God Never Wastes a Wound

You’ve probably never heard of Anton Boisen. He was born in Indiana, lived 89 years and died in 1965. During his life, he taught French and German, worked for the US Forest Service, did a great deal of seminary study and is considered a pioneer in the field of pastoral counseling. He also suffered from 5 major psychotic episodes during his life several of which were severe enough to require hospitalization.

Tim Clinton, in his introduction to Christian counseling in Caring for People God’s Way, shares that “God never wastes a wound.  Although He is not the author of evil or sorrow, He is wise to use every kind of wrong suffered and dream dashed to reach out to us to grab hold of His healing hand. He is the ‘God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort those in any trouble, with the comfort with which we are comforted by God’ (II Cor. 1:3b-4).” (p.14)  God used the emotional wound from which Boisen suffered to create a profession of compassion that treats emotional and spiritual brokenness together.

A study conducted by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and the Samaritan Institute reported that a majority of Americans would prefer to see a counselor who integrates their values and beliefs into the counseling process as they feel their spiritual life is closely related to their mental and emotional health. [http://www.moodletter.com/PastoralCounseling.html] Christian counseling is that process in which a professional counselor uses the tools of the mental health profession, the truths of the Bible, and the wisdom of life experience to help those in need. Associates in Christian Counseling was founded within the spirit and tradition of Christian counseling with the goal of ministering God’s grace to people’s brokenness.

               If you or someone you care about is struggling and needs a
                 safe place to sort things out and let healing begin, please
                     call 336-896-0065, ext. 203 to make an appointment.

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