Lately, it seems, that many I know are facing trials. One friend has been sitting by a dying family member for weeks, another lost her brother suddenly, another family member has had one stress and uncertainty after another, family and friends are nervously awaiting medical diagnoses, living with chronic illnesses, marital difficulties, addictions, job uncertainties, financial stress.
Just this past week, our town was rocked by a terrible murder/suicide of an entire family. Our children and teens (and our entire town) are left to mourn and deal with the devastation of such a horrible tragedy.
Personal lives are further punctuated by the news stories of global issues like poverty, abuse, crime, injustice, threats of war, and the list goes on. This world is broken. One just needs to look around a little to see it.
I'm feeling burdened today.
Feeling burdened for those who, amid these personal long-term stresses, crises, sadness, anxiety, illness, death...feel alone, lost, scared, fearful, anxious, desperate, lonely, and discouraged.
So tell me, how do YOU do it?
How do YOU manage?
How do YOU face the stresses and disappointments and heartache and pain that this world and your life situations sometimes heap upon your hearts?
I do know that for me...I can't face it alone.
I made the decision all those years ago to give my life over to the ONE - the only ONE - who could rescue, save, strengthen, and make this fearful and anxious heart into something HE could use. I knew then - and it has been proven over and over to me - that JESUS is the only way that I can walk through the painful times of this life, face the fears of the unknowns, maintain hope for an everlasting future, be used for something bigger than I could ever imagine.
Do I still stuggle? Yep.
Do I still have difficulties? Yep.
Do I still have kids who irritate and disappoint me? Yep.
Do I still mess up daily, sin, and get discouraged? Yep.
Do I still hurt over the losses and sadnesses this life has handed me? Yep.
Do I still cry about the injustice, the hideous crimes and tragedies of this life? Yep.
But...
Do I have hope? Yep - always.
Do I have a SAVIOR who stands beside me through each and every day, hardship, dark moment, and tragedy? Yep, I know HE is there.
Do I know that I am never alone through all the good and all the bad? Yep - always.
Do I know that by giving HIM my life, HE will use it in the way it was intended - and that it will give HIM glory and satisfy the inner longings of my soul? Yep - always.
Do I know that this life is just a part of my journey...that my true home, will one day be with HIM in an eternal home with no tears, sadness, death, or pain? Yep, thankfully.
Do I wish for each of my friends and family, and to those of you I might not know personally, to know HIM like I do? Yep - of course.
Do I pray that you will know HIM and by knowing HIM will long for eternal treasures rather than losing yourself in the pursuit of earthly things that will never last? Yep, I will admit I do.
Do I cry knowing you are brought down by the struggle to carry the weight of the burdens of this life all by yourself - without the supernatural help of a mighty, savior KING? Yep...you bet.
Do you know HIM? Do you have HIM - with you, beside you... in you?
Have you considered HIM?
Not sure how many people actually read this blog. I'm thinking that most of you that do are fellow believers. You share in the hope that I have. You know Jesus - and Jesus knows you. You talk to HIM like I do. You study about HIM and the God who sent HIM. You love HIM and pour your life out for HIM and know, like I, that HE is with you - through each and every day - beside you, guiding you, and when necessary, carrying you or picking you up to help keep you going. It is because of HIM that you have lived through unthinkable things, handle what the world might think impossible, make the choices you do for your life (even if it appears ridiculous to the world). You make life's decisions based on what is in line with HIS words and actions. You long to know HIM, to be like HIM, and to serve and share the good news about HIM.
But I would guess that some of you who might happen upon this page don't know what I am talking about. You will read through this post and be irritated or indifferent. You will be offended. You will come up with reasons that this is foolishness or not realistic or silly. You will not finish reading, or will not stop back here again, or might decide that I have lost it.
Please...keep reading...
Your thoughts about me personally are not important. But your thoughts about HIM are. Whether you like it or not, this man Jesus lived, died, and rose from the dead. HE fulfilled prophesies told long before HE appeared on this Earth of what the long awaited Jewish Messiah would be like, what lineage and town HE would come from, what sort of life HE would live, and what of sort of death HE would die. Because of HIS life, HE demands a response from you. You will either disregard HIM... or HE will be your Lord. As I see it, there is no in-between. You can't "sorta" follow HIM.
Please...consider Jesus.
And then make a decision. HE demands a decision.
Either HE is who is said HE was... or HE wasn't. If HE is who HE said HE was...well, it will change your life - it changed mine. And with this you can't argue. Challenge the reading material, even The Bible, but you can not argue with me about my experiences, and what HE is to me personally, or what HE has done in my life and through my life.
HE is alive and real and living in me and in HIS other believers. HE offers hope, future, and everlasting life. HE has changed me and continues to change me and lead me in directions I never thought I could or would dare to go. Our GOD loves and longs for each and every one of HIS children to consider HIM, and find HIM, know HIM, and follow HIM. HE wants to live in you and through your life. HE wants to be there beside you through each of your days...to share in the day to day details, joys, difficulties, successes, failures, and tragedies. Quite honestly, I don't know how others can face these things without HIM beside them.
HE longs to be your savior, your hope, and to guide you in the life that HE has planned for you to live.
Please consider HIM.
No comments:
Post a Comment