Healing Comes

Over many years, I have worked with children and teens as a Social Worker. Most of these young people have seen counselors, sometimes for long stretches of time. For some, counseling is beneficial, for others not so much.

I have wondered why the difference and have begun to notice traits in those who find it helpful and in those who don’t.

The successful are transparent about who they are and how they feel. They participate. They don’t just say what the counselor wants to hear. They listen and are willing to try new things. Essentially, they do the homework.

Unsuccessful clients expect a quick fix or might attend their sessions inconsistently for various reasons. They refuse responsibility for their behaviors and attitudes that contribute to their problems and often blame others.

These attitudes, negative or positive, also apply in our personal walk with Christ. He is the Wonderful Counselor after all. Will He be successful in bringing about lasting change in our hearts? Crawford Loritts said, “Jesus meets us in our transparency.” Being transparent requires humility and courage. To find healing in our lives, we must be willing to face and confess our sin and failures. We all have blind spots that deceive us into believing we don’t need to make any changes, but Jesus is positioned to heal us when we uncover bitterness and unforgiveness and ingratitude and maybe even unkindness in our hearts. He can change us into something much sweeter and more lovely when those things come to light and we seek His forgiveness – when we acknowledge that we have sinned. Meditating on His Word helps keep His commandments before us. We do things His way, not our own, and try new things instead of clinging to our old patterns.  It’s a lifelong process with no quick fixes and requires consistency in keeping our appointments with Him.

In Psalm 139 David said, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Yes, that can be a little scary, a little unsettling. But I want His healing. Don’t you?

joyce hague