One of many nice advantages of the counseling course of is that it permits us to replicate on our experiences. Inside the context of a loving and caring atmosphere and the chance for back-and-forth dialog, counselees are capable of truthfully assess how they’ve navigated a few of life’s challenges.
This chance to replicate on expertise will be useful for a number of causes. One of many main causes is that considerate reflection performs a job in cultivating knowledge. We see within the Bible that knowledge is out there to anybody and is required for on a regular basis life. Bible scholar Derek Kidner writes, “The provide of knowledge is to the person on the street, and for the enterprise of dwelling, to not an elite for the pursuit of scholarship.”[1] But when knowledge is for the enterprise of dwelling, then one of many main methods we develop in knowledge is by thoughtfully reflecting on our lives.
Reflecting on Experiences
Every day, week, month, and yr offers us with a number of alternatives and challenges. These are so usually the kinds of issues we find yourself discussing in counseling. How can we navigate these alternatives and challenges? What errors can we make? When can we act properly and nicely? Within the second, and on our personal, it’s arduous to evaluate this stuff. However within the context of counseling, we’ve got house to assume, to hope, and to replicate.
This sincere reflection on expertise is a vital half in growing knowledge. Of their fantastic every day devotional on Proverbs, Tim and Kathy Keller make the next commentary:
“Knowledge can’t be conveyed by a sequence of TED talks or “govt briefings.” It’s inaccessible to folks too busy for its technique. It comes by way of first with expertise after which with deep, sincere reflection on that have.”[2]
This is among the nice strengths of counseling. As vital as preaching is, one of many issues it can not do is interact in back-and-forth dialogue. Against this, counseling is conversational, and in counseling classes, it’s pure to overview current experiences and encourage energetic reflection. Crucially, we must be sincere about these experiences: as embarrassing because it could be to acknowledge errors, honesty is a vital ingredient in significant reflection.
After all, because the Kellers level out repeatedly all through their devotional, growing knowledge requires greater than merely reflecting on life’s experiences. It includes deep and constant reflection upon God’s Phrase. Scripture permits us to make sense of life’s experiences. And so there may be this ongoing interweaving of God’s Phrase with our experiences: cultivating knowledge requires finding out God’s Phrase, going into the world and dwelling, after which returning to God’s Phrase once more.
Reflection on Scripture and Expertise
Let’s take into account an instance within the space of relationships. There are two proverbs, positioned side-by-side, that supply knowledge with regards to navigating tough folks:
“Don’t reply a idiot in accordance with his folly, otherwise you your self will probably be identical to him.
Reply a idiot in accordance with his folly, or he will probably be smart in his personal eyes.”
(Prov. 26:4-5, NIV)
Initially, these proverbs seem contradictory. However their obvious contradiction is a good encouragement for deeper occupied with the contrasting choices laid out. Clearly, these two proverbs have been positioned collectively for a motive. Their placement reveals us that we have to perceive not solely the content material of a specific proverb but additionally the software of a specific proverb. In different phrases, we’d like knowledge in understanding when or the right way to apply a proverb. Generally, for instance, it will be a mistake to reply a idiot in accordance with his folly. Different instances, correcting a idiot is strictly the fitting factor to do. However when do you do the one and never the opposite? You want knowledge gained by way of reflective expertise. Like cultivating a gorgeous backyard, buying knowledge calls for arduous work and persistence.
Counseling and the Cultivation of Knowledge
Counseling provides us house to assume. Away from the speedy noise and rush of life, we’ve got the chance to decelerate, replicate on God’s Phrase, and overview our more difficult conditions. On this means, good counseling cultivates knowledge.
Let me conclude with an implication for individuals who present counsel and for individuals who obtain counsel.
Firstly, for individuals who present counsel to others, bear in mind to present these you’re caring for house to replicate. There could also be a temptation all the time to have a query or a remark prepared, every accessible second taken up by speaking. However giving your counselee house to replicate encourages them to overview a few of their current experiences truthfully. Keep in mind knowledge’s affected person technique and supply them with house for reflection.
Secondly, for these receiving counsel, be affected person and sincere as you search to domesticate knowledge—affected person in diligently finding out God’s Phrase, and sincere about your experiences (even when you have to speak by way of your sins and flaws). Knowledge is gained by way of deep, sincere reflection on life’s experiences. So don’t quit: carry on going, and also you’ll be inspired at how God works by way of His Phrase to deepen your knowledge.
In no matter function we discover ourselves in, let’s search to make use of our counseling ministry conversations to domesticate knowledge.
Questions for Reflection
- In your counseling, do you follow offering house in your counselee to replicate?
- How are you going to higher incorporate instances of reflection into your counseling course of?
[1] Derek Kidner, Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary (InterVarsity Press, 1964), 58.
[2] Timothy and Kathy Keller, The Manner of Knowledge (Hodder & Stoughton, 2017), 20.
