i’ve met a lot of people who know how to feel hopeful when the circumstances are good. i’ve not met very many people who know how to be filled with hope when the circumstances aren’t so good. how to be filled with hope when it feels like GOD’s love isn’t there any more. how to be filled with hope when you don’t know how long you can last.
GOD wants to give that kind of strength into every one of our lives. what do you do when you don’t know what to do?
for one you make GOD’s love your lifeline.
what’s your lifeline? that’s what you hold on to when you don’t have anything else to hold onto. here’s the crazy thing. when we face tough times it is the easiest thing in the world to make self-destructive behavior our lifeline. that’s where we tend to go first. because they offer the quick fix. they seem like they’re going to help us. so you’re hopeless and what do you turn to? drugs or drink or lust or anger or self-pity or burying yourself in entertainment. all kinds of things that aren’t going to help that actually are going to take you down faster. don't make those your lifeline. make GOD’s love your lifeline.
in fact, don’t even make the things that might seem strong your lifeline because they’re not enough. your job is not enough. what if you lose your job? i know a lot of people who make their spouse – their husband or wife – their lifeline. and that is not fair to your husband or wife. think about this: what if they’re going down with you? what if they’re facing a circumstance worse than your circumstance? you should love deeply, your husband or wife. they should give you strength and encouragement. but to make them your whole lifeline is asking a human being to do what no human being can do. only GOD’s love will last through any and every circumstance. only GOD’s love is there every moment of our lives no matter what. so don’t ask a person to do what only GOD can do. you make GOD’s love your lifeline.
psalm 121.1-2 (niv) says, i lift my eyes to the hills. where does my help come from? my help comes from the LORD. the maker of heaven and earth. i just like the simple picture in that verse.
las vegas where I lived for 15 years is surrounded by mountains. and I would look at those mountains that GOD has made and i realized that the same GOD who made them, the GOD of grandeur, the GOD of greatness – that same GOD cares about me. HE cares about my life. HE cares about what i’m going through. HE wants to give me strength in my circumstance. i lift my eyes to the hills. where does my help come from? it comes from GOD. the same GOD who made heaven and earth wants to be a part of your life.
just a thought from the front porch…
3 comments:
I know human being has ability to handle every situation, however, sometimes when people face rude environment have some difficulty to overcome the problem but surely they standout over the situation in the long run.
There are many circumstances when your faith is shaken to the limit, when you come to a point of doubting God's presence in your life. Then after a minute your would feel guilty for being so weak and vulnerable. And i am like that. But at on my bed before i go to sleep, i always speak to him to forgive me and give me more strength, pray that others would pray for me.
Well said indeed *applause*
I also find that love for one's self is very important. This is so that, when times are tough, you wouldn't want to resort to taking drugs, smoking etc because you love your body too much to allow those addictive toxins to enter your system.
More importantly, you won't give up on your own future just because certain unforeseen event(s) happened and you feel like your whole world just came crashing down.
No, by loving God and loving yourself, you will find that will; that determination/hope to put yourself back on your feet and start walking again.
Cheers~
=D
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