Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Soul Care #6: Lending Hope

Assumption #1: Behavior is purposeful.
Assumption #2: Change happens in relationships.
Assumption #3: People are ambivalent.
Assumption #4: Not all problems are 'solvable.'

Assumption #5: Good Counseling is about lending hope.
When a person seeks counsel from you, it is because they have limited faith and hope. They may come into your office having lost a relationship, or lost a loved one, or lost a dream, but more fundamentally, they have lost hope. They borrow these from you until they face the struggle and/or repent of what they need to so they can live as a person with renewed hope. When there are tears in your eyes over their heartache, and yet you carry it deep in your soul that we have a redeeming God, deeply believing that there is not one person, situation, or sin that cannot be redeemed for His glory, you renew their hope that He is good and the gospel's promises are really true. Being a counselor is giving faith and hope for a season until they have it deeply rooted again within themselves.

Haven't we all been on both ends of this conversation? This doesn't seem to be just for the counselor, but also the parent, the spouse, the child and the friend!

2 comments:

Kristin said...

Thank you, Tracie! This makes so much sense, and one reason for faith being lived out in community. I have lent hope, and borrowed hope. This is a great concept! Love your ability to put your thoughts and what you have learned into words. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Sweets,

I'm loving this series.

J