The Flame Within

I have been in a counseling master’s program for almost one year. The newness is beginning to rub off and I’m growing weary and tired. My motivation… The passion is diminishing… The current class I’m taking has proven to be — let’s say… “Unexciting!” All this has allowed doubt to take root within my spirit. Not all the time, but often enough to make me ponder questions, such as “Is it really worth it? Can I really accomplish the task set before me? Are these sacrifices worth the extra time, energy, and stress? Am I really cut out for a stressful job, like counseling? Can I handle all the heartache involved?” These are the doubts bombarding my spirit over the past few months. I’ve learned something important about “doubt”… Doubt can be dangerous, causing one to quit or even fail at the desired goal.

However, doubt can be useful and beneficial if handled appropriately. For me personally, my success lies in how I handle my feelings of doubt. Doubt is an inevitable part of life. All beautiful and successful outcomes, experience a fair amount of doubt throughout the course of development. The doubt I’ve been feeling has been pushing me to pray to the Father… Forcing me to seek God in a deeper way for renewed strength and vigilance. Doubt forces me to seek advice and encouragement from my Christian mentors and friends. Most importantly, doubt keeps me humble. If I ever start to acquire a pious frame of mind, doubt portrays it’s all familiar self, and humility once again replaces arrogance. Doubt is necessary to keep my focus on God… To remind me that I need God’s strength everyday moment of everyday.

How we handle inevitable doubt throughout life, determines the desired outcome. God desires to use people who seek Him in the midst of this inevitable doubt.

Philippians 4:6 & 7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.”