Do Christians Also Need Counselling?

I heard a joke once about a man who was drowning, but he had faith that God would rescue him.

A jetski came by, but he declined, saying, "I’ve prayed, and God will rescue me!"

A rescue boat came by, but again he declined, saying, "No thanks, God will rescue me!"

A helicopter came by, but a third time he declined, saying, "God will rescue me!"

And finally, he drowned. When he awoke to heaven, he approached God and asked Him, "But Lord, you promised to save me." To which God replied, "I tried. I sent a jetski and a rescue boat and a helicopter… but you never got on board!”

It might get you to crack a smile or even chuckle, but I have found there to be so much truth in this concept, particularly within the walls of the Church.

I recently met a young man who was praying for God to get him out of a really difficult situation. Praying, praying and praying. His life had been headed down a dangerous path, and he was waiting for God to rescue him. He had done nothing to get himself to a better place. He had sought no accountability. He had made no plans and taken no action toward improvement.

He was just praying.

I admire people of faith. It’s important to believe and to live as though what you believe is already true—to trust God completely, fully, recklessly.The problem comes when people exchange the guise of faith for the role of passivity and sink into a pattern that lacks action and takes no responsibility. Faith without deeds can be paralyzing, particularly when we begin to expect God to live for us rather than looking for Him to work through us.

As a licensed professional counselor who also happens to be a Christian, I run into people who don’t always believe in my line of work. They are firm believers that prayer is enough. They dismiss the value of counseling and therapy, considering it a man-made replacement for the power of God.

I’m a firm believer in prayer and encourage many of my clients to pray, and sometimes I even pray with them. Prayer flings open the doors between heaven and Earth, inviting the power of God to invade our situation. But counseling doesn’t negate prayer; it complements prayer. It is a beautiful partnership that challenges us to match our faith with action. It calls us to give to God what we can’t control and to seek to change what we can.

Maybe you are feeling stuck in feelings, behaviors or struggles you can’t seem to manage on your own. Maybe the pain of your past or the fears of your present paralyze you from living your life the way God has called you to live. If so, consider the following things as you contemplate whether or not counseling is right for you.

Are you dealing with a problem that has a daily effect on your life? Problems come and problems go; that’s the nature of humanity. But there are some seasons in life in which problems, negative feelings or destructive thoughts and habits start seeping into the day to day, becoming a part of our routine. These things can begin to take a toll on our lives, affecting our relationships, jobs and responsibilities. If you feel caught in a daily battle that doesn’t seem to be letting up, maybe it’s time to consider trying something new.

Is this something you've been struggling with for over one month and can’t break free of on your own? Many times struggles begin small but eventually snowball into something that seems way beyond our control. It may be an innocent habit, a deficit in communication or a “small” sin that begins to take root in a way that you never imagined. When the seemingly insignificant seeds begin to take root, they can overtake your life and wreak havoc. Don’t give your struggles the opportunity to settle in and grow by letting one more day go by. If you’ve been struggling with something specific for over a month, it’s time to take seriously the prospect of counseling now. Is this something that's causing you to engage in self-destructive or harmful behavior or is hurting those around you? Some habits and struggles are subtle, secret and out of sight. Others are loud and clear, unable to be hidden from the eyes of others. Eitherway, both have the potential to do damage in the life of a believer. Whether it's in the form of an eating disorder, addiction or even a harmful relationship, these things can silently sneak into your life in so many different ways. If you are caught in a pattern of thinking or behaving that is causing pain or harm to your life or the lives of those around you, now is your opportunity to consider getting some help.
You want to prevent struggles before they happen. This is not something normally thought of when it comes to the arena of counseling, but it’s so crucial. The best way to tackle a problem is to deal with it before it begins. Working in the area of relationships, I see a lot of young men and women who are trying to get a head start on healthy relationships through counseling focused on premarital issues and marriage communication enhancement, and even singles wanting to make the best choices before they take the plunge into a relationship. From emotional management to addictions prevention, the list goes on and on—but the goal is always the same: to continue the lifelong process of healing and growth.
It’s time for Christians to stop talking about prayer and begin living a life that reflects our prayers, a life that puts deeds to our faith, a life that seeks to engage the avenues and opportunities that God has put in place for our healing and growth. He doesn’t grab our hand and lead us into this process by force. He simply asks us to stretchout our hand toward Him in faith—our weak, tired and powerless hand. And just like the paralytic in Matthew 12:13, when we begin to act in faith, we find that we are empowered and enabled to do exactly what He asks of us.

Perhaps for you, it’s time to “stretchout your hand” and begin your journey of healing. That may mean shutting off the Internet, getting rid of the alcohol, forgiving a relative or finally breaking up with that boyfriend or girlfriend. Or it may mean seeking accountability, admitting that you need help and confessing some hidden sins. No matter the size of your pit or how long you’ve been living in it, today is the day to start climbing out of it—even if it requires assistance.
Written by DEBRAK FILETA