Struggles Deepen Our Appreciation For The Lord

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

We all have many struggles in life. Situations arise that are beyond our control, greater than our ability to deal with them. We face difficulties unlike anything we have previously experienced, and too often our struggles seem in vain.

In the year 2010 I was clearly dying. My health had continued in an ever increasing decline. I had little strength to struggle and little hope of enduring, much less overcoming my situation. At a time when I rarely left the house and had little strength to even leave my chair, the idea of continuing to struggle against what seemed inevitable left me feeling hopeless.

The feelings of helplessness that comes from striving against struggles that take us to our limits can leave us doubting ourselves, doubting God, and wondering what we did wrong or didn’t do right. 

We need wisdom from the Lord, especially in situations where we are struggling to both endure and overcome. And often we must place the struggle into God’s hands, for there are things that are bigger than us, too much to endure on our own. We need Jesus to take control and change what appears to be an unchangeable situation.

By the summer of 2011 I had begun to believe I would endure and recover a measure of health. There were times I was afraid to hope and believe, and there were opportunities to disbelieve. Yet, God had turned things around and given me back a measure of health that seemed no longer possible just months earlier. It felt as if the Lord had brought me back from the dead.

Nothing is impossible with God. Hopeless situations are His specialty. Never rule out what our Lord can do. You may be struggling with a terrible situation, or you may feel you have no strength left for the struggle ahead. Do not rely upon your own strength, but invite Jesus into your struggle, ask Him to turn around what seems hopeless and beyond your strength to endure.

Prayer: Dear Lord, life brings many hardships our way in a variety of forms. No matter the struggle facing us, we ask You to intercede and overcome through and in us. In Your precious Name we pray. Amen.

Times That Try Our Souls

My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? Psalm 6:3

We all face many types of challenges in our lives. Death of loved ones, difficult relationships, loss of health, finances, there are an endless number of trying times that bring suffering and hardship into our lives.

"These are the times that try men's souls;...”  ---Thomas Paine

Mr. Paine was talking about the trials of the American Colonies that led to a Revolution. Yet we can apply that same statement to our lives: There are times that try our souls. Yes, even the Christian, despite how many blessings God brings to us, we still face many sorts of trials in this life.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Jesus told us trials would come. Christians are not immune to trials. Indeed, we are warned trials will come to us because of our faith in Jesus. Our faith is tried and tested, not to weaken us, but push us ever closer into the arms of our Lord as our reliance upon Him and His word is strengthened.

Yet trials, terrible times, and hardships are never easy. We avoid them when we can. But when we must face them the way to overcome and endure is by relying upon Jesus and His precious Holy Spirit given to all believers.

I don’t know what your particular trial may be, but I remind you just as I remind myself: God has brought you through many difficulties in your life, and whatever you are facing now is not too big for God to deal with. He will deliver you out of it, or bring you through it. How much more peace we have when we hold onto that truth.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I need constant reminders of my victories, for when I am in the throes of trials and hard times I focus upon the problem instead of You. Realign my vision Lord, so I can see the light at the end of this tunnel viewed through so many previous victories. Amen.

How Well Do You Handle Adjustments?

 

“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went” Matthew 21:29

    About two weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday years ago, when I saw my doctor, I knew I had to make a big adjustment in my life. My love affair with sugary sweet foods was over. Diabetes closed that door, and I had to make some changes.

    I generally do not like adjusting my life, but as we get older, as our healthy condition gives way to an unhealthy situation, we must make changes. We adjust therapies, medications, or whatever our new condition requires.

    Worsening health conditions can put us into an almost continual cycle of making adjustments. Keeping these ill bodies going can take much work and effort. We can wear ourselves out just trying to avoid becoming increasingly ill. And we can become discouraged by the endless challenges our deteriorating physical condition presents us with.

    When adjustments in our life are needed, our frustration and disappointment can mount, driving us to our knees. The best thing to do when you are knocked to your knees is to look up and pray, asking God to help you to make the adjustments necessary for your health.

    I can promise you that right before the holidays the last thing I wanted to adjust, to remove from my life was pumpkin pie and other desserts. Perhaps your illness has caused you harsh “adjustments.” We need help to adjust our lives to the new conditions we face, and that help comes from the Lord Jesus.

    As you face necessary changes in your life, don’t try to deal with them alone. Ask family and friends for support, and invite the Lord into the situation. Adjusting our lives is so much easier when the Lord is included in the process.

    Prayer: Dear Lord, we face endless changes, continual adjustments in our life. Help us, give us the strength and wisdom to make the changes that are necessary. Amen.

Does Illness Cloud Our Perceptions?

“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense” Proverbs 19:11

    When illness has me at my worst, I am ten times more likely to perceive something as an insult, to be offended, or to lose my temper. Occasionally this deterioration in my mood, this detrimental mental and emotional liability change, sneaks up on me. But I try very hard to be aware of it and adjust my thinking to account for it.

    There are times when our illness affects our mental and emotional health to the point that we are hurting our relationships and interactions with others. We do not comprehend how badly our illness has affected us, or cannot control how it is affecting us.

    Depression, anxiety, endless worry, and cognitive issues can arrive with long term illnesses. We may need medication, therapy, counseling, or the intervention of friends and family to enable us to understand and cope with the mental and emotional effects of illness.

    I hate the mental and emotional liabilities of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Sometimes my mood gets so bad I do not recognize myself. It helps to pray about things. It helps to pour out my frustrations to the Lord. Anchoring my brain in God’s Word also helps. 

    Perhaps you are even now in the throes of skewed perceptions due to your particular illness. You may need help working through such issues. We must take stock of our mental and emotional state, and consider whether our reactions are appropriate to the situation. More than anything else we must ask for wisdom from above.

    Prayer: Dear Lord, our illnesses make us susceptible to mental and emotional issues and poor responses from perceptions that may not align with the facts. We need Your wisdom and guidance to help us, especially during times when our perceptions are skewed. Thank You, Lord. Amen.