After a 20-year career as a newspaper reporter, I decided to follow God’s calling to return to school and become a professional Christian counselor. This was the result of about two years of intense prayer and the Holy Spirit directing me various ways. One way was through the following Bible passage:

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

This passage became the theme passage of my counseling career. It both describes my personal journey of faith and how I aim to show the love of Christ to those who are hurting and whom God has placed in my care. When I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I was introduced to this “God of all comfort,” who strengthens us in our weakness, turns our “mourning into dancing,” and gives us “unspeakable joy” as His word says.