Last week I was coming off a long, enduring, and heartbreaking few weeks of counseling. Heavy cases, tragic stories, so much compassion, with not a lot of capacity. Individuals not wanting to live, children finding self harm in the form of cutting their skin deep enough to leave life long scars as a means to cope with the turmoils at home. Not enough time or capacity to be what these precious, special, valued individuals truly deserve. My heart sits heavy, my head feels numb, I grieve at the need and the feeling of defeat wears on me. I can only give so much, and that giving, is not ever enough. & yet I feel that I am called to this way of life, a life of listening, caring, and helping to lift the burdens of those suffering, to help the broken hearted heal, I will keep going with this, God has a plan.

Yet each day it feels like I am recognizing my limitations more and more, it’s an emotionally painful reality to swallow. I desire to help all who cross paths with me. I cannot possible assist all who I have the privilege of meeting who are also crying out for support. I need help, Lord. I need guidance. I need a quench of refreshment, perhaps some new perspective, in the midst of such heavy weeks.

Last week, like a fresh spring of water in a dry desert land, that is what happened, I found refreshment, I found joy through noticing God provide.

Last week I was pushing through another challenging week in the mental health field and in the midst of counseling someone I had this thought pop in my head, “it would be really good for me to talk with so and so about how to best assist this family. So and so would have great wisdom in navigating this kind of dynamic”

My next thought: “but how would so and so and I actually get to connect, our schedules are opposite and it seems we hardly ever have the same break times.”

I finish my counseling session. I walk into the administrative office to grab some paperwork. Just as I walk in, so and so walks into the office, too. “Woah! What are the chances, I was just thinking about you.” I say. We get talking. We talk about how wonderful it would be to connect over several client cases we are collaborating on. We also agree about how challenging it is to connect when our schedules are both so busy and not favorable in similar break times.

The admin assistant overhearing us speaks up, “wait a second, both of you just had cancelations tomorrow at 12:15pm.” We are overjoyed. We block that time out in our schedules and tomorrow comes around.

I sit in so and so’s office and we start conversing. My body relaxes, a smile appears on my face. I feel light, at ease, and excited to converse. I recognize God put an impression in my mind about connecting with so and so, and then made a way for it to happen, and happen quickly it did.

That time with so and so was important, needed, and satisfying. I received wisdom, counsel, and advice. We both shared smiles, warmth, laughter, and sadness together. We both shared the hopes we had for these precious individuals we have the privilege of supporting. The work in the mental health field can be heavy, noticing these gifts of joy, it’s crucial.

It is the little things, the little provisions, that if recognized, can help us grow, sustain, and spread joy. God is with us, He provides.