Jesus Christ, M.S, Psy.D, D.D, G.C

“I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me” (Psalm 16:7, NIV).

This is me Jesus’ feet, crying, begging, pleading, praying, screaming, bawling. I hate it. I have always thought that being at the feet of Jesus is supposed to be in the form of worship like the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet (John 12:1-11). I look at the picture and I see Jesus consoling a woman who needs a comforter, a counselor. Counseling is my profession– I speak things that are not (yet) as though they are (Romans 4:17)– and by God’s grace I am a good one, AMEN; but, even counselors need counselors because we don’t know everything. The Bible promises us in Isaiah 9:6 that Jesus is the ‘Wonderful Counselor”, which is good for me because this counselor needed one yesterday.

A moment of honesty: I HATE MY LIFE right now. Nothing seems– seems– to be going well for me; I have been feeling as if I am an afterthought to God; I have been wondering to myself when will I get a break? When is my breakthrough coming? When will people rejoice with me? I have been feeling less than. For a while I was telling myself that I can’t be feeling those things because an unhappy Christian is an oxymoron– but we are people, too. So I have plastered smiles on my face as if I didn’t feel dead inside– amnesia or death seemed reasonable to me. In my distress I understood what David meant when he said, “I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears” (Psalm 6:6, NIV). I am tired of hurting.

Counselors listen to their clients, evaluate their situations, and offer advice. Jesus does this and more (Ephesians 3:20). He acts in light of eternity. Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2), the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8), doesn’t just advice, He resolves; He knows my end because He had chosen me from the beginning (Jeremiah 1:5). Last night was not the first time I cried to Jesus; like counselors, He has been with me every step of the way– and I know that there is no end to our counselor-client relationship, so I am secure. In moving forward, I will remember, by His grace, His promises and, like David said, my heart will instruct and remind me of my God!

Openness and honesty are important in a counseling relationship. I thank God that I was able to be raw with Him. I was so angry at God like clients get angry at those trying to help them. Unfortunately we forget that those in the position of helping us tend to know more/better than what we know, which is exactly why we go to them in the first place. I doubted whether God is indeed for me. I questioned His love for me, even though His Word reminds me continuously of His unfailing love! Still, though, I thank God for mercy!

Jesus Christ is the Greatest Counselor. I woke up this morning aware of God’s goodness. Last night I demanded that God should tell me that everything is going to be ok– all this after He used one of my closest friends to pray with me and give me godly counsel– but God being a merciful Father answered me. I read a devotional this morning that admonished that waiting on God is worth it. In my quiet time I read some Psalms– #irony– and one part that really hit home for me was Psalm 40:1, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry” (NIV). I believe that is God telling me it is already well with me because when God hears, He acts, and when He acts, it is awesome. So, I’ll just continue waiting because I now know–KNOW– that God hears me. The patience part is just frustrating.

I imagine walking into Jesus’ counseling office. I see on His door: Jesus Christ, M.S., Psy.D, D.D, G.C, displaying His credentials, not because He has to but because people feel better seeing acronyms next to someone’s name. Jesus Christ, Master of the Soul, Doctor of (my) Psychology, Doctor of Doctors, Great Counselor– of course Jesus will stop there because He is humble.

What am I telling you? We all need a counselor who never gets tired of seeing us or hearing from us. His name is Jesus. You won’t regret it.