Words of The Lamb magazine

by T.K. Bryan

_{^{“One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and you reward everything according to what they have done.”
Psalm 62:11-12, NIV}}

Once I finished my final assignment for my last college class, I felt a sense of peace in my heart like I had never felt before. It had been a long two years, filled with every emotion imaginable. I was glad God called me to enroll in college in 2021 to pursue a degree in creative writing, but I never thought the challenges would weigh me down at times during the journey.

As I reflected on how my previous year had turned out, I was reminded of Psalms 62. God is powerful, and his love is unfailing. In June of the previous year, I experienced some major anxiety and depression. It felt like I had no hope to get out of how I was feeling. Being stressed from working a full-time job, along with attending college full time, made me feel like I couldn’t handle anything in my life anymore. I gave my notice at work and stayed home for the next three months to focus on my college assignments. I also needed the break to take care of myself for a little while.

God helped me through a very difficult period in my life which resulted in me growing stronger. He also brought people my way at the exact moment when I needed them. My mom, husband, family, and friends were encouraging me each day. But I still felt hopeless.

When I reached the point of staying in bed all day, I finally realized that I needed to get some help. I just didn’t know how to ask for help for myself. When I had a conversation with my friend Tori one afternoon, she listened to everything I told her, and then she had to be lovingly honest with me. I pretended not to hear what she said, but I let her talk.

“Honey, I know you’ve been stressed to the point of breaking down. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Maybe you should consider getting some Christian counseling,” she said

“I don’t see how counseling will help me get out of this situation. I messed up and now I don’t have a job to go back to, but I can’t go back there right now,” I said. “College is too important. I must keep going if I want to graduate. I didn’t expect college to be this difficult. Why is all this happening to me?”

“You’re depressed, and you need some help. It happens to more people every day than you realize. A counselor can help you sort through your feelings. Please take my advice.” Tori
pleaded. “Promise you’ll try to find a counselor.”

“Fine, I’ll do it,” I said. “I don’t know if it will help me feel better, but I’ll start looking this evening.”

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I eventually found a Christian counselor to see on a weekly basis. I saw her from June to the beginning of the new year. Some days were better than others after each session, but I gradually found myself becoming more confident. I felt more capable of handling things on my own. I no longer felt overwhelmed.

One day in January, my counselor smiled as she held her notebook.

“I think you’ve graduated from therapy. You’re doing so much better than you were the first time I saw you. I’m extremely proud of the progress you have made. You can continue to see me if you want to. However, when it gets to the point where neither of us have anything else to talk about, then you’re ready to move forward without therapy. I wish I had more patients who reached this point,” she said.

“I guess things have improved in my life,” I said.

I walked away from that final session with a renewed sense of confidence in myself. I felt stronger from the inside out. I’ll never know why I reached an extremely low, dark point in my life, but I see the proof of how God never left my side through everything.

Having therapy required me to know exactly who I am, and who God created me to be. He delivered healing in my life as I looked to him for guidance in that challenging time. God is the greatest counselor. He provides help along the way for those who need it. Plus, he brings the right people at the right time who will be lovingly honest.

If you are experiencing depression and anxiety in your life, do you know how to seek help? Have you asked God to help you through this situation? Do you know someone who is depressed that may need your advice about seeking help? Be willing to ask God how he can help you through this difficult time in your life. He will reward you for your efforts to seek healing.