LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
The Role of the Father in Counseling
A Paper Submitted to
the Faculty of the School of Divinity
in Candidacy for the Degree of
Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (Ed. D) Department of Christian Leadership and
Church Ministries
By
Mary Gracias
Lynchburg, Virginia
10/2022
The Role of the Father in Counseling
The titles used to describe the Persons of the Godhead are helpful in understanding their
functions, especially as they relate to man’s needs. Let’s look first at some of the names of the
Father. He is described as “Almighty” in Genesis 17:1. It is this attribute of omnipotence that
guarantees God’s ability to intervene and to heal, in the counseling sense. He provides solutions
to the deepest psychological problems that humans experience.
In Deuteronomy 33:27 He is called the “Eternal God.” God has always existed. Since He has
seen and understands every condition that man is subject to, He is never at a loss for the
perfect solution. It is in direct contrast to God’s divine nature that the psalmist wrote about our
human beginnings: “Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were
written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16).
Perhaps we need to be reminded that “[God] knows how we are formed, he remembers
that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the
wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more” (Psalm 103:14–16). Man
is subject to aging, suffering and death. Through Christ, however, God has promised His
children immortality: “For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we
wi ll be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal
with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal
with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up
in victory’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:52–54). These truths have tremendous implications for counseling
the depressed, the ill, and the grieving.
God the Father is described by James as the “Father of lights.” This title indicates God’s
perfect knowledge and wisdom. He understands and reveals truth, and His truth does not
change with every new fad. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the
Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). God’s
light is explained throughout the Scripture. The applications to counseling are obvious. Look at
the following verses and see how God’s wisdom applies to our deepest needs.
• Psalm 27:1—“The Lord is my light and my salvation —whom shall I fear? The Lord is the
stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” Our knowledge of God has a practical benefit
for believers. We get our ultimate truth, or light, from God, and as a result of this intimate
knowledge we do not have to fear. A proper understanding of the Father can help overcome
irrational worries.
A man came to me one Sunday after the morning service and said, “Pastor, God has done
such a work in my life! When I began attending church here, I was being treated for anxiety
disorder. I was having panic attacks and the doctors were giving me Valium and other drugs.
Now that I’m learning about God, I am completely drug-free. My heart rate is normal.” His face
glowed with joy and peace because of the truths of God’s Word.
• Psalm 36:9—“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” The light of
God gives the believer an understanding of life itself. That is what so many counselees are
seeking—meaning and purpose for their very existence.
• Isaiah 60:20—“Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord
will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.” This promise to Israel certainly
applies individually to every believer as well, for as we learn to walk in God’s light, He removes
our sorrow and replaces it with joy.
• 1 John 1:5—“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is
light; in him there is no darkness at all.” God fully understands man. His Word shines a bright
spotlight into the darkest regions of our hearts to reveal sin and to point the way to the Savior
and to genuine inner healing.
• 2 Samuel 22:2—God is described as our Fortress, Deliverer, Rock, Shield, Horn of
Salvation, Stronghold, Refuge, and Savior. These titles reflect the protection and security which
God offers to His people. What blessed truths these are when counseling a person who is full of
fear and desperately in need of comfort!
• Matthew 6:26—God is called our “heavenly Father.” Carefully studying His character can
help a person to understand what an earthly father ought to be. This is especially important if a
counselee had an abusive childhood or if he did not have a good father model to imitate. Paul
picks up this image in Ephesians 5:1, where he implores us to “be imitators of God, therefore,
as dearly loved children.”
Other titles of God the Father are equally helpful in developing a biblical counseling system.
He is called the “Holy One of Israel” in Psalm 71:22; the self-existent “I Am” in Exodus 3:14; the
“Judge” in Genesis 18:25; the “living God” in Joshua 3:10; and “my strength” in Exodus 15:2.
These few examples can be developed by a counselor or counselee to gain a more complete
understanding of the nature and character of God the Father.
