Group therapy helps people work thorough problems by interacting with other individuals that have similar struggles. It’s usually conducted by a skilled leader. In a safe, confidential setting, group members share their personal experiences, feelings, and issues and get feedback and support from the rest of the group. Learning from others is an age-old method to inspire us to grow, even spiritually. It’s one reason the angel Gabriel told Mary to take note of her cousin Elizabeth. The angel had just delivered the breaking news to Mary that God had chosen her to give birth to the long awaited Messiah. We find in Luke Ch 1 where he told Mary that even though she was a virgin– never married–, the Holy Spirit would enable her to become pregnant. While she believed what the angel said, he told her to take notice of what God had done for her relative. The Holy Spirit had enabled Elizabeth to get pregnant in her old age—a miraculous event. Mary could look at Elizabeth and be inspired to know nothing is impossible with God. Still today, we can look at Elizabeth, Mary, and many modern recipients of God’s grace and power to know nothing is impossible with God.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
