Kate Motaung

Today I want to talk about a topic that is the cornerstone of the Christian faith: forgiveness. In my time as a mental health counselor, I’ve found the topic of forgiveness to often be either misunderstood, undervalued, or flat out triggering in some cases. In this article, I will share what forgiveness is and what it isn’t. I also want to discuss how forgiveness is transformative to our hearts, the wounds we carry, and our relationships. This is a complex

In many of our favorite scenes in blockbuster films and scripts in books, we cheer for the underdog. Wherever we encounter someone who is downtrodden or suffering abandonment, we find ourselves shouting from the sidelines of our seats and sofas, hoping for the win. The Bible outlines the blueprint for the narrative of champions. We rise and fall with each plot twist and page turn. We encounter them in the countless stories that convey hope and inspire resilience in

Do you feel lonely during the holidays? The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is often a reflection time, reflecting on memories and recreating traditions. But when you are alone, it can quickly feel like a dark cloud is descending on you. However, there are things you can do to counteract feeling lonely during the holidays and enjoy the Christmas season. Expectations and loneliness. Expectations can be the catalyst of loneliness. For example, when you expect the holidays

Therese and Steven are a young couple that’s been happily married for three and a half years, but the past six months have been quite difficult. Therese’s job has steadily required more from her, especially as her company had to downsize during the pandemic and they aren’t able to hire new people just yet. She’s often home quite late, and leaves early to get her day started. When she’s home, she feels tired and finds it hard to go

Depression comes in many forms. It can be caused by brain circuitry, an imbalance of brain chemicals, trauma, uncontrollable life events, genetics, or family history. What depression feels like is a persistent sadness that envelops you and alters your thoughts and emotions. It leaves you fatigued and often isolated. Depression is diagnosed by professionals using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), 5th Edition from the American Psychiatric Association. A licensed mental health care provider reviews assessments,

Anxiety can feel like a vice, gripping you at the most inconvenient times. One moment, you are fine, and the next, you can barely catch your breath. Anxiety can cause long-term detrimental effects physically, emotionally, and mentally. It can affect your relationships and your work life. Recognizing the signs of anxiety and getting help when needed can make the difference between being stuck in an invisible prison of fear and stepping out into the life God created for you.

The aging process refers to the physiological and mental changes we experience during our lifespan and is an inevitable part of living. It’s a gradual process that begins in early adulthood as cell structures and functions start to decline. Although you can’t stop the aging process from happening, you can make choices that improve your ability to maintain an active life and continue to do the things you enjoy. Common changes that come with the aging process. Vision. As

Some Christians mistakenly believe that to pursue self-improvement is to glorify the self instead of God. However, this is not true, as chasing after Jesus will cause you to adopt His characteristics, becoming more like Him as you seek after Him. The only way to nurture a relationship with Jesus Christ is to draw closer to Him through studying the Bible, praise, worship, and prayer. The benefits of growing closer to Christ take self-improvement to a whole new level.

How things begin makes a huge difference in what happens after. If your first meeting with someone is unpleasant, that may mean that your relationship is marked by that negative interaction and may never recover. However, an inauspicious beginning doesn’t automatically mean that the ending is already written. After all, things change, and predicted outcomes can be averted. This all relates to attachment and how a person engages in relationships with others. Just because you have a particular attachment

Every relationship experiences challenges in one season or another, including the ones we consider healthy. When we encounter this with our teens, we need not be shaken by this. Our adolescents are emerging into adults. The transitions that they endure produce growing pains. Some, we see and are privy to, and others are private. While we experience the tumult of the teen years with our sons and daughters, it can feel as if we are going through our own

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition

You are sitting in your counselor's office. After weeks or months of tears and work you are well on your way to healing from your traumatic past. You have learned to identify triggers and work through panic attacks and anxiety. You are healing. It feels so good. Then comes the question, “Are you ready to forgive them?” All the work, all the healing comes down to this moment and you sit there, wondering how to answer. What forgiveness is