Reflection On Spiritual Struggles

Reflect upon how you counsel persons with personal, ethical, or spiritual struggles. Twice I have been blessed with the grace of some needed counseling. In both instances, the love of God’s Holy Spirit worked through counseling to bring me through a rough time. The first was when my family was in a true crisis, and the second was when I struggled to turn in Elder materials and was not ordained. When my family was in crisis and deeply need, I was blessed enough to have Bob Mayo as my District Superintendent. His faith in Christ combined with his psychology training to make a way in the desert. We read scripture together, prayed together, talked together, and made plans according to God’s will. My wonderful family was held together

I would put in staggering amounts of prayer, hard work, and time. I worked on those materials for my entire eight-year probationary period. In the course of figuring out what was going on, I was able to meet with a neuropsychiatrist who was a faithful Lutheran lay member. She eventually identified that I am dyslexic. She marveled at my perseverance as she explained that although I have an MDiv, I read and write at the level of a sophomore in college. Knowing that has made a wonderful difference in my confidence and professional habits. I finally understand the reason behind the struggle. The pastoral counseling that I have received has been a means of grace in my life. I have been changed in Christ’s love through that time of help and pruning. Every part of me remembers, in thanks, each time someone comes to me for a little help. Each time I am able to counsel another I realize that it is a chance to help make a disciple As I reflect, three things are uppermost on my mind. I counsel people as a response to my call. I use the best quality methods I can. Lastly, the counseling I have done bears fruit in disciples of Jesus Christ who have been transformed by God’s