Master of Human Services Counseling—Crisis and Trauma
Bachelor of Science Interdisciplinary Studies—Counseling and Religion
Growing up I was always told that “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.” However, as I got older I realized that isn’t the case. We are always faced with more than we can handle because God wants us to depend on Him, not our own strength, to get us through. If I could handle everything on my own, I would have no use for Him and that couldn’t be further from the truth. This realization hit me full force during some of the darkest times in my life. I have seen darkness through being a foster parent and what those children experience. I have seen the darkness in dealing with adoptive children who have lived through horrors most adults couldn’t handle. I’ve experienced the darkness in the loss of loved ones, jobs, homes, and financial security. I’ve experienced darkness in almost losing my mother to a terrible stroke and my husband to a life-altering accident, both in the same year. Each time, God has prevailed. God lifted my eyes to see Him clearly and to depend on Him; to allow His power and might to come shining through.
In all these times, God has shown up and shown out! All He asked of me was to have faith. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” This is the verse that I hold dear and keeps me going even in the darkest night.
God's Word and these experiences are why I know God has called me to help others out of their dark places; because if He can do it for me, He can do it for anyone! The scars left by these experiences are not ones I try to hide but instead wear proudly as badges of courage and success.
What areas do you have that God is wanting to turn into successes? What badges of courage does He want to bestow upon you? You deserve them and together, with God, we can make them a reality.
God's blessings!
Katy