As a pastor, I’m expected to be there for my flock, with the various difficulties they live through and share with me.
For many, life can be hard, and for some, even unbearable, but it’s a privilege to walk through the valley of the shadow of death with those in need. However, not everything is so dark!
One aspect of pastoral life I’ve come to enjoy is that of Christian life coaching.
While problems are everywhere, for many people, the problems often come in an area of life where people feel stuck. The issues are many and varied:
- Looking for a change in career
- Feeling stuck in life and not knowing how to take the next step
- Needing clarity in life
- Overcoming Monday morning blues
- Struggles with productivity
- Strategic decision making
- And much more.
However, as with all aspects of life, as Christians, we filter our understanding of life through the lens of our faith.
Particularly trying to understand how our life fits in with the will of God and understanding that ‘we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ Eph 2:10
Christian life coaching approaches things from a Biblical perspective, and it’s this unique understanding that enables a person seeking coaching to find fulfilment in their goals and in living a godly life.
Often, left to our own devices, we feel stuck; whether that’s spending too much time thinking and planning and not actioning matters, or simply being too unfocussed in life.
For a Christian wanting to move forward in their life goals, but finding themselves struggling to get past the first hurdle, life coaching may well be the breakthrough step that’s needed.
Often we simply can’t see the way forward. We have blind spots in our lives, and by the very nature of those blind spots, we need help from the outside to enable us to see God’s plan for our lives. That’s where life coaching comes in.
Of course, it goes without saying that working with a Christian life coach who understands what God calls us to be, gives not just greater clarity, but spiritual depth to each coaching session.
I’m often asked “how many sessions will I need”? Surprisingly few is usually my answer. I’ve had a number of people come on the free taster session I offer (just a 15 minute ‘get to know me’ session), and come away with the breakthrough they needed and be able to move forward.
I’m delighted when that happens, as it not only shows the power of the life coaching model, but it also shows the grace of God in the lives of his children.
Of course, for deeper challenges, or several challenges together, a number of sessions may be helpful, but everything runs at the pace of the coachee.
Gordon Hall is a pastor in the North of England, a trained life coach and married with three grownup children.
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