Rest and Reset: A 30-Day Devotional to Revive JoySample

Godly Counsel

A good therapist reveals, but Jesus heals. Therapy can be a sensitive subject, depending on who you talk to, but I believe a good therapist can bring to the surface anxiety and suppressed pain that have been dormant in one's heart. However, it is the Lord Himself who steps into your circumstances through His word and heals your heart.

Therapy was considered taboo in the Christian culture I was raised in. We were taught to praise our way through hardships, to give our grievances to the Lord in worship and praise, and to trust Him to help us through whatever was heavy on our hearts. For years, I followed these steps every Sunday at church. But when the music ended, the rhythm from the drums would slowly fade away. I could see that my heart struggled to find a steady rhythm of peace. It wasn’t that God hadn’t offered it through His word; it was that I couldn’t reconcile what I was experiencing at home with the promise of a sound mind and a steady heart to endure without anxiety.

The Bible says in “Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” I wanted to feel safe, as most believers do, and I needed to talk through the secrets I held, fearing judgment, so that I could release them and gain godly wisdom. One day, years after I experienced my daughter's traumatic death and the unrelenting heartache of divorce, I finally decided to seek therapy. I did not know what to expect, but I felt a deep sense of relief at the thought of speaking with someone about the experiences I had buried, pretending they didn’t happen, in the hope that God would help me. I will never forget the day I entered the office and sat on the couch. I didn’t know what to say or how to feel; it all seemed like a movie. But by the time I left, I knew I had made the right decision, and for the first time, I felt as though I could truly reconcile my faith with my experiences.

Believers often live with the tension of wanting something better but not knowing how to achieve it. They read Scripture, pray, worship, and participate in community, yet there was still a disconnect. The words scribed in Scripture are also written on their hearts, but they haven't come alive in a way that grants true victory. Depending on the level of trauma they've experienced, it may be necessary to seek deeper help and godly counsel.

We must be careful about who we allow to influence our circumstances. Job’s friends, though they thought they knew why he was suffering, gave misguided advice. Thank God he didn’t follow their instructions. Saul was so desperate that he consulted a medium, which didn’t end well for him. In Psalm 1:1 KV, we are warned, 'Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.'

However, there are better examples of godly men, such as Jethro, who gave Moses wisdom after observing the number of people he was overseeing. God used Jethro to lighten Moses’ load, as this is what godly counsel is meant to do. It looks ahead and offers holy insight that helps prevent burnout.

If you have been considering seeking godly counsel, I encourage you to do so. This is a godly and biblical approach to wellness. However, don’t expect the therapist to heal, for that power belongs only to our Lord. Instead, anticipate a conversation that helps you dig deep, offering a different perspective so that you may go home, pray, and trust the Lord to restore the brokenness of who you are, which has been shattered all these years. One final practice I have incorporated is listening to Bott Radio Network, a radio station that broadcasts sound biblical sermons all day. During my short time in therapy and afterward, I heard Scripture being taught in its proper context, which has edified my soul and helped me navigate every aspect of my life.

Jesus is our ultimate counselor, and He left us a comforter—the Holy Spirit, whom He promised would guide us into all truth. Trust in this truth and break free from the bondage of your past. Therapy can help, but Jesus is the only one capable of granting true deliverance. Trust Him.

Be Encouraged.