Christian Coping in the 21st Century

Coping is the use of conscious intellectual and behavioral strategies to deal with problematic life issues andassociated stress.Psychologists use therapy to help people change self-defeating thought patterns and behaviors and overcome their problems long-term. Christian counsellors employ many of the same methods as do secular therapists, but they also approach life issues from a Christian, Bible-based perspective. Christian counselling often includes analyzing the stories of Bible characters for guidance in dealing with common psychological disorders. This essay addresses personal challenges faced by major characters from the Bible (Job, Noah, Jonah, Moses, and David) and by many people today: substance abuse, racial discrimination, social phobias, and chronic guilt. The essay takes a holistic approach and discusses therapeutic options available in both secular and Christian treatment