If you are reading this blog right now, you probably have taken the time to click on the lfachurch.org website, you’ve navigated down to the counseling blog, did a click and here we are! Well, I personally want to thank you in all sincerity for taking the time out of your life to read my thoughts about things to hopefully help us all out, in one way or another. When preparing for these counseling blogs, sometimes I think I know what to write about, and other times I feel absolutely blank. This particular time, I have started three different ones and finally landed somewhere. Sometimes I think the blog has to be this really great, phenomenal manuscript that comes forth, only to end up in a frustrating half-written document. Then I stop and say, “God, what little nugget of truth can I bring to hopefully make somebody’s day, week, maybe life make a little more sense? Maybe to offer a fraction of help in dealing with the circumstances of their current situations in relationships, boundaries, worship, life, messiness, brokenness, hopelessness, you name it.” I almost titled this one, “As The World Turns,” taken from the well-known daytime soap opera. I can recall the daytime soaps of “All My Children,” “Days of Our Lives,” “Ryan’s Hope” and of course “General Hospital” with Luke and Laura! Then we have the nightly soaps of “Dynasty,” “Dallas,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Many people tune in to keep up with the story line. What’s happening? Who’s with whom?

Why? I’m glad you asked. I believe many of us can identify with the characters. Some even overly identify and begin living out the fantasy of the story line in their own lives. When a character dies, people grieve. When there’s a wedding, viewers tune in and celebrate the fictional character’s milestones. Why? You ask really good questions! Maybe it’s because we sometimes have very similar circumstances playing out in our lives and we think, wow, I’m not alone. Or, watching other people’s stories, even if they are fictional, can be an escape from our own world as it turns and turns. Sometimes giving us motion sickness!

Here is what I believe I am supposed to write about this time. The life stressors that seem pretty common to everyone- single, married, male, female, child or adult, all races (real life and TV land): Pain, Anxiety, Confusion, Stress, Sex, Time, Money, Communication, Self Hatred.

It’s across the board:

Kids at six years old in the crisis ward that have tried to commit suicide
Kids addicted to pornography at six years old calling sex lines
Females seven and up starving themselves to death and cutting their bodies
Men getting their self worth from deviant sexual behavior and 90 hour work weeks
Suicides
Addictions, Addictions, Addictions

And the list goes on and on. These are just a few of the bondages people get caught in.

This is a little glimpse into the world of real people and the real pain they walk in everyday and the extreme measures people take to medicate or numb the pain, even for a few hours, if at all possible. Unfortunately, many of the ways people are choosing escape actually costs them their lives or dramatically changes their lives forever.

This is big stuff. Some of you may be shocked by the things that I have written above, some of you may have those very things and more going on currently in your circle of friends and/or family.

It can be crippling and lead to utter hopelessness.

Friends, I want to let you know that we can support you in your journey. There are real people at Living Faith Alliance Church that desire to walk side-by-side with you, in very real and tangible ways. In addition, we have professional counseling services, trained support people, classes for adults and children, and a free program called Celebrate Recovery for anyone with Hurts, Habits and Hangups. That’s all of us friends! Don’t continue to try to do this life by yourself in isolation.

Now, back to “What’s Your Story?” There’s great news. I would like to introduce you to the best storyline ever, the one where your story belongs. It’s called “God’s Story.” He actually thought of YOU and created YOU. There has never ever been anyone exactly like YOU in all of history. Nor will there ever been anyone like YOU in the future. He put UNIQUE GIFTS INSIDE of YOU for HIS STORY! It’s an awesome story too!! Check out our website and contact us. We would be honored to walk by your side as you learn about how you fit into God’s Story. It certainly is a great adventure. Ready to get started?

Be Blessed Friends!

Lois Robinso