Work in Progress
As many of you reading know, I’m a Christian mental health therapist and have been in the field for over eight years.
I work with children, teens, families, marriages, and adults. My clients come to me with issues surrounding depression, anxiety, self-esteem, trauma, grief, marital issues, parenting problems, and attachment issues.
The title shows experience and knowledge. But man some days that title feels like a heavy load.
Because some days I’m a mess.
I’m a work in progress. I have past wounds at various stages of healing. There are days that my self-esteem feels like it’s in the tank. At times my anxiety overwhelms me and my time management abilities are out of sync. And then my food decisions go off the rails and that can lead to other emotional cycles.
Those are the days that I feel like I am a walking paradox.
Walking Paradox
According to Merriam Webster, one of their definitions of paradox is one (such as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases.
Wow, does that feel like me at times!
I am knowledgeable in mental health and have a plethora of tools to help my clients but sometimes I don’t know how to help myself.
How can I help others when I don’t have it all together? Am I a fraud? A hypocrite?
These concerns can lead me to be ineffective with my clients and stumble in my faith. Because I try to rely too much on me.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who tries to do it all by myself!
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”
That verse reminds me that I may not have it all together but my Heavenly Father does. And He will settle me and heal me spiritually if I let Him. I even had this verse turned into a bracelet to remind myself of this daily.
We are all works in progress
We are all works in progress and honestly we are meant to be.
Psalm 18:32 (NIV) “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect”
A tragic day would be if I believed I had it all together. Because I would no longer feel the need to lean into God. And there have been times that I have started to feel that way and get prideful. But that’s also when I start taking on too much and my anxiety starts to get the best of me. And my continual anxiety helps to keep me humble.
Our growth comes from leaning into Him, not from having it all figured out.
The days that I embrace my ‘work in progress’ status are the days that I give my therapy sessions over more fully to God. And amazing things happen! The Holy Spirit gives me the words to comfort and console my clients when I don’t have the words for their pain. The bible verses I read that morning coincide with a certain client for the the day and I am able to share that with them. An ‘ah-ha’ moment I had becomes a perfect illustration for another client. These healing moments only happen when I am leaning into God and allowing Him to use me for my clients.
God uses my faith struggles and growth to help me guide others towards Him.
[ctt template=”7″ link=”B2c62″ via=”yes” ]God uses my faith struggles and growth to help me guide others towards Him.[/ctt]
Embrace Vulnerability
This is true of you, too! You may not be a mental health therapist, but more importantly you are a brother or sister in Christ. You’re a Christian husband/wife. A Christian mom/dad. You’re a Christian neighbor and co-worker.
Those titles show experience and knowledge, too. Because Christian is the most important title we can hold. And even if we don’t know all of the answers, He does.
Our work in progress status means we get to give Him all the glory!
God has delivered you through hardships – share your story with others.
You have been able to overcome hurt and pain – let others know how you made it through.
Your past does not define you but your walk with Jesus does – encourage others to make the same changes.
Matthew 5:16 (NIV) In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Throughout the bible there is example after example of God using ‘the least of these’ in amazing and miraculous ways to glorify His message and help others to understand the magnitude of His power and love. You have the opportunity to share God’s message with others.
Get vulnerable! (I’m still working on that one, too. It’s hard.)
Don’t let your ‘work in progress’ status or feelings of being a walking paradox stop you from being the light for others.
God bless!
Melissa
Hi Melissa, This is a wonderful, thoughtful post! You are so right – we need to remember “A tragic day would be if I believed I had it all together. Because I would no longer feel the need to lean into God.” Amen.
This is a continual process of swallowing pride and humbling ourselves daily. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. God bless!
Learning to let God use me in my weakness and scars has been a difficult but powerful journey! Thanks for the reminder to be vulnerable. It is SO hard sometimes, but so important!
It is amazing how powerful it is for both the people receiving our message as well as for us. Vulnerability is very hard! Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. God bless!
This is so true! Even in parenting, when I am discussing an issue with one of my kids, I think to myself, it’s not like I have it all together either! But we can’t let our imperfections keep us from the ministry we have. What we lack will cause us to lean into the Lord, make us real and relatable, and allow God to get the glory!
Exactly. And my pointing out better ways for others to live their life isn’t from a place of me believing I’m perfect but rather with a desire for them to live a more Christ-like life. It is out of love. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. God bless!
I love this. So thankful that God isn’t finished with me yet.
Absolutely! I’m excited to see where He takes me and all the ways I can grow to help glorify Him! Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. God bless!
“A tragic day would be if I believed I had it all together. Because I would no longer feel the need to lean into God.” The fact that we are a work in progress helps us to abide in Christ!
Absolutely! Sometimes it can be hard to remember to get over ourselves so that we can seek God’s path for us! Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. God bless!
The struggle is REAL and I am sure many readers can relate! The WISDOM you shared is true and real, and bigger than our insecurities or weaknesses! With our eyes on Him and our faith IN Him, we shall conquer………and we will keep striving, and trying, and reminding each other….. Hugs precious sister!
Yes, because it is only through Him and in Him are we able to truly help others. Thank you Tammy for your encouragement. God bless!
Melissa- I never thought about this from your point of view. Gosh, what an eye-opener to you having to help others when you might struggle with some of the same issues.
I know that as a therapist you need to walk the line between sharing too much personal information, but as a client, knowing I wasn’t the only one dealing with anxiety would have made such an imprint.
Spending time with therapists in the past, I felt like a freak of nature sometimes 😉
It’s definitely a balance and depends significantly on my clients. Some clients I’m more willing to share and be open with. Others I have to be much more guarded with my private life and details about my family. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your experience. God bless!
I have reconciled myself to the truth that there is always another layer to the onion! It is when we don’t think we are works in progress that we are in danger!
Yes, with every new aspect I have received growth there is always another that needs to be addressed afterward. It definitely keeps me humble and reliant on God! Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. God bless!
I have to be honest: this puts things in perspective for me. Just when I think that I’m the one who has it worst because I have to hold it together for my family, homeschooling, my job, etc. then I’m reminded that there are people like you that have to do all of that and then help people like me 😂
Ha! I am happy that I get to help as many people as God walks through my office door. And, yes, it is also incredibly tough at times. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. God bless!
Yes i totally agree, our work in progress state means we give HIM ALLLLLLL the Glory. Blessings.
Absolutely! Thank you for stopping by and commenting. God bless!
Thank you for sharing this! It’s hard sometimes when we feel like we have to have it all together in order to help others. You’re not a fraud or a hypocrite – you’re human, like the rest of us. Jesus never told us to get it right before we come to Him – we can’t get it right without Him! We will always be WIP’s, but we are His workmanship at the same time…He’s constantly working in and through us, and using our weaknesses, failures, and rough days to show us His strength and refine us.
Thank you Tiff for your kind words and great insights. It is important that we all embrace the work in progress status! Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment. God bless!
Oh Melissa! You are definitely not alone! I think we all feel like “hypocrites” at times… I do more often than not. When I write on the blog, most of my posts are lessons I need to learn. I feel like I come to great truths about what to do, and what the Bible says. However, I have such a time not feeling like because I wrote it, I should have mastered it. Thank you for reminding me that our work in progress is to show the goodness of God. He loves me through my construction zones. <3 Also, Matthew 5:16 is one of my favorites!
There are certain topics that I work with clients on that can I also struggle with at times so it can be hard. I will share that with some clients but others it wouldn’t be appropriate. Thankfully God continues to mold me! It’s always amazing to be able to look back over time the grace and blessings God has provided and the growth He has produced in us. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your experience and insights. God bless!
Beautifully written. I am a licensed counselor (since 2001) but I haven’t worked since 2002 because of having children. I intend to go back once my four kids are raised (I homeschool), but I realized that I am actually a bit afraid of going back. I used to be much more confident (read: naive), but life has humbled me so much and I have learned how little I really know and I fear I will not be able to do the job well. But you are right that being real with others about your struggles is probably the best way to help. Blessings to you.
Thank you Heather. It’s certainly a balance. I make sure that I’m up to date on therapy practices and continued education. I seek God’s counsel. I rely on my 8+ years of experience. And I share my struggles (with some of my clients). Everything is a balance. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your experience. God bless!