[CCEF] The Journal of Biblical Counseling 35:2 Now Available | Mom Guilt by Lauren Whitman

Hope doesn’t just happen. Like other aspects of the Christian life, it is something we grow in over time. In his editorial, Ed Welch identifies the stages of hope and lays out the path it follows. He centers his focus on the psalms; they give us “words that grow hope.”

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When trust is broken in a relationship it raises questions. Can I or should I ever trust that person again? What does the apostle Paul mean by "love always trusts” (1 Cor 13:7)? And perhaps the most challenging of all: Do I even want to rebuild trust? Groves addresses these questions and acknowledges that rebuilding trust is not always wise or appropriate. But when it is, the key to it is trusting God with your situation.            

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The experience of disappointment is universal, but some disappointments can be so life-dominating that they affect every aspect of the way we live. No one expects a cancer diagnosis at twenty-nine, or the birth of a disabled child, or a spouse’s infidelity. What does Scripture say about these deeper and most personal disappointments? Midgley considers the roots of disappointment and charts a biblical path forward with some unexpected help from 1 Corinthians 7.

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This reflection on suffering gives voice to a common question we wrestle with: Does Jesus care when we suffer? Drawing from the stories of the disciples caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee and Lazarus’s untimely death, Liu will build your faith as she recounts the reasons we have to say in confident trust, “Jesus, I believe you care.” Read it for your own comfort and consider giving it to those in your life who need hope as they face hardships.

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Kids cannot always articulate what is bothering them, so they often require a different approach than we use to counsel adults. Engaging children and teens in activities that are kid-friendly such as drawing, role-playing with toys, or petting a therapy animal may help them to open up and express their feelings and concerns. Lowe offers a biblical rationale for why these expressive activities work and illustrates their efficacy with two case examples. The article concludes with an expressive activity that you can use in your ministry with children.

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This article is an excerpt from an interview that took place in a seminary counseling class taught by Michael Gembola. He invited three women who counsel to come and discuss various aspects of their ministry experience. They share their thoughts on how students, especially women, can pursue counseling ministry in the local church. 

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