Desperate for Help? Look to Jesus

Dannah Gresh: Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth wants to know . . . 

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth: Are you trying to carry burdens that you’re not strong enough to carry? Are you wearing yourself out?” That’s why Jesus said, “Come to me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Let Him be the Mighty God in your life.

Dannah: This is the Revive Our Hearts podcast with Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, author of Heaven Rules, for October 28, 2026. I’m Dannah Gresh.

In the midst of chaotic and confusing circumstances, where do you turn for help? It can be tempting to run to friends first, do a quick Google search, or even spill the situation to an AI chat bot—all the while forgetting two very important, very comforting names of Jesus.

As you might have guessed, we’re going to explore them both today. These names are Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God. Our sweet Jesus—He is both wise to guide us through challenging circumstances and powerful to do something about them. And because He is the sovereign God of the universe, He’s a better helper than any human or AI counselor could ever be.

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth taught about both of these names in her series, “The Wonder of His Name.” Let’s begin with Wonderful Counselor. Here’s Nancy.

Jesus Is the Wonderful Counselor

Nancy: We want to look for just a moment at each of those words individually.

First, the word "wonderful." We usually use this word as an adjective: “It’s a wonderful day. I had a wonderful time.” As it’s used here, this word, Wonderful, is a noun. That is His name: Wonderful Counselor. This word, Wonderful, in the Scripture, is used only of God, never of man.

In the Old Testament, you’ll see this word often pointing to God’s miracles and the extraordinary aspects of how He dealt with His people. For example, we read in Exodus chapter 15: “Who is like you O Lord? Awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders.” That’s this word "wonders" . . . extraordinary things that God does. This "word, wonder or wonderful," is a miracle; it’s an amazing deed or thing. It is something out of the ordinary that you can’t explain. It’s extra-ordinary and inspires amazement.

Sometimes this word is translated “marvelous.” It’s a wonderful thing, supernatural, beyond our human capacity to grasp. The fact that this Messiah would be “Wonderful Counselor” means that He is not commonplace. There’s something unusual about Him. He is wonderful, awesome, a wonder, an extraordinary person—one—that God has given to us.

As I think about that name, I want to ask, “Is He wonderful to us?” Is He wonderful to you? Or have you done what so many of us do, and that is, lose the wonder of who He is and what He has done? We hear the name so often—we sing it, we say it, we read it —and maybe that name becomes commonplace to us.

His name is Wonderful. He’s a Wonderful Counselor. That means He’s a “wonder of a counselor,” amazing, supernatural! It reminds me of what Paul says in Romans 11:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” (vv. 33–34)  

Isaiah chapter 11 is another prophecy about the Messiah, and it says,

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. (vv. 1–2)

He is a Wonderful Counselor because He has the Spirit of God’s counsel upon Him. He is God. Christ, the Wonderful Counselor.

You remember how Jesus demonstrated unusual wisdom, even as a child. Do you remember in the temple at age twelve? Luke 2 tells us that after three days his parents found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking questions.

That maybe wouldn’t be so amazing, but verse 47 says, “All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.” He wasn’t just asking questions, he was answering the questions of these very intellectually brilliant religious leaders. He is a Wonderful Counselor . . . a wonder of a counselor. There is no one else like Him.

As I’ve been meditating on this name, I’ve asked myself, “What makes Him such a wonder of a counselor?” 

A Counselor Unlike Any Other

One reason is that He knows people. Jesus has insight into the human heart. He knows all about us, how we’re wired, how we’re motivated. Psalm 139 tells us that He knows our innermost thoughts. He knows our words before we even speak them. He knows our longings. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves.

John chapter 2 tells us that “Jesus knew what was in the heart of man.” Throughout the gospels, we see that people marveled at Jesus’ ability to know what they were thinking, to know what was in their hearts. He’s a Wonderful Counselor because He knows people.

He Knows Our Hearts and Understands Our Needs

Secondly, He’s a Wonderful Counselor because He’s able to understand our needs. He understands our needs because He has walked in our shoes. He didn’t just stay as this God up in heaven, He put on human flesh. He came down and walked around, and He lived our life and died our death.

Hebrews tells us that He is able to be a merciful and faithful High Priest. He is compassionate, and He is sympathetic. He was tempted just as we are, only without sin. So He’s able to understand our need.

His Counsel Is Always Wise and True

He’s able, thirdly, to diagnose our problem. That makes Him a wonder of a counselor. He’s able to diagnose, not just the surface symptoms that anybody can see, but He’s able to penetrate and help us understand the root, heart issues that need to be dealt with. It takes a great counselor to do that, and Jesus can do it perfectly! He’s able to diagnose our problem.

He’s a Wonderful Counselor, fourthly, because He succeeded where we failed. Jesus, as He lived life on this earth, knew what was to be wronged, to be sinned against, to be tired, to be lonely, to be disappointed, to be etrayed, but He never once sinned in His response. He was never bitter, never unforgiving, never sinfully angry, never selfish.

And, number five, He’s a Wonderful Counselor because He knows how to help us. He always gives wise and good and right counsel that is tailored to our specific situation and need and moment.

Turn to the Wonderful Counselor

He has all wisdom. He is God; He knows everything. He knows whether we need encouragement or rebuke or reproof or practical instruction. This all makes Him a wonder of a counselor.

He never has an unanswered question. He never needs anyone to give Him input or to help Him know how to counsel. He never has to ask anyone else, “What do you think we should do?” Never! He always knows what to do. This Wonderful Counselor knows everything. There is no limit to His knowledge, His understanding. His counsel is always right! He is omniscient, an all-wise wonder of a counselor.

And He is a wonder of a counselor because He will always tell us the truth. He doesn’t just tell us what we want to hear, but He knows what we need to hear, and He’ll tell us what we need to hear, even if we don’t want to hear it. He’ll tell us the truth about our real condition, if we’ll listen to Him.

• He’ll tell us the truth about the issues in our lives.
• He’ll tell us where we’ve sinned. 
• He’ll tell us that we need to repent. 
• He’ll tell us how to be delivered.
• He’ll tell us how we can be made whole. 

Jesus’ counsel will always make you better because it will be the truth. It will be the medicine that you need.

He’s a wonder of a counselor because He offers Himself as the solution for our needs. He’s not just like a professor standing up in the front of the classroom or an armchair quarterback. He doesn’t just tell us what to do. He’s willing to walk and live with us, by His Holy Spirit in us, that enables us to live the life that He counsels us to live. He gives us the grace by His presence within us, and He offers Himself as the solution for our needs.

He’s a wonder of a counselor because He has a proven track record. His counsel works. We’ve seen that over and over again, how He is proven to be an able counselor. Think of the woman at the well who had that string of broken relationships. Jesus knew exactly what counsel she needed, and it changed her life.

Think of the thief on the cross, or the demonized man who lived in the tombs and had to be chained up to keep him from hurting himself or others. Think of the woman who was brought to Jesus having been caught in the act of adultery. Think of Nicodemus, the religious leader, who came to Jesus at night for counsel. Think of the rich young ruler, wanting to know how to have eternal life.

These are all kinds of people, all kinds of walks of life, all kinds of needs and circumstances. Jesus gave each of those exactly the counsel they needed. So, He is a wonder of a counselor.

What’s the takeaway, the take-home from that? For each of these names, we want to know not only what it means, but what difference it makes for me. Let me give you a few takeaways about Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor.

First of all, we need to acknowledge that we need a wonderful counselor—we need wisdom and guidance. If you think you already have it altogether and your life is going along just swimmingly fine—thank you—then you’ll never go to the Wonderful Counselor. Proverbs says it this way: “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” We’ve got to acknowledge that we need a Wonderful Counselor.

Secondly, turn to Him for counsel. Where do you turn for counsel when you’re really desperate? Where do you go, who do you listen to? Turn to the Wonderful Counselor, turn to His Word, turn to prayer, turn to His Spirit. Ask Him, “What should I do? How do I deal with this?”

He has come to this earth and to live in us to be our Wonderful Counselor. He’s come to direct you, to advise you, according to His perfect and sovereign will—the eternal plan and counsel of His will. His counsel is wonderful. You will never, ever get better advice anywhere else. Turn to Him.

Isn’t it great to know He’s a counselor we always have with us, by His Holy Spirit who lives in us?

We don’t have to call Him up to get an appointment. You don’t have to wait four weeks on the waiting list until an opening comes up, to get into this counselor. You don’t have to take a checkbook with you or pay one-hundred-fifty dollars an hour for this wonderful counsel. Twenty-four/seven, and all you’ve got to pay is a humble heart, a listening ear, a willingness to say “yes, Lord” to His counsel. He’s available.

Dannah: That right there is some good news! Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth has been reminding us that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor. He’s all-wise, all-knowing, and He delights to counsel His daughters. 

You know, I hear more and more about women turning to AI for wisdom, and it makes sense why. When you bring your troubles to AI, you get an immediate response. Instantly, there are words on a web page speaking to your particular situation. And, with so much affirmation, "You're so wise to bring me this decision today. How kind of you to consider this." But let me ask you? Does AI have the power to do anything about that situation? Not one bit! But Jesus, our Mighty God, does. That’s the name Nancy will tell us about next. Let’s listen. 

Jesus Is the Mighty God

Nancy: Now what is so astonishing is that this Mighty God, El Gibbor, the Superhero, became a baby, a child. He humbled Himself. The one who created the universe and holds it all together, took on our humanity. Jesus is the Mighty God, and He took on flesh and dwelt among us.

He was the Mighty God through all of eternity past. He created all things out of nothing. Now He manages all the affairs of the universe. Hebrews 1 says that He upholds all things by the word of His power (see Heb. 1:3).  He is the Mighty God—El Gibbor.

While Jesus was here on this earth, there were times when He demonstrated, as it were, He pulled back the curtain to show His might. When He was with disciples on that boat and the storm arose, Matthew tells us that the “boat was being swamped by the waves” and the disciples cried out to Him, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And then Matthew 8 beginning in verse 26 says:

Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?" (Matt. 8:26–27)

Well what’s the answer? What sort of man is He? He is El Gibbor. He is the Mighty God.

As you read through the gospels you see how Jesus performed miracles and mighty deeds. He healed diseases with a mere word or touch, or just someone touching the hem of his robe and power went out from Him and healed that woman. He cast out demons; He turned water to wine; He fed thousands with a boy’s lunch; He raised the dead. How did Jesus do all those things? He is El Gibbor. He is the Mighty God.

Then through His death, according to Hebrews chapter 2, Jesus destroyed “the one who has the power of death, that is the devil, and [delivered] all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:14–15). On the cross, Jesus the Mighty One—El Gibbor—conquered sin and Satan and Hell and accomplished the mighty work of redemption. He is the Mighty God.

Then Jesus the Messiah threw off the shackles of death. He got up. He walked out of the tomb where He was buried. How did He do that? He is El Gibbor. He is the Mighty God.

Nothing Is Too Hard for Him

That same Mighty God bears our burdens and supports us in our hardships and afflictions and enables us to resist the power of temptation. How does He do that? He is El Gibbor—the Mighty God.

That same Jesus delivered us from the penalty of sin and the wrath of God that we deserved for our sin. He is present tense delivering us from the power of sin. And one day He will deliver us from the very presence of sin. How does He do that? He is El El Gibbor—the Mighty God.

Isaiah 9 tells us the government of the world is on His shoulders. How big are those shoulders? How strong is our Mighty God? El Gibbor. He protects us from the evil one by the power of His Name. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower [Proverbs 18 tells us] the righteous run in to it and are safe.” How are we safe because of His name? Because His name is El Gibbor—the Mighty God!

And that same Jesus, His Holy Spirit living in us, gives us strength to serve Him when we are weak and weary. He gives us the desire and the power to obey Him and to do His will when we are being pulled by the world. How does He do that? He is the Mighty God—El Gibbor.

That same Jesus is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy in that great day. How does He do that? We are weak; we are small; we are frail; we are failing. How does He preserve us? And as I read yesterday in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, He keeps us body, soul, and spirit to present us blameless in that day. How does He do that? He is El Gibbor—the Mighty God.

And one day that same Jesus will bind Satan, the “strong man,” and banish him to the bottomless pit. How does He do that? He is the strongest One—El Gibbor—the Mighty God. And then that same Jesus will return to judge the world in righteousness because He is the Mighty God.

He will destroy all of God’s enemies, and send the wicked and all devils to eternal destruction. He is the Mighty God—El Gibbor. And that same Jesus will reign with the Father over a new heaven and a new earth forever and ever. How does He do that? He is El Gibbor—the Mighty God. Amen? (applause)

As we’re asking with each of these names, what does that mean for you? What does that mean for me today where we live? What’s the takeaway? What should we leave with—not just having more notes about Hebrew words, El Gibbor, in our notebooks so we can impress other people. What difference does it make for us?

Well, I’ll tell you one difference. It’s just a great reminder that nothing is too hard for Him! Nothing. He is the Mighty God.

My dad used to say . . . My dad prayed; he had such faith to believe God to save people. He would pray for people. He had a long list of unsaved people that he prayed for day after day after day for decades. Some of them didn’t come to know Jesus until after my dad went to heaven. But my dad used to say, “There are no tough nuts for God to crack.” Nobody He can’t save. Nothing too hard for God. God can save your husband. God can save your prodigal. God can save that boss, that friend, that loved one, that person that you’re so burdened for. There’s nothing too hard for God. God can change you. Nothing too hard for Him. He is the Mighty God.

I love that passage in Psalm 24 that says:

Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! (Psalm 24:7–8)

You see, He doesn’t want you fighting your own battles. He wants you letting Him fight your battles. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. How weary do we get as women trying to fight all the battles of the world? Listen, I can’t even solve my own problems, but here I am trying to solve everybody else’s problems—trying to control the world like I am god almighty. I’m not, and you’re not. We are weak, but He is strong. There’s nothing too difficult for Him.

So where do you turn and where do you look for strength, for help? Are you trying to carry burdens that you’re not strong enough to carry? Are you wearing yourself out? That’s why Jesus said, “Come to me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Let Him be the Mighty God in your life. Do you rely on your own strength as King Ahaz tried to do in turning to the Assyrians and trying to fix things himself, or do you find strength in El Gibbor—the Mighty God?

He is mighty for every circumstance that you are facing in your life. Now that doesn’t mean that He will fix or change every circumstance right now. That’s why the Jews got confused because when Jesus came as the Messiah they expected Him to be the Mighty God, which He is, but He does things in His time and in His way. And His way is perfect.

So when He came as a humble servant and they expected Him to come throw off the Roman government, they said, “This can’t be the Messiah. He doesn’t look like a Mighty God to us? What’s a Mighty God doing hanging on a cross?” He’s hanging on the cross because He is the Mighty God who’s overcoming sin and Satan and Hell. (applause)

So you have enemies and adversaries in your life. There are adversaries in our world, and they’re breathing down the necks of believers, and they may be breathing down your neck. But I want to tell you in the midst of this battle . . . I keep hearing people say, “Can you believe that this happened, and so-and-so did this, and President so-and-so did that, and Governor so-and-so did this, and somebody gave this pronouncement, and this Hollywood person did that? Can you believe?”

Yes, I can believe, because the New Testament says things are going to get worse and worse. Sin will abound. But I want to tell you there’s no need to be fearful. There’s no need to doubt that God is there or think He’s all of a sudden wimped out and doesn’t have any more power. Those enemies are no match for Him. Jesus is El Gibbor! He is the Mighty God! (applause)

Dannah: Amen. Yes, He is. Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth has been showing you that Jesus is our Mighty God. Even your deepest, darkest, most discouraging circumstances are no match for His sovereignty and strength. 

It has been a joy considering Jesus with you all month long. As a reminder, we’ve looked at His:

• Saving purpose
• Eternal deity
• Chosen humanity
• Earthly example
• Matchless supremacy
• And ongoing ministry

If you missed any of these mini-series, you’ll find them in our archives at ReviveOurHearts.com. 

Also, fun fact! Each of those categories refers to a section in Nancy’s new Advent devotional, Consider Jesus: Meditations on the Person and Work of Christ. So this study doesn’t have to end today. Nope, when you get Nancy’s devotional, you’ll just be getting started. Donate today at ReviveOurHearts.com to request your copy as our thanks. You can also call us at 1-800-569-5959.

Tomorrow we’re going to take a closer look at who Jesus is. I had the chance to share in a Revive Our Hearts chapel service about a powerful question Jesus asked His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” It’s an important question, and we’ll talk about it tomorrow. 

Please be back for Revive Our Hearts.

This program is a listener-supported production of Revive Our Hearts in Niles, Michigan, calling women to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ.

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