Isaiah 61 is an incredible declaration from God about His desire for each of us.
In it God is revealing to the people His plan of restoration and healing for sin and suffering.
This divine mission statement was confirmed by Christ when He chose this passage to read in public at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 4:16-21) and completed by Christ on the cross.
Although this prophecy of restoration won’t be completely fulfilled until Christ returns and makes all things new, God is telling us what He can begin to do in our lives right now
What a beautiful picture of what God desires for all of us!
Isaiah 61: 1-3, 7 reads:
“1. The Spirit of the Lord and King is on me. The Lord has anointed me to tell the good news to poor people. He has sent me to comfort those whose hearts have been broken. He has sent me to announce freedom for those who have been captured. He wants me to set prisoners free from their dark prisons. 2. He has sent me to announce the year when he will set his people free. He wants me to announce the day when he will pay his enemies back. Our God has sent me to comfort all those who are sad. 3. He wants me to help those in Zion who are filled with sorrow. I will put beautiful crowns on their heads in place of ashes. I will anoint them with oil to give them gladness instead of sorrow. I will give them a spirit of praise in place of a spirit of sadness. They will be like oak trees that are strong and straight. The Lord himself will plant them in the land. That will show how glorious he is. 4. They will rebuild the places that were destroyed long ago. They will repair the buildings that have been broken down for many years. They will make the destroyed cities like new again. They have been broken down for a very long time. Instead of being put to shame my people will receive a double share of wealth. Instead of being dishonored they will be glad to be in their land. They will receive a double share of riches there. And they’ll be filled with joy that will last forever.” (New International Readers Version)
My vision for the purpose of counseling comes from this passage and I am excited every time I read it. My desire is to walk alongside fellow strugglers with the goal of Isaiah 61 always in mind. This means that I will:
Walk with my clients in a genuine, honest relationship (v. 4).
Tell clients the truth and offer them authentic grace and love (v. 1).
Endeavor to genuinely bring comfort and empathetic understanding (v.1).
Help clients identify faulty beliefs, maladaptive emotions, and harmful actions that hold people captive and stuck (v. 2).
Bring hope (v. 2).
Be humbled and honored when you chose to share stories of grief or shame (v. 2-3, 7). Bravely sharing your 
story is the first step toward healing.
I know life is hard and full of challenges. We each struggle with something and change is not always easy. I am consistently in awe of the brave people I work with and humbled by the incredible opportunity to serve others in this way.
If you are struggling with something that keeps you from really living life to the fullest, I hope you will seek help from someone. If you choose, I would be honored to work with you. Hang on, there is always hope!
Aimee Thompson, MA, LPC, CCTP
