Counseling session #2

Let me first start off by saying how distracted I was during this weeks counseling session. Because I was the only woman in the room, the two doors were left open. Needless to say, it was hard to focus. People would walk by the front door, and I could hear the Faith team rehearsing music out the back door. They were practicing songs that I know and I was trying so hard not to secretly sing them in my head. Ack! I tried to stay focused…really. Ha.
Our discussion this week revolved around Romans 8:28. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose.”
In our lifetime, we go through various trials, temptations, suffering. God allows this to happen so we can learn to trust Him, to call on Him, and to make us stronger in our faith. When we are at the end of our rope, we often times “question” God. Where are you? Why can’t I hear you? Why am I going through this? In the book of Job, we learn from Job that suffering is not a result of sin, rather suffering can test one’s faith. Job’s faith was tested over and over again, he lost it all, and in all this, Job never sinned. When Job “questioned” God, he was not answered as he saw fit. The only answer he got was, “I am God…”
There is power in those three words, I AM GOD. That’s all Job needed to hear and that’s all we should need to hear. We know that God is all-powerful, and all-knowing. In the end, it is for us to remember that God is God, and we are not. He has a plan for our lives and He controls it all. Our job is to simply obey and follow His leading.

Back to Romans 8:28. “And we know that ALL things work together…” all things including the good AND the bad.
Some verses we discussed on suffering: 1Peter 2:21-24 and 1 Peter 3:13-17.
In 1Peter 2:21, it tells us that ‘because Christ suffered for us…we should follow His steps.”
1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” When we are going through trials and sufferings, wouldn’t it be great if our example, how we handle the situation(s), would back up our word, what we tell people? There is no better witness!
We ended with an encouraging verse, one that I am to memorize by next Monday =D
1 Cor 10:13 “ No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
One last thing, I found this to be the most God-orchestrated thing yet…
Jerry, the counselor, informed me that in about 3-4 weeks, when school let out, his wife was going to tag along to sessions. She is a special ed teacher at an elementary school across town and an expert on special needs children. She knows all about my sons “issues” and is going to help me better understand how I can manage/deal with him at home. I am so excited for this!! Considering he is the major stress supplier in my life, I am very hopeful and thankful for Jerry and his wife. God is good!!