Learning to find the little celebrations in life can be challenging. Here are just a few reasons why this is true: 

• Life can be heavy.
• Circumstances can be debilitating.
• Bills can be stressful.
• Family relationships can be tiring.
• Marriages can feel distant.
• Careers can feel stagnant.
• The demands of home can be unending.
• Dealing with life after loss can be overwhelming.
• Friendships can feel nonexistent.
• Workout routines might feel useless and make us want to give up if we are not seeing results.
• Losing the constant presence of someone you greatly admired can make you feel weary and alone.
• Going through seasons of darkness or the testing of your faith can make you question how to move forward.

We all go through seasons where the endless demands wear heavily on our hearts, minds, and bodies.

Sometimes we feel like we have entered a zombie-like state from the moment we wake up until the moment we lay our head down.

We wonder how long we must wait to feel whole again – or if we ever will.

We wonder if we should keep pressing forward and how we are going to wake up tomorrow and do it all over again.

This is where individual counseling can help. If you feel overwhelmed or burnt out by these problems, meeting with a Christian counselor can help you reconnect with the little celebrations in life that bring you joy.

When You May Need Individual Counseling

If you are in a season where your faith is being tested, it may help to receive individual counseling. These are things to keep in mind as you process your testing period with a counselor’s assistance.

You feel as though this season won’t end

The rain doesn’t last forever. Neither will your financial hardship, stagnant period at work, season of sleeplessness with a newborn, distant season in your marriage, or strain in your close relationships if you seek help now. Proclaim God’s promises over yourself and your relationships. Declare God’s goodness over your life and future out loud. Believe in God’s faithfulness while making these declarations.

Start with simple, focused affirmations of the frustrating season you might be experiencing:

• Today is going to be a great day because God is with me.
• I am going to be a hardworking employee, regardless of whether I receive that promotion, because I work as if working for the Lord.
• Whether or not I receive this promotion does not define my worth, God does.
• I am going to trust God in my relationships and continue putting my best foot forward.
• The Holy Spirit will guide me in uncomfortable conversations.
• My marriage is going to be better than ever after this rough patch as I seek God’s help.
• This financial hardship will not steal my joy, because it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in my life.
• The people around me will not dictate my worth, because only God can do that.
• The size of my house does not equal the size of my self-esteem, which only God can determine.
• God will provide for us during this season of difficulty.
• God can and will use this difficult season to strengthen me.

Speaking declarations like these over your challenges will strengthen your faith. A Christian counselor can help you form specific declarations to fit your unique challenges.

You think God isn’t using your current situation for your good

You can find God’s hand in every season of life. Even in the seasons of the fiercest storms of life, God is present. Even when we do not see it, He’s working. Perhaps He is working in your heart, drawing your family closer together, helping you re-evaluate your priorities, or trying to show you an important lesson. He may be using your circumstance and positive outlook to influence and help someone else. God is in the details. He can use the oddest of encounters or the biggest obstacles to produce something amazing. Meeting with a counselor can strengthen your faith in your current situation.

You feel frustrated and overwhelmed

Even when seasons are frustrating and overwhelming, there are good moments to relish. If the season of sleeplessness with a newborn is overwhelming, bask in those snuggles before the season is over. If the season of raising little ones feels chaotic, embrace the chaos by escaping into their world from time to time. Make a fort in the living room and giggle together. Marvel over how beautiful the stars are in the night sky. If you find it difficult to get a babysitter for weekly date nights, create an at-home date once the kids are tucked in. Never turn down opportunities to create memories in the season you are in. Your counselor can help you find practical ways to reduce frustration and overwhelm.

You feel uninspired

It’s important to find opportunities for rejuvenation and varied perspectives. Find time to create, work on a passion project, volunteer at the soup kitchen, or take your kids for a play date. Spend a Saturday afternoon sipping coffee at the coffee shop while you pour your heart out on paper. Take a few hours away from your routine and to-do lists to soak in God’s creation or reconnect with your spouse. Set aside time to use your God-given talents and abilities. Strengthen your body, soul, and mind by practicing self-care. A Christian counselor can help you reconnect with joy in this season.

You say yes to too many things, and now you’re struggling with resentment

Say “no” to giving up. Say it out loud. You can learn to say no to the following with a counselor’s help:

the lies of Satan

when you feel like you don’t deserve healing and forgiveness

walking the road alone

when you feel defeated

when you start comparing yourself to other people

A counselor can also help you learn to say “yes” to the following:

fresh starts

healthy habits

fresh air and moving your body

forgiveness and grace

new perspectives on self-compassion

sitting beside a friend at church

making new friends

It’s important to learn to say no and yes to the correct things, and a Christian counselor can help you sort them out.

You feel bogged down by anxious thoughts

You can learn to arm yourself with God’s Word to fight back against anxious thoughts. It can be so easy to let the things of the world and words of others infiltrate our minds. We must arm ourselves with the truth of God’s Word and his promises. You can start by downloading a daily Bible app and reading the verse of the day. A great passage to meditate upon daily is Philippians 4:8-9. When you have an anxious thought, you can turn to God in prayer and rejoice in the little celebrations of life instead. A Christian counselor can help you address the roots of your anxiety and use practical strategies to overcome it.

Individual Counseling for You

Go on a hunt to find the little celebrations in your day, such as a positive phone call, a giggle that makes your heart soar, a good cup of coffee, or a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Savor all of the tiny moments to lift your spirits with gratitude. But if you still feel discouraged while seeking good in your life, you may benefit from meeting with a Christian counselor in individual counseling.

Regardless of what weighs heavy on your heart right now, you do not have to walk this journey alone. Regardless of whether you are dealing with a broken relationship, burnout, parenting challenges, or feeling stuck, the counselors at our office would consider it an honor and privilege to be a part of your healing journey. Schedule your appointment today and have someone walk alongside you, cheer for you, and help equip you with tools to help you thrive.