Need a bit of help right now? Feeling sad, hopeless, afraid?

Asking for help is hard for us to do. We want to solve problems ourselves! But when you or someone you know is hurting, where do you turn?

Or are you or they afraid to ask for help? Are you too proud or fearful to admit you are hurting, numb, ashamed?

Counseling is temporary, yet can be very powerful! It’s caring, yet objective. There is no room for falseness or pretense.

It’s often difficult because we have stuffed years of pain down into ourselves and now must look at it, and admit that we need help out of its prison.

Growth is sometimes painful. Truth is hard to face. The old ways of doing things our way, are hard to give up.

Counseling is an experience in elemental honesty, openness and courage. Here are some good things to think over as you look for a way to deal with your current suffering or confusion.

1. God is always in control.

We often forget this, and begin trying to “fix” things ourselves… whether in our own lives, or in the lives of others.

2. It is okay to feel emotional pain.

No doubt, pain is not fun, but sometimes it’s a very important part of healing. If I avoid pain, or help others avoid pain, I will miss an important element in the healing process, and may even deny there is even a problem.

All of us need to learn to accept pain and learn how to deal with it rather than run from it.

3. Knowing God and spending time WITH Him is more important than learning ABOUT Him.

I must keep a personal time with God daily as a priority. Just because you are studying or are taking a Bible course doesn’t mean you are building your relationship with God.

4. The Holy Spirit has been assigned the role of “convictor.”

Although I am charged to “speak the truth in love,” I also must be careful to not take over the role of the Holy Spirit.

5. The characteristic of excellence glorifies God.

In all I do — in all you do — do it with excellence. Meaning, do quality work, show quality in your treatment of others and the way you interact with them.

If God has called me to study his word to know his heart then I must do this with all of my heart being focused on it changing my perspective to his.

6. Discipline yourself to memorize Scripture.

God’s Word is living, and sharper than a “two-edged sword.” God uses His Word to transform, to change our thinking patterns, as well as our emotional response patterns and behavioral patterns.

I need God’s Word in my life, just as my others need God’s Word! It is more important than any other study we might complete.

7. Develop a merciful response in your heart.

None of us are perfect, and humbling ourselves will allow us to become merciful. If you do not have the gift of mercy, ask God to give you a merciful heart, (Matthew 9:13, 18:33).

8. If you are married, and if you have children, remember your spouse and children are your priority second only to God.

Be sure you make time to invest in them and their needs. That may mean putting down your smart phones and media tools and engaging fully with them.

This is a form of humility and showing care. Being emotionally present with them.

9. Rejoice when you experience suffering (suffering can be as small as feeling lonely as you build relationships to financial stress, to health problems).

God uses suffering in our lives to draw us to himself, and to build His character and nature into us, (James 1:2).

 

In His Shadow,
~ Mary Lindow ^©

Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed as long as complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You!

” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
Global Prayer Rooms

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Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others – all generations, careers or vocations to live expressing excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She’s a sought after keynote, inspirational, humorous speaker and teacher across the USA and internationally in Ministers & Spiritual leaders Conferences, and training seminars for various organizations.

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