What makes me qualified to be a biblical counselor? Nothing. I’m a horrible sinner, saved only by God’s grace through Jesus Christ. I don’t pretend to know it all.
I’ve always had a leaning toward counseling. I was an English and P.E. teacher for many years, and transitioned to full time “counseling” when I became a mom. All day long, every day I had to apply biblical truths to my kids’ lives.
Then, in 2008, a pastor at our church (Calvary Bible Church, Burbank, CA) asked me to meet with someone for biblical counseling. I told him that he was mistaken. I wasn’t counselor material. Yet, over these years I’ve been blessed to meet informally and formally with lots of women, one-on-one and in small groups, teaching them and counseling them. And… I ended up becoming a certified ACBC counselor. Turns out my FAVORITE thing to teach is about God and His Word.
God has used many trials to work on conforming me to His image. He saved me out of a wretched lifestyle, where I struggled with being a drunkard and all the lifestyle choices that go along with that. I suffer from autoimmune issues, a painful bladder condition, and lots of arthritis from playing sports for too many years. In 2009 we adopted two kids out of the foster system who were deemed “un-adoptable” because of their ages. In 2015, my oldest daughter, at age 15, suddenly died from an unknown heart condition. A week later my other two biological children were diagnosed with the same heart defect.
There is nothing you can tell me that will shock me.
God is my source of all comfort and joy, and He can be yours, too.
Psalm 13: Prayer for Help in Trouble.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4 And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.