In my ACBC biblical counseling certification process, my supervisor taught me to always remind counselees that the goal of counseling is not a restored relationship, a fulfilling marriage, or a victorious life over anxiety, depression, and/or anger. Those are all good goals, indeed very good goals, but not the central goal. The goal of counseling is for the counselee to glorify God by becoming more like Jesus Christ.
Really? That’s it? Yes. In fact, this fits with the goal of all of life: “So, whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). In counseling, we are simply directing this goal to particular areas of this life. In fact, we view problems and struggles as opportunities to fulfill this!
Before we move on, the question comes up, how do we glorify God? Two passages, among others, sum it up nicely:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
