ed Welch (2003), and Paul Tripp (1999) served as an iconoclastic force for my personal understanding of human motivation. During my initial years as a counselor, I operated in a perpetual
A Christian’s identity is no pseudo-identity, as is the case with Halloween costumes, but is the deepest identity by which the believer is known by God. Today, we usher in October 31st, 2022—a day our culture recognizes as Halloween. It is a day that finds traditions spanning from the innocence of watching Shultz’s Great Pumpkin […]
