Patience in Change

One of the biggest lessons I have learned during my time here at Beacon of Hope has been patience. Patience with myself. Patience with clients. Patience with the process of counseling.

Many times, we expect change to happen quickly. We have a clear picture of the results we want, and we want to achieve those results as soon as possible.  We become frustrated when the changes are not happening when we want them to. Yet, change is a process that takes time, occurring in increments or steps.  Before the final results come smaller but meaningful changes. It is easy for us to overlook these small differences or minimize their importance. However, people grow when they make big changes and when they make small changes. Can you imagine how much growth we would miss if we skipped to the final results? There would be so many lessons and opportunities we would have missed. By skipping to the end, we actually would have diminished the amount of change and growth made. 

At the beginning of my internship here at Beacon of Hope, I found myself wishing that I would grow more confident in my skills as a counselor. I wanted to do everything perfectly. In reality, I was not perfect; I was still learning and growing. Throughout my internship, I have grown in both knowledge of counseling skills and confidence. I learned to have patience with myself instead of becoming frustrated and disappointed. I also learned to be thankful for the changes I have made and excited for the ones I will make in the future.

James 5:7 says, “Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain.” 

We do not know when we will reach those results we are working to achieve, but God does.  He has a plan and purpose for all of us, and his timing is perfect. There will be days when we grow frustrated, weary, and impatient with ourselves and our growth. At these moments, do not despair. Do not give up hope. For in the waiting, we are growing.  We are learning more about ourselves, more than we ever imagined we would. Be patient with yourselves as you are growing and celebrate the small changes that you have made. For God is with us on our journey, guiding us through His will for our lives.

This blog post was written by Beacon of Hope counseling intern, Kaitlyn.