Four Questions To Ask When Seeking Counsel
Marital conflicts are never fun to encounter and usually challenging to overcome. But sometimes, we can reach out to the wrong people for help or counsel, making things worse instead of better.
If you cannot resolve your issues privately and need help navigating a resolution, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before reaching out to someone for advice:
Is this person a mature, biblically knowledgeable believer?
Unsaved people and immature Christians who do not know the Word of God can steer you in the wrong direction. Always seek godly counsel from a seasoned, wise believer who will guide you according to biblical principles and truths.
Is this Christian “for us” and our marital success?
Seek counsel and insight from believers whose goals are to help you resolve your differences and not further divide you. Do not invite counsel from those who are against your spouse or marriage relationship in general.
Can this believer be trusted to keep our issues confidential?
Only confide in and seek help from those who have demonstrated consistent, godly character in confidentiality. Avoid those who have gossiped to you about others because it is a sign of their disloyalty.
Can this believer be objective, or are they too emotionally involved?
Pursuing help from those emotionally invested in your relationship can work against obtaining objective, sound guidance for your marital problems. Only confide in trustworthy believers who can be objective and fair.
Above all, God’s Word and the Holy Spirit are the best counselors for knowledge, wisdom, and guidance in your marriage. God is the one who created marriage and has all the answers necessary for its success. Therefore, always take whatever counsel you may obtain and make sure it lines up with the Word of God.