Having a prodigal child situation may be something we want to keep hidden from friends, family, and other church members. Because of the allure of anonymity, seeking professional help may be enticing, but that shouldn’t be who we turn to first for counsel.
If professional help shouldn’t always be what we first turn to, who then should we seek out for counsel? What guidance does the Bible give?
Seeking Guidance Before Professional Help
Though parenting our children should be the joy of our lives, it can also bring us some of the most incredible pain any human can experience. There are two common errors we make in a prodigal son situation. The first is not sharing our grief with others in the faith, and the second is not drawing on the wisdom of our elders.
Scripture tells us to bear one another’s burdens and to seek the counsel of many. For fear of being judged or shamed, we’re often too quick to seek “professional” help from people who don’t really know us or our situation. While there is a time for professional help, it may be wiser for us to first look to those who know us best.
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