Vazquez Counseling

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

When I was a young man, I developed a very serious mental illness. I struggled with this illness for a long time, up until very recently. When I got sick, I had no idea how my Blessed LORD would actually use my illness to bless me and others. I know that God using my illness for His purposes sounds strange, but it is true.

In Romans 8:28-30, the Apostle Paul affirms the following:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” (New King James Version)

I have often heard Romans 8:28, the first verse above, quoted by pastors and many people to teach us that everything that happens to us is filtered through God’s hands, and that He can use anything, no matter how bad, for His purposes. I, of course, agree with that statement because it’s happened to me many times in my life.

However, the next two verses in the passage above expound even more on why God can use anything to further His Kingdom. In these verses, God asserts that we are predestined to be with Him, that we have a purpose in His Kingdom. Our LORD chose us before time began. He knew us long before we were born. And that is why nothing that happens to us catches Him by surprise. Our Precious Holy Spirit is always working behind the scenes to help us get through difficult situations.

In my case, my LORD never left my side as I navigated this illness. For many years, I could sense His presence and His guidance as I worked to heal from this terrible disease. It was actually my illness that caused me to eventually seek a career in counseling. In my work now, I get the privilege of helping others through similar struggles that I faced when I was younger. I have an understanding of what my clients are going through. I firmly believe that is why my LORD allowed me to get sick. He is using my experiences to help others.

The 12th step of Alcoholics Anonymous is to take what you’ve learned in the first eleven steps of the program to achieve sobriety and take the message of AA to other alcoholics to help them, as well. I’ve learned in my life that our Blessed LORD has equipped all of us to help others because we’ve all been through difficult situations. We just have to be aware of how God is working through all these things to teach us how to help others who have been through similar struggles.

Our LORD never makes mistakes, and j don’t believe He purposely makes us sick. We get sick because we live in a fallen world. And that is why our LORD Jesus had to die on a Cross. When He willingly gave His Life, and He rose from the dead on the third day, He began to restore and create all things anew.

Christ will return one day, and when He does, He will bring Paradise to Earth, which will be the culmination of what He accomplished through the Cross and His Resurrection. Amen.