"Carry each other's burdens..." – Galatians 6:2

Every one of us encounters a problem which seems overwhelming and which we can’t deal with on our own. As believers, we bring it before God, but sometimes it isn’t easy to assess our situation accordingly in order to find a solution, to come to terms with loss or understand where we went wrong. In situations like these, we need the support of another person.

We read in the Book of Proverbs, that we should show other people our compassion and not ignore their problems. Some of the prophets served as spiritual counsellors to God’s people: they assisted, exhorted, warned and pointed the way to regaining harmony with others and with God.

Jesus was never one to be indifferent to human suffering. He felt empathy, reached out to sinners and the sick, seeing in them people who were in need of a doctor and ready to accept help. He met with criticism but wasn’t concerned with what people said. Filled with compassion for people living without a purpose He started teaching them. On seeing the great despair of Mary and Martha on their brother’s death, he rose Lazarus from the dead. He did not condemn the woman caught on committing adultery, but instead commanded her not to sin again. Knowing that Peter would deny Him when put to the test, He told him that he had been interceding before his Father, so that Peter’s faith wouldn’t falter, and that one day he would become someone strengthening others’ faith. Future events would soon prove His words right.

Paul, likewise, encouraged empathy, sharing the joys and sorrows of others. In his epistle to the Corinthians he wrote that God offered believers various gifts of grace, amongst others the gift of healing and benevolence so that the Church might function well and provide support to its members. Therefore, just as a sick person can go to a doctor, so can a person with an ailing soul find help, prayer and encouragement with the help of a spiritual counsellor, and thus regain joy of life and rebuild a once wavering relationship with God.

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