Ministry Blog
Restoring Hope Ministries
Stories of Hope, Spiritual Growth & Ministry Life
We share what God is doing through our ministry — articles on spiritual growth, encouragement for the journey, and updates on how RHM is serving Green Bay and Northeast Wisconsin.
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Biblical Lament: Bringing Sorrow Before God
Lament is not doubt. It is one of the most faithful things a grieving person can do — bringing sorrow, anger, and confusion honestly before the God who is big enough to hold it all.
Latest Posts
Employment vs. Contractor Work in Ministry Settings
Ministry work has unique considerations when it comes to employment status. Here’s what biblical counselors need to know about the difference between being an employee and an independent contractor.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. — Colossians 3:23"
Why Supervision Matters in Biblical Counseling
Supervision is not a box to check. For biblical counselors, it is a necessary structure for growth, accountability, and the protection of those they serve.
"Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. — Proverbs 11:14"
What Makes Ethical Biblical Counseling?
Biblical counseling that is truly helpful must also be truly ethical. Here’s what ethical practice looks like — and why it matters for counselors, clients, and the church.
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. — 2 Timothy 2:15"
Why Pastors Need Supervision and Soul Care
Acts 20:28 tells overseers to watch over themselves first — before the flock. But pastoral culture often makes this nearly impossible. Here’s why soul care for pastors is not optional.
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. — Acts 20:28"
When Should a Pastor Refer Someone to Biblical Counseling?
Every pastor will encounter situations beyond their training. Knowing when — and how — to refer is not a failure. It is wisdom.
"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. — Proverbs 15:22"
How Churches Can Build a Care Pathway
A Care Pathway is not a program — it is a culture. Here’s what it means for a church to intentionally build the infrastructure for soul care within its community.
"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. — Galatians 6:2"
Hope After Loss Without Rushing the Pain
Hope is real, but it cannot be forced. The gospel offers a kind of hope that does not demand we stop grieving — it promises that grief itself will one day be transformed.
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. — Psalm 147:3"
What Not to Say to Someone Who Is Grieving
Well-meaning words can land like wounds when someone is grieving. Here’s a guide to what helps — and what doesn’t — when you want to care for someone in loss.
"Weep with those who weep. — Romans 12:15"
When Marriage Counseling Should Include Safety Planning
Not all marital conflict is equal. When safety is at risk, counseling must first address protection — not reconciliation. Here’s what that looks like from a biblical and practical standpoint.
"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. — Psalm 9:9"
Forgiveness and Trust in Marriage
Forgiveness is commanded. Trust is earned. Understanding the difference between the two is one of the most important things a married couple can learn.
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. — Colossians 3:13"
Hope When Communication Breaks Down
When conversation turns into conflict or silence, it can feel like the marriage itself is breaking. Here’s what Scripture and biblical counseling have to say about rebuilding connection.
"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Colossians 4:6"
What Is Biblical Marriage Counseling?
Biblical marriage counseling is not just therapy with a Bible verse added. It’s a fundamentally different approach that views marriage through the lens of covenant, Scripture, and grace.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. — Ecclesiastes 4:9"
Prayer, Wisdom, and the Anxious Heart
For the anxious heart, prayer is often easier said than done. But Scripture invites us into a kind of prayer that is honest, persistent, and surprisingly transformative.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. — James 1:5"
How Biblical Counseling Helps With Anxiety
Biblical counseling takes a distinctly different approach to anxiety than secular therapy alone. Here’s what that looks like in practice — and why it matters.
"I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. — Psalm 34:4"
When Worry Becomes a Spiritual Burden
Worry can quietly become more than a mental habit — it can become a spiritual weight that distances us from God. Here’s how to recognize when that’s happening.
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. — 1 Peter 5:7"
5 Scriptures for Anxiety and Fear
When anxiety grips your heart, God's Word offers a lifeline. Here are five powerful scriptures that speak directly to fear, worry, and the anxious mind.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. — Philippians 4:6"
Finding Rest in the Finished Work of the Resurrection
This Easter season, pause and find solace in the finished work of Christ. The resurrection didn't just make salvation possible — it completed it. Rest in a Savior who didn't leave anything undone.
"John 19:30"
Spiritual Warfare — Standing Firm in the Battle
The Christian life is not a stroll toward heaven — it is a march through contested territory. Understanding spiritual warfare is not optional for the believer; it is essential for survival and faithfulness.
"Ephesians 6:10-18"
Trauma, Truth, and the Christian Posture of Listening
Discernment can quietly become something less holy when it hardens into premature certainty. A reflection on how biblical counselors must slow down, listen well, and remain close to suffering without rushing to control it.
"James 1:19"
Discourse VIII: On God's Knowledge
Great is our Lord, and of great power; his understanding is infinite. — Psalm 147:5. A profound exploration of God's omniscience by Stephen Charnock.
"Psalm 147:5"
Sobriety Is Not Enough: Why Recovery Needs a Soul
Many people achieve sobriety and still feel empty. True freedom from addiction is not just the absence of a substance — it is the presence of something worth living for.
"Matthew 11:28 — Come to me, all who are weary."
Faith as an Anchor in the Storms of Life: What Scripture Says About Hardship
Every person will face seasons that feel like they might break them. The question is not whether the storm will come — it is whether you have an anchor before it does.
"Hebrews 6:19 — An anchor for the soul, firm and secure."
Navigating Life's Great Transitions: What the Bible Says About Seasons of Change
Job loss. Retirement. An empty nest. A move. A diagnosis. A new city, a new chapter, a new normal. Transitions unsettle us because they require us to let go before we can hold on to what comes next.
"Deuteronomy 8:2 — Remember how the Lord led you through the wilderness."
Loneliness: The Hidden Epidemic and What the Gospel Has to Say
Loneliness is now recognized as a public health crisis. But the church has always had the answer — and it is more than a friendly handshake on Sunday morning.
"Genesis 2:18 — It is not good to be alone."
Anger: The Emotion God Has and You're Allowed to Have
Anger is not a sin. But unexamined, misdirected anger destroys relationships and corrodes the soul. Here is what Scripture says about anger — and how to steward it.
"Ephesians 4:26 — In your anger do not sin."
The Good Samaritan as a Model for Biblical Care
The parable Jesus told in Luke 10 is not just a story about kindness. It is a complete model of what it means to care for a hurting person — and it has everything to teach the church today.
"Luke 10:37 — Go and do likewise."
Depression and the Dark Night of the Soul: You Are Not Alone
Depression is not a spiritual failure. Some of the most faithful people in Scripture walked through seasons of profound darkness — and God met them there.
"Psalm 42:11 — Why, my soul, are you downcast?"
Prayer in the Dark: How to Pray When You Don't Feel Like God Is Listening
What do you do when prayer feels like talking to a ceiling? When God seems silent and your faith is running on fumes? Scripture has honest answers — and they may surprise you.
"Matthew 26:39 — Not as I will, but as you will."
Raising Children in a Confused World: Biblical Wisdom for Parents
Parenting has always been hard. But today's parents face questions previous generations never imagined. Here is where Scripture anchors us — and what it actually says.
"Deuteronomy 6:7 — Impress them on your children."
Trauma, the Brain, and the Healing Power of the Gospel
Trauma is not weakness. It is a wound — and wounds need more than willpower to heal. Here is what Scripture and sound care tell us about the path forward.
"Psalm 34:18 — He is close to the brokenhearted."
Addiction Is Not Just a Bad Habit: A Biblical and Practical Framework
Telling someone with an addiction to 'just stop' is like telling someone drowning to 'just swim.' Understanding the depth of the problem is the first step toward genuine freedom.
"Galatians 5:1 — It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."
The Prodigal Son and the Father Who Ran: What the Parable Teaches Us About Restoration
The most famous parable Jesus ever told is not really about the son who ran away. It's about a father who watched the road every day — and ran when he saw him coming.
"Luke 15:20 — While he was still a long way off, his father ran to him."
Who Am I? Finding Identity When Life Has Stripped Everything Away
Job lost his wealth, his children, and his health in a single season. What he discovered in the wreckage is one of the most profound identity anchors in all of Scripture.
"Colossians 3:3 — Your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Forgiving When It Feels Impossible: What the Bible Really Says
Forgiveness is one of the most misunderstood commands in Scripture. It is not the same as trust. It is not the same as reconciliation. And it doesn't require the other person to deserve it.
"Genesis 50:20 — You intended harm; God intended good."
When You Can't Stop the Spiral: A Biblical Path Through Rumination
The mind that loops endlessly on fear, regret, or worst-case scenarios is not a broken mind — it is a human mind in desperate need of an anchor. Scripture provides one.
"Philippians 4:8 — Think about such things."
Marriage: A Covenant, Not a Contract
When we treat marriage as a contract, we ask 'what do I get?' When we treat it as a covenant, we ask 'what can I give?' That difference changes everything.
"Genesis 2:24 — They become one flesh."
What Is Biblical Counseling and Why Does It Matter?
Biblical counseling is not therapy with a Bible verse added at the end. It is a comprehensive approach to the human soul grounded entirely in the sufficiency of Scripture.
"2 Timothy 3:16-17"
Anxiety, Fear, and the Peace That Passes Understanding
Anxiety is one of the most common struggles people face today. Scripture doesn't minimize the experience — it gives us a path through it.
"Philippians 4:6-7"
Finding Hope When Grief Feels Overwhelming
Grief is not a sign of weak faith — it is the evidence of deep love. Scripture gives us permission to mourn, and it also points us to the God who draws near to the brokenhearted.
"Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is close to the brokenhearted."
Have a Story of Hope to Share?
If God has done something remarkable in your life through RHM or through Scripture, we'd love to hear it. We welcome testimonies, devotionals, and ministry updates.
