Another a cold day is here upon us in North Dakota. Although, it is warmer right now (at 6:30 am) than it was when we went to bed around Midnight. When we went to bed it was -7....now we’re a 7. That’s a wonderful 14 degree improvement!!!
Sometimes you just have to take a minute and find something positive in the situation your in. It’s always there, it’s just a matter of us being willing to look for it. But that doesn’t mean we won’t ever get discouraged.
Should a Christian ever get discouraged? You would like to think it wouldn’t happen – but it does!! Becoming a Christian does not automatically convert us into super-saints who are isolated in a cocoon and protected from the cruel world around us.We are still in a real world with all its problems, and mean times we are affected by them. Then there are the times that we are our own worst enemy. We let sin into our lives that will in turn discourage us and bring us down. But there are other times when we do get discouraged by circumstances over which we have no control. It's a natural human reaction.What then is the advantage of being a Christian in discouraging circumstances?
Have you ever heard someone say, "I have no one I can talk to"?
Well, as a Christian, we need not say that. We do have someone we can talk to, and we do it in prayer. God will listen to our cry for comfort. He may even sendan angel of mercy in the form of a friend who is willing to listen. We have God’s grace and mercy surrounding us, giving us a “peace that passeth all understanding.”Remember God's promise to Joshua:
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
August 22, 1999 was the hardest day of my life. Our 12 year old son, Steven, went home to be with the Lord that day. It was unexpected. I would have never imagined that when I said “I love you” as he walked out the door that that was going to be the last words he ever heard from me.
The one statement people made to Jeff and me for months (and still ask) is “I don’t know how you did it.” Well, we made it through by the grace of God – and nothing else. He was our strength (because we had none), our hope (because we had none of that either), and our peace. I don’t even want to imagine how our family would have handled that without Christ in our lives.
Through all of that the Scriptures were our comfort. More than I could ever list here – but the two that are still my strength are:
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
And
Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
God gave me Colossians and told me...those are just my Words speaking to you...those are from Steven, looking down on you and waiting for the day you will be reunited.
To get discouraged is normal. To stay discouraged -- that is a problem that needs to be dealt with, and you can do it -- turn to the Lord, let Him speak to your heart and remember....there is a silver lining in every cloud.
Sometimes you just have to take a minute and find something positive in the situation your in. It’s always there, it’s just a matter of us being willing to look for it. But that doesn’t mean we won’t ever get discouraged.
Should a Christian ever get discouraged? You would like to think it wouldn’t happen – but it does!! Becoming a Christian does not automatically convert us into super-saints who are isolated in a cocoon and protected from the cruel world around us.We are still in a real world with all its problems, and mean times we are affected by them. Then there are the times that we are our own worst enemy. We let sin into our lives that will in turn discourage us and bring us down. But there are other times when we do get discouraged by circumstances over which we have no control. It's a natural human reaction.What then is the advantage of being a Christian in discouraging circumstances?
Have you ever heard someone say, "I have no one I can talk to"?
Well, as a Christian, we need not say that. We do have someone we can talk to, and we do it in prayer. God will listen to our cry for comfort. He may even sendan angel of mercy in the form of a friend who is willing to listen. We have God’s grace and mercy surrounding us, giving us a “peace that passeth all understanding.”Remember God's promise to Joshua:
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
August 22, 1999 was the hardest day of my life. Our 12 year old son, Steven, went home to be with the Lord that day. It was unexpected. I would have never imagined that when I said “I love you” as he walked out the door that that was going to be the last words he ever heard from me.
The one statement people made to Jeff and me for months (and still ask) is “I don’t know how you did it.” Well, we made it through by the grace of God – and nothing else. He was our strength (because we had none), our hope (because we had none of that either), and our peace. I don’t even want to imagine how our family would have handled that without Christ in our lives.
Through all of that the Scriptures were our comfort. More than I could ever list here – but the two that are still my strength are:
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
And
Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
God gave me Colossians and told me...those are just my Words speaking to you...those are from Steven, looking down on you and waiting for the day you will be reunited.
To get discouraged is normal. To stay discouraged -- that is a problem that needs to be dealt with, and you can do it -- turn to the Lord, let Him speak to your heart and remember....there is a silver lining in every cloud.
2 comments:
Thanks for the reminder, we are in a valley right now and I was having a pity party today! (((((Hugs))))
Wow Tami,
My heart really goes out to you.
I appreciate this post because since we returned to Croatia we have had one trial after another, Satan, but still it's difficult sometimes.
Thanks, I lost your link for a while, glad I found you again! I added you to my IFB lady links.
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