So it's been a few days of ups and downs and highs and lows! I've been so busy that I've hardly had time to write! And, if I'm really honest my journey really has reached some difficult parts. Once again, I don't write about this for sympathy, I am literally writing my journey to hopefully encourage and inspire, and even look back upon and praise God for how He has been with me throughout the whole lot!
So basically I have definitely hit a few major bumps in the road. I am tired. I am fed up. I am miserable. I am unmotivated. I am exhausted from fighting. I have given up in places. I have made bad decisions. I have taken a couple of wrong turnings and I have sat down in protest on the path! I know this is all part of life. I know some of it could be avoided. I know other bits are a learning curve and part of God building my character. I know some bits are silly and the consequences of some poor decisions and actions on my part. But I also know that God is with me, that He will never leave me or forsake me, (Joshua 1v9), that I can cry out to Him and He will hear my cry and deliver me from all my troubles (Psalm 34v17), that He has good plans for me and plans to prosper me (Jeremiah 29v11), that if I hope in the Lord I will not be disappointed (Isaiah 49v23). And I know that no matter how hard the battle gets, the Lord will fight for me (Exodus 14v14). I am determined in this. I will get over these hurdles with God's help. I will overcome because in Christ I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8v37).
What about you? What do you do when you hit a bump in the road? What happens when things get tough and when you feel like you have lost your way? Who do you turn to? I am not perfect. Often times I have turned to the wrong things, looked for immediate satisfaction rather than long term benefit. Settled for second best. Made wrong decisions. But at the end of the day we must pick ourselves up and keep on fighting, knowing that God is also fighting for us and with us and in us and through us. He will keep us strong till the end (1Corinthians 1v8).
Now I know that sounds a bit blasé and a bit, 'yeh well, that doesn't apply to my situation or to what I'm going through'. But pause a minute. God loves you so much, He sent His one and only son to die for you. Do you not think He is concerned for you, or that your situation matters to Him? He loves you so much, with such a deep, unending, unconditional love that He will go to any length, depth, breadth and width to help you out. Just cling fast, and don't let go.
On a practical level, if you are hitting some tough times, what can you do? Now, I am not a counsellor, or a professional so don't want to ill-advise, but here are some things I've done which may inspire you:
- Pray! Pray, pray, pray! I talk to God about how I feel. I tell Him the ups and downs. I get angry at Him. He understands. He loves. He supports. Exodus 4v31 says that God is 'concerned' about His people. That includes you! I will not stop praying until I have an answer and know the way out. Even if it means folding my arms, sticking my nose in the air and refusing to listen for a time, or calming down before I speak to God, or whatever. Pray. God understands.
- Talk to a friend, someone you trust! If my friends are struggling, I want to encourage them, to carry them, to cheer them on. Talking helps. I know my friends want me to do the same. So I do.
- Refuse to believe satan's lies. Stand on the truth. Stand on the Word of God which is living and active and sharper than a double edged sword (Hebrews 4v12). What did Jesus do when He was tempted in the desert? He threw scripture back at the devil. Why do you think that Ephesians 6 describes the Word of God as a sword? Because you can fight back with it! Even if a verse a day is all you can manage. Even if you just have to say one memorised verse over and over. The Word is LIVING. That means it can act now, in your situation, it can change things, break things, move things, it is ALIVE!
- Have hope, even if it takes all of your strength to cling on to. Psalm 63 talks about 'clinging' on to God. Cling to Him! And in that know that God is not going to give you any more than you can bear (1Corinthians 10v13). Refuse to let your situation get the better of you! God is bigger!
- Know grace. Without excusing sin, we are all human. We make mistakes. We mess up. We go through hardships. We have difficulties. We face problems. God understands and God is FULL OF GRACE, 'slow to anger' and 'abounding in love' (Psalm 103v8). Allow room to make mistakes. Take it to God in repentence. Receive His grace and forgiveness. Do not spend hours beating yourself up. It only makes things worse. I really feel that many churches are lacking in grace. 'We are sinners and mess up, we need a saviour' is what we hear far too often. YES, that is true! But that is not the end!!! GOD IS OUR SAVIOUR, our help, our rescue, our ever-present help in times of trouble, our rock, our fortress, our strength, our comforter, our FATHER. He is full of grace. He understands! He is 'abounding in love', not ready to shout at you for messing up under pressure! We are NOT slaves to sin, we are free from it. 'It is for FREEDOM that you have been set free' (Galatians 5v1), not so that you can beat yourselves up and wear the weight of your muck ups around your neck like medals! LIVE IN YOUR FREEDOM. Yes we mess up, but yes we mess up in GRACE! Did I make my point clear.....!
Anyways, this was nothing like what I planned to write!
Be blessed.
Even in your hardships.
And read Psalm 18. It rocks!
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