Equipped to help

My friends are hurting. I’m guessing yours are too. There seems to be a never-ending stream of people sharing their struggles. In the last few months alone I’ve had phonecalls about suicide attempts, unplanned pregnancies, lost jobs, broken relationships, spiraling debt, childhood abuse and post-traumatic stress syndrome (to name just a few).

It’s a privilege to stand alongside people in tough times. Any Christian with a heart of compassion will want to support those who struggle. All of us, I’m sure, know the importance of prayer. And I imagine most of us are confident in the transformational work that can take place when people turn to Jesus as the great counselor and sovereign Lord. But, if you’re anything like me, there are moments when you feel ill-equipped. What can (or should) be said to someone in the depths of despair? What can we do to point people to Jesus in the tough times?

If we see the importance of pastoral care – and the need – it strikes me that training to do pastoral care better is worth the investment. So, here are a few bite-sized opportunities that we all might like to investigate as we seek to support those we care about:

Changing Hearts
CCEF’s one-day London conference
Why not give up just one Saturday of your life (23rd February) to focus on what biblical counseling is and how people change? No doubt, it’ll be a chance to find out more about the courses CCEF offer from their American base too.

Pastoral Care Course
Good Book College
A 10-session (70 hour) distance-learning course that covers the basics of how to support people within the local church in ways that are biblical, loving and wise. No prior experience necessary, just a desire to get alongside people when life is hard and point them to Jesus.

Instruments in the Redeemer’s hands – Paul Tripp
P&R Publishing
Just one of the many books from this American publisher which show great insight into the human condition and explore the privilege it is to help others grow to become more like Jesus in the tough times.

You Can Change – Tim Chester
IVP Books
A very readable book that does what it says on the tin! Great to read on your own. And helpful to work through with a friend who is conscious of their need to change.

Investing a few hours of our life might just equip us all to help that little bit more biblically … that little bit more effectively. So why not give it a go?