despair

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Don’t Despair

Discouragement has set in. I have so much to be thankful for, but there are situations that are long term heartaches. One after another, they sap energy and joy. God reminds me daily that He is with me and I will see good even yet.

Psalm 27:13-14 reminds me…”I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.”

My fallback prayer is…”Show me something good, I need to see something good.”

Days like this I wish I could talk to my Dad.

He grew up during the depression and served in WW II. He would be a wealth of encouragement. My memory of him was laughter and joy, but I know there were periods of deep sadness in his life as well. Sadness he never talked about or dwelt on. Day by day he was faithful to his faithful God. Day by day he got strength and joy from the God who is full of lovingkindness.

While cleaning out some drawers I ran across an old cassette tape with my Dad’s writing on it.  Finding a cassette player that worked was another challenge. I finally was able to hook up the tape deck to our stereo system. The first song I heard was him playing the violin. The song? “Jesus Took My Burden”. The words came back to me as I listened. Here are the words to the chorus.

Yes, Jesus took my burden I could no longer bear,

Yes, Jesus took my burden in answer to my prayer;

My anxious fears subsided. My spirit was made strong.

For Jesus took my burden, and left me with a song.

My Dad died almost 34 years ago and yet here God was using him to encourage me today. Yes, God was again showing me something good, something very good. The example of a man who lived his life faithfully through good and bad, because He trusted His good God to be with him through it all.

So don’t despair. Life is hard. Troubles will come and go. Sometimes troubles will come to stay, but Jesus takes our burdens and gives us joy in the midst. The blessing of daily being able to lean on His strong arms is priceless.

“For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear I will help you’.   Isaiah 41:13

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Overwhelming Trouble

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I have lived through periods of being overwhelmed. My details aren’t important. Insert your own circumstances into the story I am about to tell you.

One particularly difficult period went on for a few years. I would often talk to God about “this mess that is my life.” I could see no way forward. It was impossible to go back. The circumstances I found myself in were beyond my control and way beyond my ability. It wasn’t a matter of trying harder, it was a matter of being completely undone.

My life was like a train wreck. Twisted metal blocking any clear path.

Sitting crumpled on my living room floor I cried out to God. “This is too hard. I am too weak. I can’t go on.” It was as if He whispered…”Can you get through this hour? I will be with you this hour.” “Take my hand. Moment by moment we will get through this.”

I wanted no part of this train wreck. I wanted a smooth easy existence with blessings floating down to my outstretched hands. God wanted my outstretched hands to be reaching for Him not His blessings.

Severe trouble shifted my focus from things He provides to God Himself. When everything else lay in ruins, God was the only thing left. He was offering to take my hand as I stumbled through the train wreck. The train wreck took years to get through. I still encounter remnants of it. When I do I am reminded of how far God has brought me. From constant, hopeless despair to a moment by moment existence holding tightly to my Father’s hand.

What have I learned? My utter sinfulness. My need, not for new circumstances, but to be right with God. My hope could not be found within myself, but within God’s redemption.

Whatever your circumstances there is hope. Not in yourself, but in God.

We are eternal beings. We will live forever. This life isn’t all there is. You have a choice to make. Living moment by moment with God now and for eternity, or turning away from His outstretched hand to live a miserable existence in this life and the next.

“For God so loved the world, (that means you) that He gave His only Son, (Jesus died for your sins) That whoever (that includes you) believes in Him should not perish (separation from God for eternity) but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV – (notes by me.)

For further study:

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