View Blog Entry

Emotional distress led to depression and a search for relief.

As I sat on the couch across from my Christian counselor many years ago, I spoke about the upsetting things happening in the lives of my extended family. When I paused for breath, she asked a couple of important questions: “Where are you in all of this? What have your experiences been, and how do you feel about them?”

Looking at Hagar’s story, we see the angel asked a similar question. In Hagar’s desire to escape harsh treatment, she ended up in the wilderness. The messenger from God met her by a spring of water and asked her where she had come from and where she was going. God already knew, so why did He ask? Why did my counselor redirect my attention to my past?

Just as Hagar was encouraged to relate her story, I discovered that my counselor’s questions moved me to look inside myself and see the broken places I needed Jesus to restore. With her help and the direction of the Holy Spirit, that introspection created an opportunity to tear down the old house to the foundation. It made a place to establish the groundwork and rebuild with Jesus as my firm foundation.

The realization that Jesus saw me, as He did Hagar, in every prior situation and desired to meet my needs in my emotional despondency became clear. Healing took time, prayer, and processing, but I’m grateful for the counseling ministry, which was a spring of fresh water for me.

Think of events and the emotions, attitudes, and behaviors that stem from them that Jesus wants you to examine. Look for a spring of fresh water where you can begin your journey to healing.