Counseling Services

We are emotional beings by design and, even at our healthiest, we are meant to feel life, both the good and the bad, but sometimes feelings can get out of order. Our concerns grow into anxiety, hope fades into depression, anger begins to control us. Whatever the emotion, only the God who designed us, body and soul, can reorder these feelings, so they no longer keep us from living for him.

Few things are more essential to life than relationships, and even fewer have so much potential for pain. Oneness between spouses, trust between a parent and child, peace in a household - these gifts are precious yet fragile, easily broken by betrayal, divorce, rebellion, and conflict. The God of peace, who reconciled sinners to himself, is ready and willing to teach and empower us to forgive, make peace, and rebuild trust.

We were made to worship - to live wholeheartedly for God, depending on him and orienting our lives to his will. Unfortunately, we often worship other things instead, looking to ordinary gifts like food, sex, alcohol, and drugs to provide something only God can give. When our bodies and minds become enslaved, God gives us something better than disease management. He gives us new desires and teaches us hoto how to fight against the old desires of the flesh.

Business, plumbing, art, homeschooling - work of any kind is vulnerable to the “thistles and thorns” of the Fall of man. Anxiety, burnout, frustration, selfish ambition, conflict - work is full of hazards, but the answer isn’t to “live for the weekend” or quit working. Instead, we need a God-given perspective that honestly addresses the challenges while giving us new purpose and motivation.

Our relationship with money is likewise fraught with difficulty. Spending, saving, giving, debt - Scripture offers a wealth of wisdom on stewardship and gives us something far greater than money to live for - the kingdom of God.

Whether ordinary challenges of diet and exercise or crises like chronic sickness, self-harm, or the death of a loved one - dealing with our bodies can be profoundly emotional and become real trials of faith. Christ, fully God and Man, affirms both the goodness of the body as well as its weakness and pain. In compassion, we can learn from him how to glorify God with our bodies, whether in sickness or in health.

Sin, guilt, shame, doubt, scrupulous consciences - some problems are uniquely spiritual. Even with the help of a church, it’s not always easy to work out repentance, faith, and obedience in daily practice. Church hurt is especially challenging, since those you normally seek for help seem unsafe. Such things are best worked out in a relationship over time, rooted in the gospel of Christ.

No doubt, ministry is hazardous. It can be lonely, contentious, full of unfair expectations, self-doubt and questions of calling. Discouragement and burnout have become increasingly common. But unlike the rest of the church, the minister often has no one to turn to for help. Counseling provides a safe place, where shepherds are allowed to be sheep and receive the same Christ-centered care they give to others.