Coming from a place of healing and reconciliation, it is hard to put into words the gratitude that my husband and I feel towards Mark at Hope for Life and his biblical counsel in our marriage. After experiencing infidelity and brokenness, we didn’t know where to turn. By the grace of God, a friend shared Mark’s contact information with us and we started in counsel individually and as a couple. Mark spoke the truth and guided us to rely on Jesus and His Word, when we needed it the most. We Continue Reading
The Deadly Love Tank Fallacy
For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water. - Jeremiah 2:13 Over the past 25 years of serving in a biblical counseling and equipping ministry, I've run into a multitude of harmful and false teachings in the Church, as well as in the realm of counseling. However, I have not come across a more destructive teaching among Christians—particularly when it comes to married couples, Continue Reading
13 Traits of Trustworthy People
As a counselor, I often get asked, usually after one person has been deeply hurt by another person, “How can I know for sure if I can trust them again?” This is a great question—and a wise one—which, fortunately, comes with a lot of helpful answers. In fact, this is so important that our wellbeing and the quality of our relationships—and any possible reconciliation—depend on knowing and living according to the right answers. Therefore, with so much at stake, we should be relatively thorough in Continue Reading
One Last Try: Marriage Counseling
THE END OF OUR MARRIAGE? After several years of unhealthy communication, harmful coping, growing resentment and hopelessness, and so much more, our marriage seemed to be over. Pop-psychology and some religious leaders affirmed that it likely was over, that too much damage had been done. At the same time we were continuously told to “trust the process” and “give it time”—and that involuntary separation from each other without guidance could be healthy, even in parental alienation with our Continue Reading