Counseling Quandry

The vacation is over and it's back to the regular grind. I am feeling very refreshed and excited about the future.

I know myself well enough to know that I really NEED to have challenge in my life. I do not discipline myself if I have too much time to spare. I have even said before that I do better if I am overextended. It seems that I have to be pushed in order to accomplish much. This is probably due to the fact that I have never learned to value every minute. Unless I am in a "tight-squeeze" the minutes seem to be of no value. I need to change that view.

For several years now I have had a great desire to pursue a counseling accreditation. What holds me back? The fact that I know myself and know that I NEED to have challenge in my life keeps me in a quandry about whether this desire is from the Lord or a vain attempt on my part to become indispensable. I know I love to help people. I know that there are so many people that NEED to be helped.

I first began to have a desire towards counseling due to some experiences online with people with very deep psychological problems. I found that God gave me a deep love for these people and that I was able to be used to help a few. I was besieged with feelings of inadequacy during this two year period but found that through yielding myself to the Holy Spirit, He continued to refresh me and give me what was needed to help these lost souls.

The help that was given came in listening and offering hope through teaching foundational, spiritual truths. I truly believe that everyone needs the foundation before they can build a satisfying and profitable life.

Through searching for help in this area of counseling, I was given a good piece of advice from a trusted friend who told me to check out Nouthetic Counseling. http://www.nanc.org I have for several years been reading several books from Dr. Jay Adams library. This week, I have ordered several more to further my desire for more education.

I don't really know how to proceed with this. Should I try to get the accreditation, which would mean much study and a trip to a training seminar or two. It also means that I must sit in with an accredited counselor for several hours of observation. I question my motives for all this. It is not that I want to pursue a career for monetary gain, though that would be a nice addition. My main purpose in pursuing this at all was to prepare myself to be of use even in my older years. Through the years I have had energy and an able body to contribute to the Lord's work. I see that in the next few years I will be slowing down and, as should be expected, not able to do the same amount of work. I love work. I love to help. I love people. I want to be an asset, never a liability. Are these reasons selfish on my part? I need to get my thoughts clearly established and eliminate the double mind!

I am praying!