For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9: 6 ~ King James Bible

Jesus is the greatest counselor of all. We never have to make an appointment with Him. We never have to wait for Him in a waiting room. What thrills my heart is that He is never too busy to talk to us. He never tells us to come back in a week. He is always available to us. When He counsels us, He doesn't just talk to us; He puts His loving arms of compassion around us and draws us close to His heart as He tenderly kisses the tears of hurt, discouragement, frustration and heartache away. Jesus really loves us and He loves us unconditionally.

O that you and I would counsel others as our precious Saviour counsels us! It is very important and extremely urgent that we counsel people not only with our words, but also with hugs just as Jesus counsels us. You may think that hugging people you counsel is not professional. I submit to you on the authority of the Word of God that if Jesus, who is the greatest counselor of all, puts His arms of compassion around us and hugs us then we should also hug the ones we counsel. If we would follow the example of Jesus in everything that we say and do, we would live a much more peaceful and victorious life.

Six years ago, a lady who had been my counselor when I was in a mental health facility came to my home and did exactly that; she put her arms around me and hugged me. That touched my heart deeply and I shared that with a close pastor friend. The pastor told me that the lady really cares about her clients and wasn't working there just to make money.

The pastor also told me that there are people in every profession who really care about people and there are people who are just working there for the money they can make. The pastor is so wise and he was so correct. I called and invited another counselor who works at the same place out to dinner. The counselor said "I can't have dinner with you because it isn't ethical for a counselor to go out and eat with a client or socialize in any way with a client."

Not only does this counselor not care about people, she doesn't know the heart of Jesus or she would never have made that statement. How that statement must have hurt our precious Saviour! I think that there are times when we hide behind rules of "professionalism" just to keep from getting involved with people. It is time that we get out of our comfort zones and minister in a personal way to those who are hurting. Isn't that what Jesus does for us? How dare we do less for others than He does for us?

Are you counseling people with your heart as well as with words or are you only counseling with words? Did you know that a hug could stop someone from taking his or her life? I know that is true because the day the compassionate counselor came to my home and hugged me was a day that I was about to stop trying. I was going to take an overdose of pills and go to bed. Thank God that out of His compassionate heart of mercy and understanding He sent this counselor to my home so that He could hug me through her. The hug she gave me stopped me from committing suicide that day.

When is the last time you hugged someone for Jesus? You probably have hugged your spouse and children today but have you hugged them and said, "This hug is not from me; it is from Jesus?" We don't know what is going on in the hearts of our family and loved ones. Only Jesus can see into our hearts and only Jesus can see the hidden scars that we keep hidden from others for fear of ridicule and rejection. Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone and minister to others from your heart as Jesus ministers to you?

©Joanne Lowe
September 11, 2008
Used With Permission
All Rights Reserved By Author
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