Finding Encouragement

Have you found yourself in a state of fear, despair, loneliness, or loss?  The rest of the world may be celebrating, but despair follows you wherever you go.  The Apostle Paul understood this kind of feeling in 2 Corinthians 1:8, “We were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life."  Whether you feel slowly drained into hopelessness by the accumulation of many everyday stresses or life has been torn down by one difficult and painful situation, what you need is encouragement.

What do we need when we’re overwhelmed—someone who will stay with us, walk beside us through the dark valley and somehow lift us up when we grow weak?  Do you see the Lord as your encourager?   God is there to help us handle what we are given in life.  2 Corinthians 1:5, "For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."  God also gave us another form of help and encouragement through the Holy Spirit.  John 14: 16, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever."

" Upon salvation, we aren’t expected to fend for ourselves. God tenderly cares for us as His children, and He’s promised never to leave or forsake us. Even when we feel as if we’re all alone in our struggles, God is there, carrying us through when we have no more strength to continue.  If we never had troubles, we’d never know this comforting aspect of God or depend upon Him as we should. In fact, He sometimes allows us to go through suffering and hardships that are beyond our ability to bear “so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God” (2 Corinthians 1:9). He sovereignly rules over every situation we face, setting limitations on the intensity and determining the depth, length, and darkness of the valley we walk—all with the purpose of bringing us through, looking more like His beloved Son and having a closer relationship with Him." [intouch.org]  

Sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers on our timeline, we can feel abandoned by God and withdraw into ourselves.  This is not the correct response to our discouragement.  "In those quiet moments alone with the Lord, He offers us strength and encouragement to persevere and grace to trust and delight in Him alone. There is nothing in the world to match the intimacy we find in His presence during times of need."

Romans 15:5, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had."

1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up"

As for myself, I have been in the field of discouragement many times but I do not dwell there.  God encourages me by His faithfulness. His Word encourages me with truth, godly examples of people who have struggled too, and His promises.  As I look around, I see God in everything...from my dog, Jack, who is well and gives me great joy daily; to my cat, Tux, who is a constant presence of companionship; to my caregivers who seek to meet every need of my care; to my parents who try to be there for me as much as they know how; to my friends who bring me joy by listening to my thoughts and going out with me for fun. 

The list of ways God encourages me with others is endless. 

When no one else is around, He is still with me and His Word still encourages my thoughts.  How blessed I am in so many encouraging ways, but Satan still tries to come to kill and destroy those blessings from God.  Turning my eyes upon Jesus is the only way to keep me on the right path.  

Psalm 46:1-3, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way  and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

It may seem insignificant
To say a word or two;
But when we give encouragement,
What wonders it can do! —K. De Haan

A word of encouragement can make the difference between giving up or going on.

---

Things Change

Today's blog is a personal viewpoint on change.  Change for its own sake is neither good nor bad. It depends on the direction the change takes you.  We live in a world of change and how we respond is a reflection of us personally.  I'm going to focus and reflect on a few areas of change that have affected me, my life and revealed some of God's plans.

Living arrangements change:

My parent's bought our current house when I was eleven.  If you had told me then that I would one day be living in the basement, I would've bet anything that you were wrong.  Back then, the basement was the workshop/storage area.  It was creepy dark with one pull string light and a dirt floor.  It stored the lawnmower, paint cans, tools and probably a snake or two.  Along the way, my parents had it refinished into a real room.  Then a few years before I moved back home, the basement became their game room.  Then in August 2001, the prediction that I would've never believed came true.  I didn't accept my new accomodations with open arms, but instead referred to it as 'the dungeon'.  I felt like Paul, in my own kind of prison.  This change was instead a place of spiritual growth. 

People change: 

Yes, people change and yet, they don't.  All of our bodies change due to time, stresses, and the nature of humanity.  The same person still resides deep down under that aging, changing skin.  What changes most about people, who change drastically unlike others, are the  unfair judgements placed on them by others.  As for myself, the same Angie is still living inside the Angie now, regardless if she walks, drives, wears a mask, or breathes like you.  One of my favorite quotes is about the wrongness of assumptions.  "When you assume, you make an ass out of 'u' and 'me' both."  Changes within my person has humbled me and taught me a lot about acceptance.

Abilities change:

Hopefully, you can see life as a learning process where we gain new abilities.  My favorite of all my learned abilities is driving.  My driving skills began with a go-cart making burnout donuts in the playground dirt, then to a 3-wheeler catching air in the sand dunes.  My first car was a Dodge Aries K car then a Honda Prelude. Between these two cars, I'm partly responsible for the now 30 mph speed limit on McCain Blvd.  I gave up driving vehicles in 2003 due to my noticeable change in my physical ability to control my van at the time.  My ability to drive well now is used with my scooter.  While my ability to drive hasn't been lost over time, it has just changed in its format.

God doesn't change:

"I, the Lord, never change,” God declares in Malachi 3:6.  So that’s where we start. Change means a move in another direction. For God to change would mean that He either becomes better or worse, and God is ultimate perfection. He cannot change because He cannot be better than He already is; and He cannot fail or become less than perfect, so He cannot become worse than He is. God never changes, and nothing about Him changes: His character traits such as love, mercy, kindness, justice, and wisdom always exist in perfection. The methods He uses to deal with human beings have changed through the centuries, but the values and purposes behind those methods did not."  (intouch.org)

God built in us the ability to change.  For that we can be thankful, because we can change from our sinful nature and become friends with God and his heirs.  Changes brought on by God are always good and benefit us.  Reflect on the changes in your own life.

God Reigns

Today's blog is about how God reigns over all things.  He reigns over our lives, but what does that include?  Let's narrow it down to three things (for the writer's sake), to include our circumstances, our needs, and our protection.

Our circumstances may not be exactly what we want, but God puts us where we need to be.  His purposes will prevail and our situations have purpose in them.

Our needs are under His control too.  We may not enjoy the waiting part, but He will provide in His timing.  The prayerful struggle may seem to go unheard, but He sees, hears, and knows what is best to meet our needs. 

Our protection is overseen by Him, more than we will ever know.  We may struggle to understand why some things don't work out, but often it falls under the category of His hedge of protection.

"If you could change your circumstances, would you? Most of us would respond in the affirmative. Even if we’re experiencing relatively peaceful and comfortable conditions, we can always imagine a better life. And for those of us enduring difficult, painful, or trying situations, we long to see the burden lifted.  In reality, there are some circumstances over which we have no control. We can’t maneuver our way out, so our only option is to go through them. However, if we are redeemed children of God, we are exactly where He wants us, because His sovereignty rules over all our situations at all times."  {intouch.org]

One biblical example of God's sovereignty over one's life is that of Paul.  He was imprisoned, chained, and watched by the Roman guard.  Yet despite his undesirable circumstances in life, it turned out to be the means God used to deliver the gospel to the entire Roman guard.   Paul’s imprisonment also prompted other believers to boldly proclaim Christ.  

"The same sovereign God who used Paul’s circumstances for His purposes can do so with yours. But like the apostle, you’ll have to trust that the Lord will comfort and strengthen you to endure, and yes, even to rejoice."  (intouch.org)

Paul learned to be satisfied because God supplied all his needs. Paul understood that spiritual, physical, and material needs are wrapped up in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our needs are met through Him.  Jesus is also our protector.  Despite the trials that we face and the ways they turn our world upside down, Jesus ensures us by not letting us encounter anything outside of His will.  "Christ has not abandoned us in our storms but instead is intimately involved, using them for our ultimate benefit. Knowing this, we can respond with trust, dependence, and worship." (intouch.org)

As for myself, yes!  I would change my circumstances, if I could.  Thankfully God knows that and my heart and took that realm of possibility out of my control.  Instead, God chose both me and my parents to suffer for His glory.  Of course, there has been lots of waiting and prayer for specific needs along the way.  Recently, life has been a rollercoaster of emotions.  As we wait for the right caregiver replacement, we need the right perspective.  For all the ones we thought might be the right person thru our limited viewpoint, God's hedge of protection has shown otherwise. 

I'm so thankful God is in control of ALL things in my life. 

Humble Yourself

What does humility mean to you?  The worldly definition is all about putting the needs of another person before your own, and thinking of others before yourself.  It is a rare quality to find in this world anymore because pride is rampant these days.  There are so many people concerned with their rights, rather than what is right.  So how would Jesus define humility?  Maybe something like, learning to decrease one's self so that Christ may increase in one's life.  One of my favorite quotes is “Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but it is thinking of yourself less."  C. S. Lewis

"True humility isn’t seeing ourselves as worthless but seeing the Lord as worthy of service no matter what assignment He gives us.  No life lived in obedience to God is ever worthless or unimportant. When we stand before Him in heaven, our rewards will not be determined by how impressive our work was by human standards, but by how obedient we were to complete whatever He called us to do.  True humility exalts Jesus Christ, not self. "  [intouch.org]

A humble life is Spirit led. 

"Humility in the life of the believer is the mark of greatness—not because you shine when you are humbled, but because when you submit to God's will, He shines through you.  We are not the light but the lanterns that point others to the Lord. Only as we decrease will those around us be able to see the Savior, who can give them eternal life."  [intouch.org]

I needed this next bit of advice back in 2001. 

"Perhaps you are faced with a difficult situation but don't understand why God has chosen that avenue for you. Allow Him to use this time in your life to teach you how to be humble. Peter did just this. And he discovered that once humility accomplishes its perfect work, God will exalt us at the proper time . Blessing follows the obedience of a humbled heart." [intouch.org] 

In hindsight, I see the beauty of His work in my life, but it took a lot of cooperation on my part to be willing and obedient to His plan for me.  Blessings have truly followed me all the days since.  It doesn't mean freedom from hardship, but that He is with me through it all.  The promise for true freedom is for the eternal future, not my present state.

"Will humble living be worth it?  

God accomplished His purposes through Jesus’ obedience. Similarly, living humbly—letting go of our sense of entitlement to embrace our humanity—puts us in the path of God’s work. If we have ears to hear the call to a humble life, to relinquish our own designs and embrace the kind of life our Savior modeled, we will find that He works in us “both to will and to work for His good pleasure”  In the Master’s hands, our humility will become a tool for making us holy." [intouch.org]

Following Christ’s example of self-emptying sacrifice is more than ideal behavior—it’s the path to becoming our true selves.   A spirit of humility...says I'm not perfect, I make mistakes and am open to criticism.  It doesn't use authority as a means of superiority.  Some think humility will show weakness and then they can't show genuine love, because they're trying to defend a falsehood of an impeccable image.  

As for myself, humiliating circumstances have been God’s best path to developing humility in me—it’s something I remember with every challenge.   It has not been easy to put my dreams, desires and abilities on hold till God grants me a new, fully restored body.  Isn't it an ironic blessing that He still enables me to do His work through this blog?  "We have to recognize that our relinquishment has more to do with our own kingdoms than with God’s."  I have let go of much more than physical belongings, but of feelings of resentment and loss.  I hope others will someday find that humility within themselves.  

I like to think of humility in terms of riding as a passenger in a vehicle.  You have relinquished your right to control, but are still vulnerable to any joy or consequences.  You can respect the driver's plans and ways or create chaos and destruction.  You can have peace or fear during the journey.  You are either part of the plan or part of the problem.  You rid yourself of what is unnecessary, harmful and not enough room for during the journey.  Respect the driver, the rules of the road and you'll be okay.

How To Find Humility Within Ourselves:

1. Have a servant's heart and mind.

2. Trust in God's sovereignty.

3. Don't be wise in your own eyes.

4. Rejoice with others goodness.

5. Have a teachable spirit.

6. Encourage others.

7. Be in awe of grace given to you and forgive others.

What Humility Has Made Me Consider Personally:

1. Consider God's will for me.

2. How He has provided for me... in my care, finances, joy

3. This is temporary, not eternal

4. My focus is to be on Him, not my circumstances

5. He knows what's best for me, it's my choice in obedience to follow

6. Use my energy and time to share my testimony with others

7. It is all for His glory!

Overcoming Adversity

Adversity is a condition marked by misfortune, calamity, or distress.  Adversity is part of this sinful world and no one can escape it, in whatever form it strikes you.  No one wants to experience hard times, but God promises that they will come.  

Psalm 34:19  "The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."   When faced with a stressful situation in life, it can be difficult in the moment to imagine the experience will eventually lead to some type of growth. Resilience is a person’s ability to bounce back from adversity and grow from the challenge. 

"Adversity does not come as a thief to steal our happiness, but as a friend bringing the gift of staying power. Through it all, God promises us His wisdom and strength."  [odb.org]

"Some people crumble under the pressure of adversity. They become so bitter and resentful toward the Lord that they walk away from His calling on their lives. They might even resort to addictive behaviors to try to escape the pain."  [intouch.org]   

The verse that opposes such thinking is Psalm 103:19 which says, “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.”   We need to remember that whatever grieves us is known by God and under His control.  He will make a way.

Other people respond to adversity in a totally different way by looking past themselves and develop a deeper relationship with God.  " Instead of weakening them, difficulties make them stronger because these believers learn to depend more fully on the power of the Holy Spirit." [intouch.org]   Believers in this category cling to the verse of Romans 8:28, which says, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

"Adversity is not simply a tool. It is God's most effective tool for the advancement of our spiritual lives. The circumstances and events that we see as setbacks are oftentimes the very things that launch us into periods of intense spiritual growth. Once we begin to understand this, and accept it as a spiritual fact of life, adversity becomes easier to bear."   [Charles Stanley]

J. B. Phillips’ translation of James 1:2-3 reads: “When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance.”

As for myself, adversity has been a signature part of my life.  I can't remember a time in my life that was just 'easy' for me.  I've been blessed throughout my life and now that I'm older, I recognize the blessing of physical hardship.  Since I was 5 years old, I've worn braces.  Therefore, I've never worn heels in my life.  Does that make me less vain?  Probably not, because the Lord knows I have enough tennis shoes.  I've had surgeries as a child, that I believe make me more empathetic towards other's pain.  I understand how limiting this life is through my physical limitations and the power of God to overcome them, as well. 

I have learned from being dependent on others that my way isn't the only way, timing isn't as crucial as I think, being patient is a learned gift that is very important, and expressions are seen as much as  words are heard.  My relationship with God has grown so much because when the world walks out, He is still there as always.  I've always said, "I'm not defined by my disease or disability."  The Holy Spirit is the source of my confidence, not in myself, but of God to see me thru all things.  This is how I've dealt with adversity.

Some quotes about adversity to encourage you:

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about." -Haruki Murakami

"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." -Maya Angelou

"It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross