by CJ Hines

"I’m in over my head."
"I just don’t know how I’ll get through this."
"What am I supposed to do now?"

Have you ever thought or said words like these? Have you ever felt as if the straw that broke the camel’s back had just been placed in your pack? Sometimes the toll life takes on us seems too high a price to pay. Our schedules can be overbooked or we can feel undervalued. We get stressed out; it happens to everyone.

We can often figure out strategies to help ourselves through these times. Sometimes simply stepping back from the situation gives us enough space to see more clearly. Good friends offer listening ears, and of course, we are best served when we heed the lyrics in the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Real friends offer objective listening ears. But there are some points in life where we may want to consider the services of a trained professional. Not only can it be cathartic to unburden ourselves to someone we trust, but it can also help us live more productive, healthy lives. Even the most faithful of us may benefit from periodic help in tough times.

What we need is someone who is compassionate, objective, and nonjudgmental; someone who can listen and provide clarity. We can benefit from someone who can help us see our situation for what it is; someone whose words and actions echo our faith’s teachings. Let me tell you about one such experience in my life.

Seek Help
A couple of years ago, I desperately needed God’s help. The company where I worked downsized, and I was let go. I felt like a failure. I wanted to remain calm, but there were times when life overwhelmed me. Keeping myself open to God’s guidance, I began sessions with a counselor who was Christian.

Selecting any caregiver is a uniquely personal decision, and for me the best choice was this counselor. I felt that this professional could meet me where I was and understand my faith–in–life issues as they pertained to my issues and concerns.

While seeking this type of help initially may be a challenge for some, it is important to understand that going to a counselor doesn’t mean you’re weak or that you’ve lost your faith. I don’t know anyone who would think themselves weak if they called a doctor when they were suffering from the flu. Many of us also see our physicians regularly to maintain good health; we go before a small issue becomes a big problem. Likewise when your heart or spirit is hurting, a spiritual counselor can offer help that can put you back on the road to good emotional or spiritual health.

There is also incredible comfort in confiding in someone who genuinely desires you to feel God’s love and find peace. That’s what God desires for you. Isaiah 66:13 says, "As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem."

A counselor will also hand you a tissue when you cry and hear you out when you’re angry. A Christian counselor will also pray for you when you’re hurting.

Refocus on God
Good Christian counselors provide help that lines up with the Bible’s teachings. But the journey to self-revelation won’t be easy. You will still have to search your heart and admit things you’ve denied until now. Be prepared: Any good counselor will ask hard questions and will also help you deal with the answers.

In my case, my counselor helped me see I was hiding my anger. I told him I felt guilty about feeling angry. He said feelings aren’t good or bad — they’re just feelings. It’s when we act on them that we sin (Ephesians 4:26).

My stress stemmed from being out of balance. I put too much emphasis on a job I disliked and too little on God who loves me. When we’re out of balance, we don’t always make the best decisions. Without God as our center, we are vulnerable. First Peter 5:8 says, "Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour."

Simplify
For me, my sessions led to greater clarity. I saw how trivial some things were that I had thought were so important. This clarity helped me see how unimportant "stuff" was. No longer desiring to accumulate material things, I tore through closets and drawers, getting rid of unwanted possessions. The freedom I felt from such action was amazing.

Simplifying can also reduce our stress and guilt — we don’t need to worry about what we have or don’t have, need or don’t need. God takes care of it. Matthew 6:25–28 says, "Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?"

Seeking a Christian counselor could be the best thing you can do for yourself. They can help you put on the "whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11), so you will come away with renewed strength, faith, and a joyous spirit, even in the face of adversity.