Written by Esther St. John with Sherry Ho, Karen Coulter, Theron St John, and Dr. Luke Trifilio
Easter is more than a spring holiday—it’s the heartbeat of our faith and the foundation of biblical counseling.
As counselors, we often meet people in the middle of heartbreak, addiction, loss, or deep personal struggle. However, the good news of Easter—the resurrection of Jesus Christ—transforms how we view suffering and shapes how we walk with others through it. The risen Christ doesn’t just offer comfort; He offers new life.
Because He lives, we counsel with hope. Because He lives, change is possible.
Easter reorients our perspective, reminding us that God brings life out of death, healing out of brokenness, and joy out of sorrow. This truth isn’t just central to our theology—it’s central to every conversation we have, every prayer we pray, and every step we take with those seeking help.
You might think Biblical Counseling Center is closed on Easter weekend, but we actually celebrate it as a counseling center. Below, four of our counselors share their personal testimonies of how Easter brings hope to them and their counseling rooms.
A Journey with Christ – Sherry Ho
As a counselor, I often meet people at the lowest points of their lives. Both counselors and those they counsel need perspective and hope. Easter is a celebration of Jesus Christ’s victory over our greatest enemy—death—and it reorients the way we live.
Our perspective is that we are united with Christ in all circumstances. Therefore, because He lives, the counseling journey becomes a journey of dying with Christ and rising with Him—a path where we experience God’s redemptive power, even in the smallest corners and darkest moments of our lives.
The counseling journey leads us to a deeper experience of the joy and hope brought by Christ’s resurrection (Romans 15:13).
No Counseling Without the Cross – Karen Coulter
There is no biblical counseling without the hope of the resurrection! All our counseling is based on the blessed assurance of the redemption of sins that were nailed to the cross and the wonderful salvation that is ours because Jesus did not stay in the grave!
He is risen to give us forgiveness of sin. He is risen to reconcile us to Himself. He is risen that we might spend eternity with Him one day. Hallelujah!
Resurrection Power in Everyday Struggles – Theron St John
Easter brings hope to my counseling because the resurrection of Jesus is the power of God to save sinners and sanctify saints. Through the gospel, those seeking help gain a new perspective on their sin and suffering. Their sorrow becomes a doorway to share Christ’s sufferings and “know Him and the power of his resurrection” (Philippians 3:10).
Easter offers more than comfort—it introduces a life-changing relationship with Jesus and invites others to experience His resurrection power.
Redemption is the Heartbeat – Dr. Luke Trifilio
Easter is a celebration of the Lord’s rescue from sin and death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ should permeate every part of our lives, especially how we minister to those who are suffering and in need of healing and change.
The same power that raised Jesus from the grave empowers His disciples to be delivered from the bondage of sin, adopted, restored, and freed to live as we were intended to. This is redemption, and it is the heartbeat of biblical counseling.
I find deep joy in biblical counseling because I was once an alcoholic. When I put my faith in Jesus, everything changed. Within a few years of following the Lord, I was able to help others do likewise. The Lord took the worst part of my life, the most sinful and shameful season, and now uses it for good.
A redemptive perspective brings hope. Just as baptism symbolizes life out of death, biblical counseling moves a follower of Jesus Christ toward the heart transformation that comes through the newness of life (Romans 6:4).
Conclusion
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just the end of the gospel story; it’s the ongoing power behind every redemptive story we witness in counseling. Easter reminds us that no matter how dark a person’s past or how heavy their burden, there is always hope because of the cross.
We counsel in light of the resurrection not with shallow optimism, but with deep, soul-anchoring confidence in the One who has conquered sin and death.
Because Jesus is alive, biblical counseling isn’t just about managing pain. It’s about experiencing resurrection power in real time. That is the joy, the privilege, and the miracle of this gospel work.
We pray this Easter season renews your hope!
