Counsel

Counsel

Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.

GRABBING A TISSUE, I wiped an errant tear and exhaled a shaky breath. Looking up, I tried to smile at the counselor who sat quietly across from me. She waited, without judgment, until I felt composed enough to continue. A short while later, our time ended. As I closed her door, a mix of heaviness and relief lingered.

Growing up, I always thought counseling was something other people did. Not because I didn’t think it was valuable, but because my life felt too ordinary. I came from a stable home and had parents who loved me. Though I struggled at times, part of me believed my problems weren’t problematic enough. In some ways, I undervalued myself, feeling unworthy of the cost and time of professional help.

When I finally did seek help, I realized I wasn’t alone. Far from it, in fact: a 2017 study revealed that 42 percent of Americans have seen a counselor at some point.^a Of course, counseling is not a magical elixir. But for those who are struggling, it can be a lifesaver. Our discussions made me feel less alone, like I’d been through the fire and emerged on the other side.

Of course, counsel can come in many forms. As friends, we can speak truth and love into one another’s lives. We can seek professional help, as I did. And we can always turn to Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor (see Isaiah 9:6). In the Old Testament, counselors were often portrayed as wise kings like Solomon, providing advice to the people. But in Jesus, we find a counselor who is fully man and fully God, understanding us in our humanity in a way no one else does. Jesus knows everything about us—all our secrets, fears, and foibles—yet loves us anyway. What’s more, he knows what we should do (see Hebrews 4:15-16). As our Counselor, he asks us to bring all of our worries and cares to him. Though we may be distressed, with Jesus, we are never alone. We can always seek his counsel.

Lord, thank you for the wise counsel that friends, counselors, and you provide. May we be unafraid to seek help when we need it. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: Seek counsel in a problem you’re facing —whether it’s in the form of a trusted friend, a professional counselor, or with Jesus.