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Life Over Coffee Devotions
However, as the weeks progress, a troubling pattern emerges. Each session circles back to the same exhaustive list of complaints. Despite your biblical counsel and her verbal acknowledgment of its value, no meaningful progress is evident. It becomes clear that Mable has idolized her suffering, finding comfort in the attention and sympathy garnered from recounting her problems to you.
As her counselor, your initial compassion begins to erode. Frustration, cynicism, and even anger creep in, overshadowing your desire to minister effectively. Instead of seeing Mable as a soul in need of truth and grace, you start viewing her as a burden. Your patience diminishes as the repetitive cycle continues, and you sense that your hope in God’s transformative power in her life is being replaced by a desire to confront her directly and disengage from the relationship altogether.
This case raises critical questions about how to navigate a counselor’s heart response and maintain faithfulness in ministering to the unresponsive counselee.
Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.
In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).