Jesus can be your Therapist

 Many pious Muslims live under the storm clouds of fear. They never know whether their submission will be enough to save them from the flames of hell.

Some compare themselves to not-so-virtuous nominal Christians and they feel proud and superior.

Others compare themselves to extremely religious Muslims and they judge themselves as failures.

Then they can become extremely fanatical because they can never be sure whether their religious virtue is enough to save them from hell.

Unfortunately, there are also some Christians who live in such a religious no-man's land.

There are Christians who are trapped in pornography addiction. They feel helpless to escape from slavery and are full of fear of God's judgement.

There are other Christians who believe in Jesus, but they have never realised that they can only receive their salvation as a gift from God. They live just like Muslims, with the belief that they must earn their salvation.

If you think like that, you can become very strictly religious and look down on Christians who are not so strictly virtuous. That's exactly how the Pharisees were.

Or you can judge yourself as inferior because you fail again and again.

If you are addicted to porn or gambling, you urgently need help, from God but also from understanding people.

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Jas 5:16 NRSV

Many Christians need deliverance from demons and many need good counselling or a good therapist.

Jesus did not come to burden us with guilt complexes. On the contrary.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Jn 10:10 NRSV

Such a life is only possible in close fellowship with God. God is love. Only those who experience God's love on a daily basis have access to this abundant life.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 NASB95

How do these morbid religious attitudes arise, whereby legalism, pride or guilt complexes keep us away from the love of God?

Legalistic religion, tradition, inflexible or manipulative parents or pastors, fastidious moralistic culture.

Sin, perversion, abuse, shame.

I know Christians who were molested or abused as children. That can lead to all kinds of feelings and thoughts, all kinds of wrong turns in life, so that we are full of shame.

If you can't get rid of wrong thoughts and feelings, you must know that Jesus loves you unconditionally. Let Jesus be your therapist. He wants to help you and not judge you.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 NASB95

Help for Broken Hearts

 Only Jesus understands the wounds in your soul. Only God can heal your heart. Jesus was despised as a child and subjected to the mockery of his neighbours because he was conceived before his parents' wedding.

Did Mary and Joseph explain to everyone that God was the real father of their son? Imagine if someone said something like that. Today they might end up in a mental hospital.

When the shepherds visited the newborn Jesus in Bethlehem, they worshipped God's Son. For Mary, this was a confirmation of the revelation given to her by God, but she did not share her thoughts with others, except perhaps Joseph.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Lk 2:19 NIV

Are you often misunderstood? From an early age, Jesus was misunderstood and disregarded. You need help, but please be careful. Not everyone can understand you or help you.

Maybe you go to a devout Bible believing church. They teach that the psychology of emotional disorders is all worldly heresy. The cause of all your problems is simply your sin.

Is that true? Jesus must have suffered a lot even though he had no sin.

Our hurts and disorders can come from our own sins, but they can also often come from abuse you have experienced, that is, from the sins of others, sins against you.

None of us is without sin. Even the Christians who want to advise you.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jn 1:8–9 NRSV

But it is useless to confess and change only our outward actions if our offences come from a depraved or wounded soul.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Gal 6:1 NIV

Anyone who rebukes someone with gentleness must understand that only God can heal a wounded soul. Only God can heal a corrupt heart.

Jesus had difficult problems with the Pharisees. The Pharisees were legalistic. They focused on outward behaviour instead of understanding that God cares about our heart and soul first.

Many strict Christians today make similar mistakes. They torment weak Christians with harsh criticism or they torment themselves with guilt complexes.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Mt 23:25–26 NIV

If you need counselling or therapy and your church only talks about rules and Bible texts, you must seek help elsewhere.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Ps 147:3 NIV

God Understands

 Who understands the deep wounds in your soul? Only God.

Every heart has its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy. Prov 14:10

Who understands the difficult path from your failure to the fulfilment of your destiny? Only God.

There is an old English hymn.

‘’What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.‘’
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Sometimes good counsellors or therapists can help, but only God fully understands all your deepest troubles.

But when we teeter helplessly on the edge of despair, we can be tempted to cling to the comfort and security of people as if human help can save us.

A pastor or counsellor with simple answers to all your problems can limit your potential. Canned food can never provide the same nourishment that comes from fresh food.

A well-known preacher illustrated this problem with this joke.

A Christian asked his pastor a difficult theological question.
The pastor gave an impressive answer and justified his teaching with a Bible text.
Father God in heaven listened in amazement.

‘’Jesus. Did you hear what that pastor just said? I would never have thought of it. Did you tell him?‘’

We don't get by in life by having simple answers for every question.
The crucial question is whether you have a living relationship with Jesus, because Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

We are not saved because we are right in all theological questions.
It is not theology that saves us, but the Saviour.
There are secrets hidden in your soul, secrets that only you are familiar with.

There are some counsellors and therapists with whom you can uncover such secrets, and they will care for you with understanding and respect, but there are also counsellors who claim to know everything and to be right about everything. It is better to avoid such counsellors.

There are so many mysteries and secrets in my own life that I only partially understand. Even the best counsellors don't understand half of it, but I have learned to trust God more and more as my guide in my ignorance.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Ps 23:1–4 NKJV

Do you understand why God loves you? Maybe a little, or maybe not at all.

But if you can learn little by little to believe in God's care and guidance, and to hold on to His love, then Jesus will be your protection and shield.

God understands the secrets in your heart that you don't understand yourself. When you surrender your life into the hands of God, He will mould your life so that you can experience deep healing.

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. Ps 147:3 NKJV

But please be patient. This healing can take some time.

Moses had to suffer as a refugee in the desert for 40 years before God called him to enter His service.

Abraham and Sarah were already very old when their promised son was born.

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. Jas 5:7 NIV