One of my favorite things about counseling is getting to hear the life stories of people from all walks of life with all different types of experiences. These stories that are shared are special gifts I feel humbled to be given. Some of those stories are difficult and even heart breaking, but they all have one thing in common. Hope. Hope that things can get better and real change can happen. Sometimes hope is big, and sometimes hope is small, but it is there, nonetheless. As time goes on, growth happens and these stories open up to reveal that it is not the heart breaking moments that define the story. What defines a life is the hope and resilience that helps someone to overcome the heartbreak. It is beauty and strength. It is healing.
The deeper question to ask now is, "what is the source of our hope?" Society puts a lot of hope in therapy, and to some degree I can understand that. It is becoming more common these days for therapy to come up as a suggestion to help when someone is struggling and I think that's great that people are turning to therapy more for help and support. Therapy has been proven to be highly effective in overcoming many difficult situations, trauma, and mental struggles. There is great comfort in being able to talk out a problem in a space that feels safe, supportive, and caring.
On the other side, as a Christian, I know that my only true source of hope can be found in God. As a therapist, I may be able to give great advice, but I also don't know everything (but God does), I can't read the future (but God can), and I am far from perfect (but God is). Romans 5:1-8 tells us why we have reason for true hope.
5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5 is a wonderful reminder that we can have true hope because we have peace with God, thanks to the work of Jesus and his perfect life, death and resurrection. Because Jesus did what was required on our behalf, we have "obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (v. 2)
It goes on to explain how our suffering actually challenges us and helps us to grow. It produces true hope because "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (v. 5) The Holy Spirit is a gift of love, meant to give us hope and to help us to grow.
Romans 5 is a reminder that we can trust and hope in who God is and what promises. He does not promise that things will be easy all of the time. He does not say "you just need to have more faith and you will feel better." He shows us that he is a God of mercy and love. We deserved his wrath and judgment, but he showed us love and forgiveness because he is loving and good-"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (v.8)
We can have hope in the present- we now are justified through faith, so we now have peace with God. Through that peace, we now have access to him. We can also hope in the future- that he will work in our hearts and help us to learn and grow, and we ultimately have eternal hope in heaven when we will be completely healed and restored.
Hope is vital. Having hope that you can overcome helps you to gain confidence and work towards healing. Where you put your hope also makes a difference. God uses many ways to heal and restore, but remember to worship and give gratitude to the Creator, not the created. God certainly uses me and other therapists, doctors, pastors, teachers and friends to offer help, encouragement, and support, but we are instruments, not the source. Ultimate healing comes from God.
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