“I would like to cancel our session this week. Money could be very tight in the meanwhile, so I actually have to carry off for a bit.”
I felt for my client.
But I felt for me, too. Not just due to the lack of income, but because I genuinely enjoy working with this person.
I like all my clients.
Here’s a fact chances are you’ll not learn about psychologists. We’re not allowed to call our clients, past or present, simply to catch up. If I reach out to any client, it’s within the context of our skilled relationship, and only while it exists.
Once a client cancels an appointment or leaves my practice, it’s unethical for me to solicit their business—by asking after they can schedule the subsequent appointment, as an example. That’s because the facility differential between us may make them feel obligated to proceed their treatment with me even in the event that they don’t actually need (or need) to.
But back to my current predicament. Because I operate a personal practice, my income comes from the clients who keep their appointments. I receive no regular paychecks from any institution.
Working in private practice also means the variety of clients I see varies from month to month as current clients may cancel or leave altogether and latest ones arrive.
This 12 months, the common variety of clients I see on a weekly basis has dipped so low, it has distorted my comfort zone beyond recognition. That’s because when the variety of clients also determines my income, a discount of client hours looks like a threat—especially when the economy is a large number.
So, after receiving the cancelation notice from the client, I sought the Lord. Is there any spiritual lesson I would like to learn here? Why do I proceed to see an alarmingly low variety of client hours? What am I missing? Help!
That’s after I felt led to read Psalm 91. And by the point I accomplished the primary two verses, something clicked.
He who dwells in the key place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I’ll say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I’ll trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2, NKJV)
Did you notice the shift between the primary and second verse? The first verse is a general announcement. It’s talking to us, letting us know the good thing about dwelling in God’s secret place.
The second verse strikes a private tone. Please pardon me for briefly acting like a grammar nerd, but notice how the second verse starts with a first-person pronoun, I, and refers to God using a third-person pronoun, He.
Why does this matter?
Because verse 2 is a ready-made quote for me to consult with another person—or myself—about God. I can adopt it as my testimony.
It’s something you should utilize, too, despite the setback you encounter. If you’ve been praying for God to heal you but your symptoms have gotten worse, or in case you’ve been searching for a greater job but nothing has panned out, or if you’re still single even after years of waiting and praying—principally, if the reply to your prayers has not arrived and your circumstance continues to be unchanged, you’ll be able to show your faith by quoting Psalm 91:2.
This is what I mean. I quoted the next with gusto, out loud:
“Despite these recent challenges in my practice, I’ll say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I’ll trust!’”
“Even though my income has been reduced, I’ll say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I’ll trust!’”
“No matter what happens, I’ll say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I’ll trust!’”
I could feel my faith growing with each repetition. I felt stronger on the within.
Having Faith Despite Hard Times
With this fortified faith, I began my day and checked my work email.
But my inbox held an unpleasant surprise.
Another client decided to cancel.
Like with the previous one, I emailed my understanding to this particular client.
The second cancelation cemented my determination to follow my testimony—that’s, to maintain quoting Psalm 91:2. “No matter how many purchasers cancel their sessions, I’ll say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I’ll trust!’”
Perhaps that is what “walking by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV) means.
There’s no have to walk by faith when all the pieces is rosy. By definition, walking by faith means believing in something you don’t see. If your trust fund is so robust it could possibly provide for a small army despite these hard times, you don’t need faith that God will provide. After all, faith “is the peace of mind of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, ESV).
But irrespective of how taxing your circumstance is, you’ll be able to decide to consider in God and that He won’t ever return on His Word—the Bible. “God isn’t human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak after which not act? Does he promise and never fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19).
I can answer that. No. It’s not in God’s nature to talk and never follow through. What He has promised you and me, He will fulfill. As He told prophet Jeremiah, “I’m alert and energetic, watching over My word to perform it” (Jeremiah 1:12, AMPC).
Let’s bring it home to you. I don’t know the type of challenge you’re facing. Perhaps you are feeling as if you’ve been contending against multiple challenges across many alternative areas. Whatever it’s you’re battling, I do know one thing.
Our God is trustworthy.
That’s why I invite you to hitch me in walking by faith until our victory arrives.
Please say it with me: I’ll say of the Lord, “He is our refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I’ll trust!”
Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/francescoch
Audrey Davidheiser, PhD is a California licensed psychologist, certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, and IFSI-approved clinical consultant. After founding and directing a counseling center for the Los Angeles Dream Center, she now devotes her practice to survivors of trauma—including spiritual abuse. If you wish her advice, visit her on www.aimforbreakthrough.com
