Counselors have a high calling to love and care for people who are struggling in a fallen world. A wise biblical counselor draws out the deep attitudes of the heart and encourages their counselees toward growth into the image of Christ. Learning about specific problems, sharing Scripture, and sitting with suffering people are all important parts of counseling. While all of these elements are...
Summer is coming to an end, and I find myself struggling to feel anchored. Is it the lack of structure? Is it the beautiful, sunny weather in San Diego that’s been lulling me into inactivity? Could be. Is it the news of floods and fires? Plane tragedies and ongoing wars? Is it the wheels beginning to spin and accelerate with the start of the busy fall season that will soon be upon us? On a recent...
The afflicted man’s journey from the darkness of despair to the light of hope in Lamentations 3 is of significance for every Christian. As sinful people living in a fallen world that is under the power of the devil, we may suffer for our own sin, like this representative Judahite man did; or we may suffer for some providential reason, like Job did. Or we may suffer for what others have done to...
Maybe you’ve had a water leak in your home. I pray not, but many of us have. Here is the simple principle behind this article: stopping the leak doesn’t end the damage. Stopping the leak only prevents more water from entering your home that would do more damage. Stopping the leak doesn’t prevent the existing water that has already escaped from doing the damage that water does. Warped flooring...
What does God’s abiding presence mean in moments of pain? Does he sympathize with us? Where is true rest in a world of stress and suffering? These are good questions, and our redemption in Christ speaks to every one of them. In You Are Redeemed: Devotions for Living a Whole New Life, Nana Dolce helps women see how God, in his Word, draws near to make himself known. Dolce’s 40-day devotional...
