You Don’t Have to Walk Alone

I was speaking with a client in a session explaining the relationship God desires and how He wants us to be walking so close with Him, that our relationship with Him is so intimate, we can hear His voice whisper behind us, “Go this way, turn left or turn right here” or “No, turn around and go this way.” My client looked at me and said, “That’s you, isn’t it?”

I asked her what she meant, she said, “That’s how you live your life, isn’t it? You have that with God.” In a split second, I thought about what she said and didn’t want her to think I was someone special. That somehow I had arrived spiritually and God would have that relationship with me but it’s something she could not obtain.

And that’s when I thought of my morning earlier that day. Sometimes as therapists, when it is beneficial for the client, we disclose something from our personal experience. This, I thought, was one of those times. I responded by saying God wants to have that kind of relationship with all of us and He desires that of her. And that’s when I asked her if I could be honest and share something personal with her. Here is what I told her...

This morning was a slow morning for me, I was dragging. It’s been a difficult time for my immediate family of late and I was especially struggling this morning with not letting it get me down. To help me not focus on my circumstances, but rather put my “mind on things above” (Colossians 3:2), I had decided a week earlier to memorize Psalm 34:

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (vs. 1-4)

Yesterday was a good day for me even though my struggles have not changed. I was able to rest in His sovereignty, knowing all was in His control. This morning, however, was different, I was dragging and couldn’t see an end to our troubles.

And that’s when I texted my best friend, Myrt, a godly woman who loves the Lord with all her heart. I texted her how I just couldn’t get going and was dragging. I said:

I’m struggling today. It was raining so I didn’t have my walk. I’m sitting with my Bible and coffee. My first client is at 9:30 and my last is at 4. I’ve got to get a move-on, but I just can’t. I’m dragging.

Her response was immediate, Do you want us to pray together? Or do you just want me to pray for you by myself?

Of course I opted for us to pray together. And when she called and we prayed over the phone, I was no longer alone. We were together approaching our Father’s throne. Hearing my friend talk to God, trusting Him in everything uplifted my soul. Then I prayed to my Father God, telling Him that I was trusting Him also. “I’m trusting You. Even though I don’t feel it right now I’m trusting You, LORD.”

I told my client that prayer did not solve everything for me that moment but it was a start. I knew I still had five clients coming that day so I had to get up and get ready. In the shower I continued stating my memory verse out loud. I was saying those verses over and over again. Telling them out loud to my Heavenly Father and singing praises to my LORD. I focused on Him, I put my mind on Him. I was no longer dragging. My circumstances had not changed but my mindset had!

By telling this personal story to my client, I wanted her to know that it’s not that we somehow “arrive“ at being spiritually mature or that only then are we able to listen to God’s still small voice and in so doing no longer have problems. No, we are all broken people and we will all have problems. That’s a part of living in this broken world.

No, it’s not about “arriving” anywhere, but about where we focus our minds during the journey. It’s about what we do when we have those down days or upsetting moments.

I wanted to let her know that her therapist has problems in life, too. And at those times, it’s vital that I “set my mind on things above and not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2). Does it mean that I only ask Him to take my problems away or help me get through the difficulty? No, that’s still focusing on me and my problems. That’s a good start but I shouldn’t stay there. When I truly put my mind on Christ, when I truly focus on who He is and worship Him, it works.

It works because I’m focusing on who He is and worshiping Him. That’s what He wants and I want to please Him. I want to make it my goal in life to please Him (2 Corinthians 5:9b). When I’m honestly doing it for Him, I get that beautiful byproduct of joy, knowing that I’ve pleased Him and my mind is now no longer on my problems! It’s on Him. It’s then that I find I’m no longer worrying about my circumstances; I’m truly focusing on Him. That helps me get through the difficult times.