Soulcarenc Counseling

12/04/2024

We have all been through tough moments of suffering when we wonder where God is and are confused about what he is doing.

If you read through the biblical narrative, you will soon have to let go of the conclusion that hardship means God is absent, distant, uninvolved, or uncaring.

Behind dark clouds of difficulty is a God who is actively working for the good of his children. 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻.

It’s important to recognize that the workings of God’s grace aren’t always predictable or comfortable. Often when we think grace has passed us by, God’s grace is at work—just not in the way we expect.

The book of Ruth, one of the greatest biblical stories, contains a compelling and beautiful substory. On the surface, Ruth is a beautiful love story, and one of the few biblical stories with women as its main characters.

But there is a deeper, more significant love story in the book of Ruth. It is the story of God’s unshakable, unstoppable love for his children.

This story of human hardship and human love is also God’s assurance that he will exercise his wisdom and his sovereignty, he will remember his covenant promises, he will be faithful, and, through hardship, he will deliver gifts of kindness and grace to his own.

Although the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz is compelling, the one on center stage is the Lord. Through the vehicles of hardship and human love, God establishes the direction of the rest of the redemptive story.

At the end of the story, Ruth and Boaz have a son. “Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi.’ They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David” (Ruth 4:16–17).

These words give us a sense of what this story has been about all along. God doesn’t just deliver Ruth and unite her to Boaz, but he delivers to this family a son. This son, Obed, will have a son, Jesse, and Jesse will have a son, David, and ultimately out of David will come a son; the Son of David, Jesus.

Through this little story of hardship and love, God sets things in place to deliver something anything but little: the ultimate promise, the gift of gifts, the Savior, Jesus Christ, through whom God’s redeeming love will flow.

God will work and continue to work his redeeming plan until that plan is complete; this is the ultimate story behind every other story. Remember that it is at the intersection of God’s sovereignty and his grace that life and hope are to be found.

By the way, if you enjoyed today’s Advent devotional, there are 24 more just like it in my free eBook, 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭. From now until Christmas Day, you can read my daily devotional, paired with a Scripture passage and prayer, to focus your heart and mind on the birth of Christ. Go to 𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 to download the PDF or eBook for free today!

𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆: Lord of Heaven, your love is unshakable, unstoppable. I praise you that you have injected daily reminders of this great truth into my life. Keep me from ever losing sight of your covenant commitment to your people—rooted in your faithful and eternal love for your Son, through whom I pray, amen.

God bless,

Paul Tripp

12/03/2024

It has been a great blessing to serve the Hickory region and beyond with Biblical counseling. Would you consider giving a gift to help Mark and Sandi in their ministry SoulCareNC Counseling?

10/29/2024

"Job never knew the details behind his suffering. He didn’t know God’s plans or what had happened out of sight. In the end, the voice of God and the knowledge that he was both over and in Job’s suffering was enough to settle Job’s heart."

From "Depression: Finding Christ in the Darkness" by Ed Welch. Learn more: https://www.ccef.org/book/depression-finding-christ-in-the-darkness

10/08/2024

Wow. This is something to think about when dealing with abusive behavior. Be kind but trust God-ordained authority in cases of abuse.

To read God’s Word well, we need to realize Romans 13 is the next thought that completes Paul’s reasoning as he finished writing Romans 12. That is how letters work. One paragraph builds on the next.

04/16/2024

Very interesting analysis of our cultures inadequate solutions for effecting heart change.

BAD THERAPY: The Irony Found in Abigail Shrier’s New Book, Bad Therapy

In our contemporary society, the discourse surrounding the development and well-being of our younger generations has become increasingly polarized, with myriad voices contributing to the conversation on the best path forward. Among these voices, Abigail Shrier stands out for her critical examination of current cultural and therapeutic practices through her works, notably “Irreversible Damage” (HIGHLY RECOMMEND) and her subsequent publication, “Bad Therapy.” Shrier’s insights, further elucidated during her appearances on the Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan podcasts, delve into the consequences of gender-affirming care, the pitfalls of our therapeutic culture, and the differential approaches between conservative and liberal parenting.

Shrier articulates a preference for “authoritative” parenting, valuing the balance it strikes between discipline and freedom. This model respects the child’s individuality while also instilling a framework of values and consequences—mirroring the biblical principle that love does not shy away from correction but embraces it as a form of guidance and protection. The contrast with “authoritarian” and permissive parenting underscores the necessity of boundaries—or, as we might say, parameters and protections—that are rooted in love and wisdom rather than heavy-handed control or negligence.

Her critique extends to the societal pursuit of happiness as an end goal, proposing instead that true contentment and fulfillment arise from dedication to others and perseverance through adversity. This perspective echoes the biblical admonition to serve and to find strength in weakness, a counterintuitive truth that reveals the depth of God’s wisdom versus the world’s transient solutions.

Moreover, Shrier’s observations on the shortcomings of the psychological community, exemplified by the DSM-5-TR’s diagnostic approach without offering concrete solutions, highlight a critical void in secular methodologies. The Bible, in contrast, not only identifies the human condition but provides a transformative path through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It offers a foundation for character development, relational health, and societal well-being that has stood the test of millennia.

The irony, as Shrier points out, is that the principles leading to genuine wholeness and community health are encapsulated within Scripture. Yet, these truths are often overlooked or dismissed in a society increasingly distanced from its spiritual heritage. The Bible teaches us about the power of serving others, the strength found in humility and vulnerability, and the importance of a stable, loving family structure as the bedrock of society.

In essence, what Shrier’s work and biblical teachings reveal is a profound alignment on the principles that foster true human flourishing. While her books provide a critical analysis of our current cultural trajectory, they inadvertently underscore a deeper need for a return to the timeless wisdom found in Scripture. As our world grapples with the complexities of modern life, the enduring truths of the Bible offer not just a critique but a hopeful roadmap for individual and collective well-being.

The challenge before us is to bridge the gap between these secular insights and their spiritual counterparts, recognizing that the wisdom of God, as revealed through His Word, provides the most comprehensive guide for life. In doing so, we may find that the solutions to our most pressing issues have been within our reach all along, waiting to be rediscovered and applied with a heart open to God’s transformative love and grace.

Photo: ©Sladic from Getty Images Signature via Canva.com

Grace and peace,
Rick

04/09/2024

Vaneetha is a great source of wisdom in the face of your pain.

03/08/2024

I’ve lived with suffering and I’m sure you have too. It all matters. But knowing God in my pain has changed everything for me.

03/08/2024

This is an unfortunate feature of the world that we live in. And the reality is that a percentage of our children are going to find themselves ensnared by po*******hy. And because of the nature of the struggle, they will ultimately need help breaking free from its grip. And it's important that we as...

03/07/2024

02/29/2024

"When you identify with Jesus, you can no longer be put to shame. You might be treated disgracefully, but that disgrace has lost its power. It cannot separate you from Jesus; it cannot last."

From "A Small Book about Why We Hide" by Ed Welch. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3ST7g15

02/23/2024

“You have a painful past, but that is not the only true thing about you. The deepest and truest you is who you are in Christ. Your life has come not because you found yourself but because Another found you and brought you to himself.”

From “A Painful Past: Healing & Moving Forward,” a book by Lauren Whitman. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3wrQhLD