If you are reading this, it's likely you aren't sure if you need or could benefit from biblical counseling, or counseling of any nature for that matter. Unfortunately, in our society, counseling is often tied to weakness. So, we want to avoid it at all costs.
Let's face it: we spend most of our time trying to convince ourselves and others that we have it all together. We smile and pretend all is well as we pass each other in the hallway. We spend hours each week painting picture perfect lies, I mean lives, on social media so we can obtain more likes. All the while, we are hopelessly depressed, deeply alone, struggling with overwhelmingly anxious thoughts, and wondering why our marriages are failing, our children are wondering, and our faith is faltering. After all, everyone else seems to be experiencing the abundant life of Christ, or so it seems. The cycle continues—until a strong and courageous soul decides to drop their mask in order to experience the spiritual depth and discipleship growth God has planned for them.
If you are ready to stop putting up façades in your own life in order to experience the abundant life that Jesus has to offer, you are well on your way to discovering five benefits of biblical counseling.
- Watch the Darkness Become Light - In every corner of the world we encounter darkness that the enemy desires to use to isolate us from the flock and distort the truth of our identity. But Jesus is the light of the world who overcame the darkness. (John 8:12). As humans, our tendency is to keep the darkness we encounter hidden, but Jesus said, in Matthew 28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” and in Ephesians 5:13 it explains that “everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.” Did you see that? What was dark becomes light when we expose it. That means when you share your struggles with others they don't have the same weight or depth as they once did and in doing so, you have the accountability, prayers, and support of your counselor as you bring your burdens to Jesus.
- Feel Supported by a Biblical Community - As you meet with your biblical counselor, join a biblical community, or engage with ministry support groups, you are allowing someone to bear your burdens with you in order to be supported as you face a variety of struggles. God created us to do life in community with one another, which is evidenced in Scripture countless times. Galatians 6:2 says we are to “bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to “encourage one another and build one another up,” and Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that God uses relationships with others to sharpen us.
- Gain Wisdom on How to Move Forward - As you can imagine, one of the main benefits to being counseled biblically is to gain wisdom for how to move forward amid a difficult season. After all, if you could fix it on your own. You would have but often we need the help of outsiders to gain proper perspective in our circumstances. Proverbs is a book of wisdom and so it should come to no surprise that it has a lot to say about how we can obtain wisdom for life and godliness. Proverbs 19:20 tells us that we ought to “listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom” and Proverbs 24:6 says, “by wise guidance, you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”
- Experience the Comfort of Biblical Encouragement - Have you ever heard someone confess a personal struggle you had experienced as well, and immediately felt comfort with the realization that you were not alone in your struggles? Because God is a God of grace and compassion, He has made it possible for us to comfort one another in times of trouble and heartache. 2 Corinthians 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” As you begin biblical counseling you will quickly realize you are not alone in the struggles you face, which is a huge encouragement and comfort to your soul. You will also dig deeper into Scripture, which brings lasting encouragement in even the most hopeless circumstances.
- Learn to Walk in the Freedom Christ Provides - Biblical counseling is centered around the gospel story. In short, we recognize that, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). So "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9) and now “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). These truths are foundational in how a believer should view his or her own sin as well as the sins of others, both of which cause great suffering but can result in the freedom of forgiveness and hope of healing in Jesus alone.
Resources
Biblical Counseling Network
Central Counseling