As a pastor, counselor and friend, I hear a lot of people’s stories and many of them are heartbreaking. Listening to people is a needed art form in our world, for many people are suffering in silence and we don’t know it for they look so polished behind the pulpit; so professional in their suit and tie; so beautiful in their make up and cute outfit; so fresh in their youthful zeal. However the truth is, many people are struggling and they need people who will not just hear, but will give them a hand up.

Our culture has become one of counseling language which sounds right, but is not helping as much as we may think. Talk shows do group therapy sessions; Instagram has mini videos telling us how to set boundaries; churches have become life coaching sessions; and companies are doing trainings in diversity and community. But people are learning but not being transformed. We have a lot of knowledge but very little identifiable change.

The reason for this is because the word of God is the only thing that can transform us. Knowledge puffs up, but only love builds up. We have so much knowledge and so little love, which is why we are still hurting so badly. The word of God is a love letter not a theological thesis. For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus Christ said, I am the way, the truth and the life. John 1:1 says, “The word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus is the word, He is not a doctrine. He is love, He is alive, and He is the only one who can heal us internally and externally.

Friends, we have love available to us in the word of God. Open the love letter and read. The word of God is medicine, it heals you in ways nothing else can. It still transforms us from the inside out. It is still powerful; identifiable; and accessible. Jesus is the word, He is not a doctrine, He is a person and He wants a relationship with you. Stop chasing people’s ideas, thoughts and self-help narratives, read the truth and the truth will set you free. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. He is God and He is the best soul food.