I have been a minister’s wife for 45 years and throughout that time I have had many opportunities to offer counsel to women of various ages and stages in life. My husband and I have also had the privilege to offer care to the missionary families that our church supports. Because of these experiences, I had a strong desire to learn more about biblical counseling. How do we deal with personal struggles and navigate interpersonal relationships? How do we handle crisis and loss? What do we do with life’s daily stresses and worries? Why am I here and what is my purpose in life? 

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Several years ago, through volunteering at Agape Women’s Services, I was given a book titled Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands - People in Need of Change - Helping People in Need of Change by Paul David Tripp. My heart resonated with the thought that I was a person in need of change, yet I also had a strong desire to better understand how to help others make godly changes in their lives. Through Agape I had the opportunity to take a level 1 training course toward an ACBC certification in biblical counseling. During this conference, through the teaching times and discussion with others, I saw the benefit of seeking a deeper understanding of how to minister the Word of God to others. Scripture should be the lens through which we see the world around us and gain wisdom and understanding in how to walk with our Lord through the ups and downs of life. 

 

Through the certification process and my experiences in the counseling room I have grown in my understanding of how the Bible relates to each area of our life. It is a precious treasure that teaches us how to walk in this world. It admonishes us when we stray away from God, shows us how to experience His forgiveness and turn back to Him, and it trains us how to faithfully walk with Him daily (2 Timothy 3:16). I echo the Apostle Peter when he said, “Where else can we go Lord? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

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It has been my joy to sit in the counseling room and share life with those who are in the midst of difficult struggles. The world can see the cross as foolishness. Believers today often see the cross and the gospel as significant for salvation but fail to see the power the cross offers and the joy of walking day by day with our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:18). I pray that the Lord would use me to help counselees to see the “depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:33)