Who is Your Counselor?

By Lora Vollmar

Our church has an “in-house counselor.” Oftentimes, when in conversation I have mentioned trials or testings that I am undergoing, I have had fellow church-members in full love and sincerity recommend that I visit with our counselor for a few sessions. Their words are full of praise for her and include how “professional” she is. Some even go so far as to describe “techniques” or “steps” that she incorporates that one can take home and put into practice to learn new ways of thinking and develop new habits.

I am always left wondering, “What happened to God?” When did the church stop directing people to God for salvation in every area of life?

What must God think of us when we totally ignore the Counselor He personally gave to us, and replace Him with our own human, college-educated, professional counselors?

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16)

Could this be one of the ways that we “grieve the Holy Spirit”? (Eph. 4:30) When we put our trust in humans to save us in the areas of life that counselors cover, are we sinning by replacing God with the idol of “psychology” or “psychiatry”? Does it grieve the heart of God to see the way we trample on His free gift of the Holy Spirit as if it were of no value? It would certainly grieve me if I was trying to help someone, and the person totally ignored me and tried to save him or herself.

God is our Maker. Who would know us better than the one who made us? Who could know how to “fix” what is wrong with us better than our Maker? Can a college education do better than God? Do letters behind one’s name make a person smarter than God?

God is still Maker; Creator of All. Jesus is still the Savior of the World. If Jesus is the Savior, then only the Words of Jesus will fix what is wrong with us.

“The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

No human counselor can teach you all things. What mortal person can give you just the right Scripture when you need it most to resist temptation or get you through another hard day at work? Only the Holy Spirit of God is qualified for the job of Counselor to the human race. God didn’t put an ad in the classifieds and take applications for the position. What’s best is that the Holy Spirit is free. You won’t receive a $100/hour bill in the mail from God. If a person will obey the instructions of the Holy Spirit, he or she will find salvation in Jesus. He knows what is best for each one of us, and sent us exactly what we needed in the person of the Holy Spirit. .

When will we stop sinning by trusting in the arm of the flesh and once again put our trust in the Lord, our God?

“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.” (Psalm 146:3)