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Restoring Hope Through Faith: A Biblical Worldview of Christian Life Coaching in
Seasons of Trial
Christy L. Lipps
Liberty University
LIFC201: Introduction to Life Coaching
Professor Brittany Hoyt
August 20, 2025
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Restoring Hope Through Faith: A Biblical Worldview of Christian Life Coaching in
Seasons of Trial
Personal Niche and Target Audience
I have come to realize that my niche is coaching for those in challenging seasons that
require faith and resilience. Parents involved in legal custody battles would be one such example
of individuals I am passionate about helping. This population may require extra emotional
support, practical advice and spiritual insight in order to remain calm, positive and rational
when experiencing the stress, uncertainty and loss that this situation can cause. Assisting
recovering addicts represents another area where I can make a great difference. They are often
one of the most stigmatized and ignored populations, yet in order to overcome their pasts, re-
build their lives and find a sense of purpose and direction they often require spiritual revival,
emotional healing and direction. The legal system and recovery are both challenges with both
physical and spiritual factors that I feel could use spiritual/emotional coaching.
Personal Story
My husband and I are both recovering addicts that have been clean and sober for almost
four years now. During our years of active addiction both of us lost custody of children from
prior relationships. When our son, Grayson, was born almost three years ago Child Protective
Services removed him from our custody one week after he was born due to our history of
addiction and the medications I was taking while pregnant. It was the worst day of my life. Our
first worker made it very clear she was not there to help us and both of our lawyers made it
clear that we would receive a 6-month improvement period, but it would be a miracle if
Grayson came home in that time. We felt defeated. But we held on to our faith, we prayed and
continued to go to AA/NA meetings. We were given a new worker and it was obvious our efforts
were not going unnoticed. Hour visits turned into six-hour visits, then day visits, and weekends
and finally after a long nine months Grayson was allowed to come home to stay. The judge, our
lawyers, the guardian ad litem called us a miracle case, a once in a lifetime success story. It was
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this season that showed me to never give up, what it meant to have faith in the darkest times,
and that my
God is a God of second chances.
Mission and Vision
As a Christian life coach, my mission would be to empower and equip individuals in
lifealtering trials to rediscover their inner strength, identity and purpose through Christ-
centered coaching. My vision would be a community of restored families and transformed lives
where faith is the foundation, healing is possible, and hope is never lost.
Biblical Integration
Firstly, the mission is supported by biblical worldview. Philippians 4: 13, “I am able to do
all things through him who strengthens me” (Christian Standard Bible, 2017) serves as a
powerful reminder that we do not have to do life alone, and that all things are possible through
Christ. Isaiah 40: 31, “but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength” (CSB, 2017) is
another beacon of hope and encouragement for those in difficult seasons and assures them that
their ability to persevere and overcome will be renewed as they place their hope and trust in
God. By weaving these scriptures into the fabric of the coaching journey, the client can see that
the trials are not a measure of their faith but an opportunity to grow spiritually and rely on Gods
strength.
Coaching Tools and Skills
One way to help the client would be to empower and equip the client on the journey to
restored strength, identity and purpose. This would involve a combination of coaching tools and
spiritual practices such as journaling and devotional planning, which encourages regular
reflection. Goal tracking and accountability would also be important ways to help keep the client
focused and motivated on the journey. Prayer and scripture integration would also be key to
help build spiritual resilience and intimacy with God, while active listening and motivational
interviewing would help to create a safe and transformative space for the client.
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Scholarly Integration
Christian coaching is an emerging field that fuses disciplines of theology, psychology and
personal development. A study by Vinson and Parker (2021) focuses on servant leadership in
Christian coaches and highlights the fact that many coaches see their work as more relational,
empathetic and rooted in humility and moral integrity rather than traditional corporate
leadership models. This is an important insight as it shapes how I will serve and support people.
Rather than using pressure, I will create a safe, acceptable and valuable space for clients.
Coaching then becomes a ministry of presence in which the coaches bring transformational
truth with the grace of the gospel.
References
Christian Standard Bible. (2017). Holman Bible Publishers.
Collins, G. (2009). Christian coaching: Helping others turn potential into reality. Second
edition. NavPress.
Vinson, D., & Parker, A. (2021). Christian sports coaches and servant leadership. International
Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16(2), 304–316.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954120951768
