4 Help your guests to focus on the cross of Christ as a reminder that God loves them (Romans 8:28–39). When our clients are facing overwhelming issues, it’s easy for them to think and feel that God has forsaken them. The cross of Christ is God’s reminder that He is for us (Romans 8:31). We might not be able to figure out or explain to our clients why life is so hard, but we can point to the cross and assure them that Jesus dying on the cross for their sins is God’s proof that He loves them. We can also assure our guests that nothing will ever separate them from God’s love (Romans 8:35–39). Life can be complicated and messy, but the cross is simple and clear. 5 Encourage your guests to hang on to the truth that their situation is not bigger than they can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). Scripture assures us that God promises He will never let us experience anything too great to bear. The very fact that our clients are experiencing their problems is an ironic assurance to them that their problems will not crush and defeat them, but rather they will be overcomers. God is the master of turning our apparent defeats into victories. For example, Hebrews 2:14 tells us that through His death, Jesus destroyed Satan who had the power of death. 6 Encourage your guests to find strength in the fellowship of other Christians (2 Corinthians 1:3–7). So often when our guests are hurting, they isolate themselves from others. Yet the love and compassion of God’s people is the very thing they need to face their problems. As a real-life object lesson, resolve to love them with a steadfast love that creates a safe relationship where they can experience your Ī WWW.AGRM.ORG MAY/JUNE 2017 27 The very fact that our clients are experiencing their problems is an ironic assurance to them that their problems will not crush and defeat them, but rather they will be overcomers.