God met me at the library. How strange! How crazy and wonderful and amazing!

Twenty-three years old, newly married and out of work, I scanned the shelves for redecorating books. I wanted something, anything, to turn my two-bedroom apartment into a home. Someplace cozy for my husband, Laces (our shy beige kitty) and me. God had another idea. A better idea.

Cradling several books, I felt drawn to the 200s yet jittery like a kid on Red Bull.

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Lucy Ann Moll

Why Am I Here?

Why am I here in the religion aisle? This is strange. Has God brought you to a strange place too to get your attention?

Flanked by books, I slid out Basic Christianity by John Stott. Simple, direct, basic like the title said. So basic I felt stupid. I looked left, right. No one near me. Good. I stuck it back and grabbed a fat book. An important book. That’s better. . .and boring. 

Back to Basic Christianity and my spirit quickened. A new problem: What would the check-out clerk think? Seriously, BASIC Christianity. She’ll think I’m stupid. Have you worried about what others think too?

A Holy, Terrifying Moment!

Today, as I look back, I know this moment was holy. God faced the evil one on my behalf. Would I side with God? Or my foolish pride? The serpent appealed to Eve’s ambition to be like God. Would I bow down to pride, fear, self-importance?

You know who won: God. He guided me from the checkout to my apartment, where I devoured the simple book and trusted Jesus to make his home in me. I sensed God’s Spirit in me. A peace and joy I cannot describe replaced my restlessness. When my husband came home, I hugged him big and said, “Guess what I did today, honey?”

Later, I asked to borrow his Bible, a soft cover New Testament that I read over and over and over. God knew I loved books. So he gave me his very best.

Now the Rest of the Story

We each have precious stories of how God wooed us. How did he woo you? Do you remember where you were and what you were doing? Were you in crazy place looking for calm?

As a child I knew emotional pain. Did you have a difficult childhood too?

I leaned toward girls like me. Quiet, shy, invisible girls. Girls with hurts. With secrets. In my early 30s, I tripped into a black hole of depression. God “mothered” me back to life, then whispered a call to my heart, confirmed by scripture. He said, “Bind up the injured” and “strengthen the weak” (Ezekiel 34:16) and led me to study pastoral care to women at Western Seminary, Portland. Later I trained to become a certified biblical counselor through the ABC and then from ACBC.

At last, I knew why God met me at the library. He planned and purposed me to serve him in the role of biblical counselor. As God gave me hope, I counsel hearts to hope. And recenty I’ve been working on my doctorate at Birmingham Theological Seminary. This has opened doors too.

An Offer

Would you like to talk in person or by Skype/Facetime/Hangouts about a solution for your struggle? I’ve counseled people by webcam from California to Cambodia, New York to New Zealand, Houston to Hong Kong, Pennsylvania to Paraguay.You get the idea. I also have offices in greater Chicago where I meet women, couples, and children in person.

Send me a message and we can set up a time to talk by phone, and you can see if biblical counseling is a good fit for you. The best thing about biblical counseling is it’s gospel-centered as well as compassionate. It’s also effective, affordable, and usually very short-term. God loves you so much and wants the best for you.

Counseling Hearts to Hope,

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