When I began mentoring a woman at church, I thought I’d be the one offering guidance. But during one of our conversations, she mentioned how much therapy had helped her through difficult times. Her words resonated with me, planting a seed in my heart. I had been considering therapy for a while but hadn’t taken the step. I wasn’t sure if it was something I truly needed or if seeking help might mean I wasn’t strong enough..
Yet, God works in His perfect timing. Not long after, a close friend recommended her therapist to me, and I felt it was the nudge I needed to start. She had shared with me her journey with this therapist and I felt a sense of peace to take that step of faith – trusting that God had aligned everything for a reason.
Therapy quickly became a space of safety for me. Proverbs 11:14 tells us, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Through therapy, I discovered the beauty of having wise counsel and a safe place to process everything I had been carrying alone.
How Therapy helped me
Therapy offered me something I hadn’t realized I was missing: permission to pause. In a world where I was always fulfilling roles—mother, daughter, spouse—I had forgotten that it’s okay to step back and take a break. The held, safe space of therapy allowed me to share my thoughts without fear of judgment, something I hadn’t fully experienced before. It became a sanctuary where I could breathe and unpack the whirlwind of emotions and responsibilities.
One of the most surprising things I discovered was how much I enjoy breaking down an issue and spending time thinking through why I acted or felt a certain way. Before therapy, I never really paused to reflect deeply—I was always reacting, moving from one role to the next. But therapy has taught me to slow down and reflect. I’ve learned to ask myself, Why did I feel this way? What led me to respond in that moment? This practice has allowed me to better understand myself, leading to personal growth and learning.
In therapy, I learned that it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, and more importantly, it’s okay to give yourself the space to rest and reflect. This was a breakthrough for me, especially in how I was handling stress. For so long, I had placed self-imposed restrictions on myself—like telling myself I had to stop snacking completely to lose weight. But therapy helped me see that I can make responsible choices without being harsh. I can have a few chips and still feel good about the overall decisions I make.
Image by Dingzeyu Li from Unsplash
When I first started therapy, I went once a week. I found those regular sessions essential for unpacking my thoughts and emotions. Over time, as I grew more comfortable with processing things on my own, I began to space out the sessions. First, I moved to twice a month, and now I go once a month. That transition reflected my growth—I now feel equipped to handle more independently, yet I continue to value the guidance therapy provides.
Therapy also taught me that it’s okay to feel emotions I had often pushed aside—anger, disappointment, confusion. For so long, I thought these emotions didn’t belong in my walk of faith. But I came to realize that these feelings are part of the human experience. Acknowledging them doesn’t mean I’m less faithful—it means I’m being honest with myself and with God. I’ve learned that it’s okay to bring my whole self to God, emotions and all.
Perhaps the hardest, yet most rewarding part of my journey in therapy was grappling with my self-identity. In the midst of all the roles I play, I had lost sight of who I was apart from those titles. Therapy became the space where I could strip away the masks and confront the question: Who am I, really? It was a difficult process, but through it, I found a deeper acceptance of myself and my emotions. I realized I don’t have to have everything figured out, and that’s okay. Therapy gave me the tools to reflect, pause, and ultimately, to grow.
Seeking Wise Counsel
Therapy was an act of seeking wisdom, and through it, I learned some of the most important lessons in my life. I realized that taking a pause is not only acceptable, it’s necessary. We all need to rest, reflect, and acknowledge the emotions that we’ve been carrying, even the ones we might think are “wrong” to feel.
Proverbs 11:14 reminds us that guidance comes through wise counsel, and with that counsel comes safety. Whether through a therapist, a mentor, or a trusted friend, God provides us with people who offer wisdom when we can’t see the path clearly. Therapy became that for me—a place of guidance, safety, and growth.
Takeaway
- It’s okay to take a break: Life can be overwhelming, and it’s okay to pause, reflect, and give yourself grace. You don’t always have to keep pushing through.
- Emotions are normal: It’s okay to feel angry, disappointed, or confused. Acknowledging your emotions doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human—and God is with you through all of it.
- Remember Proverbs 11:14: Seek wise counsel when life feels heavy. There is safety and clarity in the abundance of guidance God provides.
- Trust God’s timing: Just as my therapy journey was aligned in God’s perfect time, trust that He will guide you to the right support when you need it.
