I found this good to ponder today and trust someone will benefit.
With special reference to No 6 about being loved, I heard someone say the
other day, "You've never been in a position where nobody loves you ..."
That's so true and worth holding on to the truth there when everyone lets us
down!
--
Carol
[log in to unmask]
10 Reasons to Hope When You're Hurting
1. God is truly in control.
If God is God, then nothing happens apart from His knowledge and permission.
While it is difficult to imagine why God allows some painful things to
happen,
His character, revealed in the Bible and through the testing of generations,
leads us to the conclusion that He is willing and able to sustain you during
the worst of times. "We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we
thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as
a result,
we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead." (2
Corinthians 1:8,9)
2. There is an eternal life to come.
"Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the Glory He will give us
later." (Romans 8:18) "He will keep you strong right up to the end, and He
will
keep you free from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ
returns." (1 Corinthians 1:8)
3. The story isn't finished yet.
Time after time, the Bible records hopeless situations that ultimately ended
in victory. Think of Job's sickness, Joseph's betrayal by his brothers,
David's
adultery and the many who were healed in mind, body and spirit. "But Joseph
told them, 'Don't be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? As far
as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought
me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many
people.'"
(Genesis 50:19,20)
4. God has not given up on you! Don't give up on him.
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for
good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah
29:11)
5. There is likely purpose in your pain.
Ask God to reveal His purpose in allowing this difficulty in your life.
That's a legitimate question to ask. Often, the answer comes in the process
of
dealing with your circumstance. "Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble
comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when Your faith is
tested,
your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for When your endurance
is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."
(James 1:2-4)
6. You are loved!
Even the most unlovable person in the world is actually loved so much by
God, that He let His Son die a terrible death to restore their relationship.
God
does love you! He sees your pain and weeps with you. "He has sent Me to
comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and
prisoners
will be freed. He has sent Me to tell those who mourn that the time of the
Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their
enemies.
To all who mourn in Israel, He will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of
mourning, praise instead of despair. For the Lord has planted them like
strong
and graceful oaks for His own glory." (Isaiah 61:1-3)
7. Your prayers are heard.
"You parents - if your children ask you for a loaf of bread, do you give
them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake?
Of
course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those
who ask
Him?" (Matt. 7:9,10)
8. You are not facing this alone.
"For God himself has said, 'I will never fail you. I will never forsake
you.' That is why we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper, so I
will
not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5,6)
9. Others have made it through - you can too.
Try to connect with others who have gone through similar situations. You
will find hope, strength and encouragement. "A person standing alone can be
attacked
and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even
better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
10. Reach out to someone else who's struggling.
Place your focus on someone else and invest your life in him or her. You may
discover that your peace of mind is found in being a source of hope for
another.
"All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source
of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our
troubles
so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to
give them the same comfort God has given us." (2 Corinthians 1:3,4)
Stu
[log in to unmask]
WHAT YOU ARE IS GOD'S GIFT TO YOU AND WHAT YOU BECOME IS YOUR GIFT TO GOD
|