A Practical Breakdown of Ephesians 6 Through a Counselor’s Lens
When Paul wrote about the armor of God in Ephesians 6, he was preparing believers for the reality of life in a fallen world. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12).
In counseling, we see this struggle every day. Anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, family conflict—these are not just random symptoms. They’re evidence that people are living in a broken world where both inner battles and external opposition weigh heavily on the soul.
So how does the armor of God fit into the counseling room? Let’s take a closer look.
1. The Belt of Truth
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” (Eph. 6:14)
In counseling terms: truth holds everything together. Many clients come weighed down by lies: “I’m worthless,” “I’ll never get better,” “I can’t be forgiven.” Just like a belt secures armor, truth secures identity.
- Clinical tool: Cognitive restructuring (challenging distorted thoughts).
- Spiritual tool: Scripture that speaks identity: “You are fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14).
As counselors, we help clients untangle lies and anchor themselves in truth.
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness
“…with the breastplate of righteousness in place.” (Eph. 6:14)
The breastplate protects the heart. Spiritually, it’s about living in right relationship with God. Clinically, it connects to values-based living: helping clients align actions with their values to reduce shame and guilt.
- Many clients battle false guilt or self-condemnation.
- The breastplate reminds us: we are covered by Christ’s righteousness, not our own perfection.
In session, this means normalizing failure, encouraging confession and forgiveness, and teaching clients how to live out of grace rather than self-condemnation.
3. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
“…with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” (Eph. 6:15)
Shoes help us stand firm and move forward. Peace provides stability. In the counseling room, peace is often the first thing missing. Crisis, trauma, or depression leaves people feeling unsteady.
- Clinical tool: Grounding exercises, mindfulness, breathing techniques.
- Spiritual tool: Philippians 4:7 — “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Helping clients find peace—through coping skills and through Christ—is like giving them shoes to stand on stable ground again.
4. The Shield of Faith
“Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Eph. 6:16)
Flaming arrows come in the form of doubt, fear, or accusation. Clients in crisis often say things like: “I’ll never make it through this,” “God doesn’t care,” “Everything is hopeless.”
Faith shields us by reminding us of God’s promises even when feelings disagree.
- Clinical tool: Building resilience through past success stories (“You’ve survived hard things before—what got you through?”).
- Spiritual tool: Hebrews 11’s stories of faith remind us that God carries His people through hardship.
Faith doesn’t deny reality—it shields us from despair when reality feels overwhelming.
5. The Helmet of Salvation
“Take the helmet of salvation…” (Eph. 6:17)
The helmet protects the mind. Salvation secures identity: “I belong to Christ, nothing can separate me from His love” (Rom. 8:38–39).
In counseling, the mind is often the primary battlefield. Negative self-talk, intrusive thoughts, shame cycles—these can feel relentless.
The helmet reminds us that our ultimate identity and safety are secure in Christ, no matter what storms rage mentally or emotionally.
6. The Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God)
“…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6:17)
The only offensive weapon in the armor is God’s Word. Scripture counters lies and brings life. In counseling, the “sword” is not used to cut down clients but to cut through confusion and despair.
- Clinical tool: Narrative therapy—helping clients rewrite their story.
- Spiritual tool: Speaking Scripture into that story: “Here is what God says about you.”
This isn’t about preaching in session, but for faith-based clients, the Word can be a lifeline in reframing identity and hope.
7. Prayer: The Constant Companion
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (Eph. 6:18)
Prayer is not listed as armor but is the constant power behind it. For counselors, prayer is what happens privately before and after sessions: “Lord, You know this person. Show me how to help. Give me words that bring hope and peace.”
Prayer is also something we can invite clients into when they desire it—reminding them they are not alone in the battle.
The Armor in Everyday Counseling
What does all this mean practically? It means that the armor of God is not just theological—it’s therapeutic.
- Truth replaces distorted thoughts.
- Righteousness covers shame.
- Peace brings grounding.
- Faith deflects despair.
- Salvation secures identity.
- God’s Word reframes the story.
- Prayer empowers the process.
In the counseling room, equipping someone with the armor of God may look like teaching a breathing exercise and reminding them of God’s peace, or helping them challenge a cognitive distortion and anchoring it in Scripture. It’s both clinical practice and spiritual equipping.
Final Encouragement
Spiritual warfare doesn’t always look like dramatic encounters. Sometimes it looks like a person battling depression who finally believes “I am loved.” Sometimes it looks like a child in crisis who finds peace after a panic attack. Sometimes it looks like a family in conflict who chooses forgiveness instead of division.
The armor of God belongs not only in the pulpit but in the counseling room. It equips us to help people fight the lies, fears, and wounds of a broken world with both skill and Spirit.
✨ At North Pointe Services, we believe counseling is both clinical care and spiritual equipping. If you or someone you love is struggling, know that you don’t have to fight the battle alone.
