Deep Calls to Deep

Deep Calls to Deep: Taking Small Steps to Go Deeper Through Counseling

By Leslie Peacock, MAC, LPC, Director of Counseling
 
One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 42. The honesty and imagery the psalmist evokes in lines like, “my tears have been my food day and night” and “my soul is cast down within me” have offered encouragement for me to express similar sentiments over the years.
One of the lines in this psalm has always stood out to me:
 
Deep calls to deep            
At the roar of your waterfalls (v. 7)

This is somewhat of a cryptic line amid a psalm about loss and longing and a soul that is inexplicably downcast. The deep outside calls to the deep within. What does this mean? The psalmist longs to be in the presence of God, but it’s like swimming in the deep ocean, immense, frightening, powerful, beautiful…where answers don’t come easily, where pain is exposed, where healing requires transformation.
 
2024 may have been a year full of memorable experiences, surprises, joyful memories for you. And it could have also held many disappointments, heartache, and loss. The deep outside of our circumstances often calls to the deep parts within us, stirring up depth of pain that we try to avoid.
 
Pastor and theologian Charles Spurgeon put it this way, saying: “In proportion to your tribulations shall be your consolations! If you have shallow sorrows, you shall receive shallow graces; but if you have deep afflictions, you shall obtain the deeper proof of the faithfulness of God!”
As an adult, I find myself gravitating towards shallow waters, scrolling through my phone instead of reaching towards one of the novels on my bedside table; letting conversations stay light instead of engaging topics that might be more challenging; doing idle tasks rather than my Bible study.
 
We have constructed countless ways to avoid looking at the mess and brokenness within our hearts. It feels simpler to avoid the hard questions, ignore our own selfishness, and fill our days with busy activity. Deep calls out to deep, but sometimes I long to stay shallow.
 
What would it take to go deeper? For me, taking a small step rather than a big one is more realistic. I need to put my phone on silent and do my Bible Study first before undertaking any house chores. According to research, studies show that making small, incremental changes over time is significantly more likely to lead to lasting change rather than attempting something drastic all at once. This is called the “Kaizen” philosophy, and it makes perfect sense, but many of us are impatient to wait on change. We feel pressure to do it now in January and all at once!

As a counselor, I know the tension between our desire to change parts of our lives and the apprehension to reach out for help. Taking the small step of making an appointment or even asking friends for a counseling recommendation feels immense. But oftentimes, taking that small, courageous step for help is the hardest part. Like showing up to a new workout class or reaching out to a prospective employer—the hardest part is taking the first step to show up or make the call.
 
The purpose of The Barnabas Center is to offer Christ-centered counseling to individuals and families across Houston and help navigate the deep waters of their lives through individual counseling as well as groups, seminars, and other psycho-educational and support opportunities. We long to find healing, meaning and hope for our lives and it’s a privilege to walk alongside you in your personal journey. Counseling requires you to go deep—it’s so vulnerable! But it’s so worth taking that first step because of the strength, understanding, and peace that comes from exploring the deep waters of our lives.
 
Let’s go deep together. The Barnabas Center will be hosting several Counseling Groups this Spring and we continue to offer individual, couples, and family counseling. Reach out to us at connect@barnabascenterhou.com for more information about our counseling services and to connect with a counselor.