A few weeks ago I woke up with a crystal clear thought piercing through my otherwise groggy mind: reach out to Pam Hazell. There was no doubt the Lord placed her on my heart. Pam has been my friend for years, but she is also a gifted counselor. As much as I wanted to “be fine” without counseling, the Lord knew that I needed her help.
Grief has a funny way of ebbing and flowing. The 1 year mark of my Dad’s passing, caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s, and feeling that I don’t have “enough” to give to my children all culminated into a strong flow of grief.
I admit I tried to argue with God about it: “God, I have You, I have a loving, understanding husband, family and the best friends in all of the world…why do I need to go to a counselor?”
I soon found out.
God gives people specific gifts to help others. His ways are mysterious, but His ways are always higher. We can always trust Him.
Pam was able to convey to me (like no other) that I have permission to grieve. Setting healthy boundaries with people…especially during this extra trying time…is essential. Pam gave me tools to fix my broken patterns in such a way that it was obvious her counsel was God given.
But that’s not all…she gave me a CD that has truly been life changing! Chills covered me from head to toe when I popped the CD in my car and heard an anointed lady powerfully professing scripture set to music. When I listened to it…I knew it was heaven sent. The lady spoke the Word of God so boldly and beautifully that I listened to it over and over again, letting it sink into every fiber of my being.
I asked Pam, “Who is this amazing lady?” Long story short, her name is Kelley Stephenson and she is from East Texas (she’s country just like me) and lives here in Branson, MO! Pam orchestrated for us to meet together for an amazing evening of conversation and prayer.
Kelley is now a new friend, and she re-lit a fire in me to memorize and meditate on scripture! I cannot even explain how this divine connection with Pam and Kelley has blessed me. What if I had refused to reach out for help? I can’t even imagine.
I’m sharing this with you today for 3 reasons:
1. Overcoming pride and obeying God leads to great reward!
2. Receiving counseling is not something to be ashamed of…it’s a gift!
3. God’s Word is the most powerful weapon we have on earth!
You can listen to Kelley’s Word Declarations at http://www.kelleystephenson.org
I felt led to play the CD at a meeting I was in, and my friend Sandy immediately said, “I want to meet her!” And so it goes…The divine connections continue! The way all of this transpired makes me feel so loved and cared for by God. Sure I had to humble myself and fight feelings of failure when God led me to seek counseling, but I could have never even imagined how much He would bless me in obeying Him!
We can trust Him…His goodness, love and power are beyond compare! He has amazing blessings for us that we don’t deserve! Dear friends, I encourage you to take the step of faith God is asking you to take…you can trust Him and great reward will be yours.
Trust and Obey- John H. Sammis, 1887
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.