Dr Michelle Bengston, Author at Women At The Well

About Dr Michelle Bengston

Dr. Michelle Bengtson is a board certified clinical neuropsychologist with more than 20 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of medical and mental disorders in children, adults, and seniors. She has been in private practice for more than a decade of that time. Speaker, author and doctor, Michelle is also a woman—a wife, mother and friend. She has experienced her share of trouble and trials and knows the pain of losing someone she loves as well as the despair that can follow trauma or illness.

Comparison Lies

July 2, 2016

As we celebrate our country and our freedom this weekend, Dr. Michelle Bengtson shares how we can also celebrate our freedom in Christ that gives us freedom from comparison.

I sat with my back pinned against the back of the upright chair, legs crossed, assessing my choice of attire for the evening from the boots to the pants to the lace blouse, and finished off with the jewelry—never leave home without it.

Was my choice appropriate for the evening? It seemed to blend in sufficiently with Executive Ellen’s and Powerhouse Pam’s attire. I didn’t mean to, but I was in comparison mode. Oh how I hated that—I always ended up on the short end of the stick.

I spent the evening planning an upcoming event with other area ministry leaders, honored to be included but secretly wondering how I made the guest list.

It wasn’t so much what I wore on the outside that I was comparing with the others, if I was honest with myself. These were high-powered ministry women with years of successful ministry behind them that were more impressive than most ministry leaders I personally knew. Their impact for the kingdom was mighty. They each knew their call and they confidently lived and breathed it each day for decades.

As I sat listening to their suggestions for the event, and adding my thoughts when warranted, I fought to ignore another deafening voice. One that sought to mock me at every turn.

“Why are you even here? You don’t belong here.”
“What have you done for the Kingdom of God that even comes close to comparing to these other women?”
“Maybe God doesn’t trust you as much as He trusts these women to impact the Kingdom of Heaven.”

By the time the evening was over, I couldn’t get to my car fast enough. Thankful that dark skies fell early during these months, tears cascaded down my cheeks and no one could see them through my windows.

What had I done in my life that had any real significance for the Kingdom of Heaven? I wasn’t preaching revivals or teaching on a weekly radio or television program. I hadn’t even devoted my life to teaching children’s Sunday School (for which children should have been grateful! At least I knew where I wasn’t gifted!)

I’m not even sure how I saw through my tears to drive home that night, but by the time I arrived in my garage, I turned off the ignition, sat in the solitude of my parked car and wept.

Could it be true, Lord? That you don’t trust me to have a significant impact for the Kingdom?
Just the thought of it grieved my heart.

All I wanted was for others to see Jesus in me. To want to know Him. For me to one day hear the Father say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Continue reading God’s freeing words to Michelle at DrMichelleBengtson.com.

Learning From Pain and Exhaustion

May 26, 2016

If anyone knows pain, it’s me. And my friend, Dr. Michelle Bengtson. Even more, we both know hope. I believe that’s why God brought us together. You’ll hear more later about her upcoming book, Hope Prevails, but in the meantime, be blessed as she shares her heart and her pain here at the Well:

“Please pray. The pain is excrutiating…” was my feable request to a dear friend and prayer supporter before going on to talk about a commitment she had asked me to prayerfully consider taking on.

In her gracious reply, she promised to lift me up in prayer then offered, “First of all, the last thing you need to do is take on another responsibility…you of all people know what happens when we push our bodies too far.”

I knew she was right. How many times had I told that to my patients? I humbly had to admit, “The pain has been unrelenting and it finally brought out the very ugly mom and wife in me.” How could I have let that happen? I knew better. I gently taught about this very issue to my patients repeatedly.

I had to chuckle at her response: “It’s because the ugly mom is crying out for a break. Please take a break. Remember saying the same thing to me recently? Now it’s your turn to listen to your own doctor wisdom and stop pushing so hard!”

I sighed. How could I argue with that? I remembered sharing with my friend in her own moment of pain how God taught me that lesson. Years ago my body finally broke and said “No more” and left me unable to do, unable to achieve, unable to drive it to the type-A, perfectionistic extremes I was used to pushing it to achieve.

I wish I could say I finally learned my lesson. My body wishes the same thing. Pain is the signal that it’s time for a refresher course. But it never comes at a convenient time. That’s part of the lesson. If we don’t listen to our body’s signals, it will fight to be heard, and not when it’s convenient.

Visit DrMichelleBengtson.com to continue to learn how God speaks in pain and exhaustion.

Proof You Are Good Enough

April 21, 2016

Do you ever give in to the fallacies of the lies that say you aren’t good enough?

I do.

I wish I didn’t, and I think I’m making progress, and then I’ve fallen down a slippery slope.

For many years I listened to the bold-face lie that I wasn’t good enough because I was sub-average height.

Learn what revealed the error of Michelle’s thinking by visiting Dr. Michelle Bengston.

Our Heart’s Desire

March 29, 2016

No one would have ever known if I didn’t share my real heart’s desire…at first, I didn’t even know what was my deepest heart’s desire.

A friend had invited me to her “Bucket List” party, where she encourages the participants to have a no-limits chance to dream about our deepest heart’s desires. Encouraged to write down 10 things that would make this the best year ever if they came true, some jotted down travels, still others allowed their hopes for creative pursuits to flourish, and others desired a return to a more simplified life.

My list initially included items like enjoying the company of my children without the nag of work in my ear, and the opportunity for more speaking engagements to share help and hope from my personal and professional experience.

The hostess then selectively called on those gathered one by one, to share their most heart felt item from their list. I wasn’t asked to share, and I was content with that—being surrounded by beautifully put-together women whom I’d just met, I wasn’t too sure how my list might be received.

As one gal shared of her desire to remodel her condominium, to create a beautiful space around her, I felt a prompting. “What you want is beautiful too – Go ahead and write it” was what I sensed welling up in me. Yet before I could even process it, my thoughts retorted, “They will all think you are so shallow.”

Read the rest of the story at DrMichelleBengston.com.

About Dr Michelle Bengston

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