struggles

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Brokenness of Heartache

In the post called If You Love Me…Part 2, I mentioned heartache and how there are times we sorrow over certain events. Let me remind you, dear reader, what a tender heart the Lord has for His beloved.

Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you.

As we look around at life and the things that are happening, our hearts groan with the sorrow of it all. Everything seems to be falling apart, even within our own hearts. I wonder, sometimes, how people can go forward when it seems like even myself, as a believer fails so much. How can I expect anyone else to follow the Lord when I can’t seem make it at times?

Even in the darkest hours when we struggle to make it through another sorrow, or wake up another day wondering what will happen next and who will hurt us, when our hearts are torn apart because someone we care about refuses to have anything to do with us due to us following the Lord, a deep depression breaks over our soul and we can’t pinpoint just why, or pain (mental, spiritual or physical) keeps us awake through the night and we can’t sleep; just remember the Lord cares and hears.

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Yet, the whole of sorrow is something we must endure at some point or another. How can we get through those times? What kind of responses should we have? It’s so easy to fret and fume, to be restless and uneasy because of what we have to deal with in the midst of that trial or tribulation. Sorrow is something that is good for us and we must sorrow at times but not as those of this world. We can still have peace and rest in the midst of our sorrows.

God is still in control and our sorrows didn’t take Him by surprise so let us learn to be still. Let us remember that the Lord works all things out for His glory and our, those who love Him and are called according to His purposes, good. Let us learn to cast our cares on our Lord and leave them with Him no matter how difficult the path or long the road. He is there and has promised He will “never leave us nor forsake us.” He will pour out His grace upon us and give us strength for the next step.

So, dear friend, trust Him because He alone is trustworthy!

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Sin Has Consequences

“That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been; and God requires an account of what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15).

I feel like, in many churches, more emphasis is placed on God’s forgiveness as opposed to His holiness. I am so grateful for God’s mercy and forgiveness, but there are often still consequences to the fleshly decisions that we make. This is one reason that it is important to walk in the Spirit so that you do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

I don’t believe that God causes bad things to happen to His people but He does allow them, and sometimes it’s to remind us that sin has a price. Like most parents, He doesn’t give children instructions to be mean; He can see what the ravages of sin looks like, and He desires to spare us those things. He didn’t tell Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because He didn’t want them to taste something good; He saw the destruction and devastation that would cause, and we are still reaping the effects of that today.

consequences

As you look at your life and see the various sins and struggles you deal with, think about the effect those sins have on others. Even if no one knows what sin(s) you struggle with, everything is naked and open to God (Hebrews 4:13) and, if you are His child, and it will not be hidden forever.

If I end up writing more about this this year, it’s because I believe it is the message of 2017. Each year brings us closer to Christ’s return. We can’t afford to ignore His call to stop what we are doing, lay down the sins that so easily beset us, and follow Him. We must encourage others to do that as well but our words will have no bearing if we are not living that self-denying life.

I am writing to myself as well. The year is still young. I want to be faithful to allow God to show me my heart and the things which displease Him and trust that, at the end of this year, I will be closer to Him than ever before as I allow Him to rid me of myself and fill me with more of His love, peace, joy, patience, gentleness, self-control, and every other attribute that reflects Him.

I dealt with some physical challenges last year, and this year is starting out rough but, if I can do nothing else, I pray for God’s help to use the down times to listen to Him, hear what He would speak, and share those words with you.