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Biblical Counseling

How do you know if you need counseling?

“As the waves of life circumstances continually crash on the shore of life, with each new wave, the believer must choose how to respond, what to live for, and whom to live for.”

Kevin Carson

Whether or not you need counseling resembles the difference between a rainy day, several rainy days, or a full-on hurricane. If a rainy day represents the lighter trials we experience, rain might be tolerable and easier to navigate. But if several rainy days persist, or worse, a hurricane sweeps over us, we may need counseling. Consider the answers to the following questions:

~ Are the troubles in your life fast, furious, or constant?

~ Are they overwhelming or hard to bear?

~ Are you struggling to get your footing?

~ Are the relationships in your life at an impasse, or worse, close to failing?

~ Are you stuck in a cycle of anxiety, depression, anger, or any other emotional turmoil?

If you have answered yes to any of these and find that your usual ways of helping yourself seem to fall short, you need help. Sometimes, you do all the right things like study the Bible, pray, worship, and talk to a trusted friend, but your situation wrangles you right back into its clutches. You will benefit from having several intentional conversations with a trained biblical counselor.

Like a hurricane, it’s easy to get mired in the storm and not find a way through our suffering. I can only imagine how comforted the Israelites felt when Isaiah encouraged them with these words:

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you,

O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2).

The Israelites were no strangers to the consequences of their sin or the outward oppression of others. They intimately understood suffering. Isaiah, like a biblical counselor, came alongside them to remind them that God is their Creator and Redeemer. He told them to “fear not” because the Lord has saved them and personally knew their name; they belonged to him.

Israel had, would, and continues to have many tribulations in life, as we do. Notice what verse two says “when you pass through the waters”; it does not say “if you pass.” Troubles are a guarantee in this world. Jesus said so himself in John 16:33. Isaiah also tells the Israelites, and you and me, that God is with us. He is present through the hurricanes of life, even the rainy days. Nothing is beyond his power to save, and nothing bounds his love to help. But sometimes, we miss this when our troubles loom large. Like the Israelites, we need an Isaiah to help us see the truth amidst the storm.

A biblical counselor can help you understand God’s truth and be aware of his presence in difficult circumstances. They can help you find biblical solutions to your situation. They can help you respond biblically to trials. They can show you that there is no trouble, trauma, or suffering that God cannot overcome in your life. And even if the difficulty remains, a counselor can encourage you to draw on God’s strength, so you endure well. God made you; he knows your name and your frame; he knows that you are dust (Ps. 103:14). He promises help. Biblical counseling is one way he chooses to do this.

Think of biblical counseling as specialized discipleship. God uses your specific hardships to grow you; counselors counsel you using the Bible which helps you conform more into the image of Christ. This means that your suffering is not a loss; it’s useful in your life and God’s kingdom.

Dan and I are not immune to the need for counseling. This December we will be married 39 years! This would not be possible if we resisted counseling from our pastor at thirteen years into our marriage. We will be forever grateful to this Godly man! He gave us his time and used the Word to guide us back to the Lord and into a thriving marriage that honored God. Over the years, at different times, we have also needed counseling for our children, in our parenting, and recovery from loss. We understand that when the “waves of life circumstances continually crash on the shore of life,” we need help. You may too, and that’s okay!

I’m honored to lead seven biblical counselors in our Biblical Counseling Ministry at Redeemer Bible Church. Three men and four women are fully trained in counseling and ready to serve you. And we have four more being trained as I write this! This ministry is a little over a year old now, and we have already witnessed God do amazing things in the lives of his people. God is faithful to his call to help us make disciples!

If you need counseling, we promise to point you to the gospel, use God’s word to speak into your difficulties, find biblical solutions, be present, kind, and compassionate as you bear your soul and troubles in confidence with us. If you want to know more about this ministry, click here (website). If you are ready to schedule an appointment, click here (counseling application). We are here to help!