Laura McGee—4 min read—Client resource
I work with clients suffering from trauma, grief, anxiety, and depression, and at the end of each session, I don’t pray for relief, which might seem unusual; instead, I pray that they come to know Christ’s love more deeply in their lives. My prayer for them is based on Ephesians 3:16-21.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide, and long, and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
This prayer for them represents what I want most for my clients—for them to remember who they are and whose they are, which actually brings true healing. Let’s look at how this prayer centers clients by reminding them of their true identity:
- They are united with Christ. You have received His Spirit in your inner being to strengthen you so that Christ may dwell (live or reside) in your heart through faith. There is no closer foundational relationship than the one between Christ and my clients. This solid foundation can give a struggling client hope and confidence as we work to remind them of this glorious truth that reveals their true identity.
- They are rooted and grounded in love. Often, clients have been hurt by others and are seeking deep healing, coming to counseling feeling lost or alone. Part of our work together is to remind them and anchor them in the truths of Scripture. They may not feel it or believe it at the moment, but God’s love for them is so powerful that He has rooted and grounded them in His love. I use the analogy of trees and plants in a storm to explain rooted and grounded; it means that even when winds and storms come, their deep roots and groundedness give them the ability to withstand the storms. They may feel buffeted by the winds, but they will never be lost or alone again; God’s love keeps them steady, and His presence—His dwelling—is constant in the midst of uncertainty.
- The love of Christ for you exceeds knowledge. It is very common for my clients to come in struggling to believe in God’s love and kindness for them. Sadly, those who were meant to protect and keep them safe are often the ones who hurt them deeply. Part of our work together is teaching them how different the Lord is from those who harmed them. This often involves trusting Christ’s love even when it doesn’t make sense or feels fake. Recognizing this truth can open the door to understanding Christ’s love more deeply, especially with the help of God’s holy people, to grasp “how wide and long and high and deep”—in contrast to the conditional and limited love of others.
- Doxology. The final part of Paul’s prayer is his worship of God’s power to do more than we can even ask or imagine. This is where clients and I will cast vision for what healing can look like, and I encourage them to dream big.
It is no accident that the word “power” is used three times in this prayer. When a client understands God’s incredible power in uniting them with Him so intimately that He dwells with them and loves them with a love that will never be taken away and can’t be measured, true healing begins.