Support for Healing

It's normal to not know how to respond to a loved one's church hurt, or imperfect experiences in faith-based relationships. As one who has both tried to minister to others and who has been ministered to, this is my advice.

Jesus saw beyond behavior and ministered with patience to the one. "Does anyone know anything about 'Good Shepherds?'" That was my segue into John 10:1-18 in a morning scripture study class with teens. A student raised his hand. “Good Shepherds gather their sheep at the gate of their enclosure every night and check for the day's wounds. Then, they minister to each one.” That was many years ago, but I still feel the power of that statement when I think of it. As my student sh

I thought I was taking my fears to God, but something was missing—because I often felt more anxious after praying. Gethsemane by Jorge Cocco Santángelo It sounds terrible to say, "I feel worse after praying." Especially considering this verse: God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. —2 Timothy 1:7   If that’s true, then how could prayer bring anxiety instead of peace? For a long time, I didn’t know. Sometimes, I s