You're not alone…
Have you ever felt like the world was crashing down around you? Has it ever seemed like your life was shrouded in clouds and that the sun would never shine again? Have you ever felt completely alone devoid of any hope? If so, despite how you feel you’re not alone.
There have been so many times that I’ve been down and out in life and just felt like throwing in the towel. Pain, sorrow, regret, anger, frustration, loneliness, anxiety, fear, and feelings of uncertainty… Sometimes it’s really easy to focus on all of the things going wrong and in those times is almost impossible to find the smallest glimmer of peace. One thing goes wrong and then another, then before you know it everything that you knew so well seems so foreign. In these times of darkness we mustn’t give in.
Maybe you’ve done something you regret, maybe you’ve seen something you wish you could forget, maybe you have a secret burning you up from within, maybe you’re just lonely… whatever it is… don’t give up, don’t give in. Know that you’re not alone. We’ve all been there, we all hold these things deep down inside of us. But it’s time that we let them go. It’s time we accept our freedom.
In Psalm 22 David writes with an utmost honesty about the darkness in his life. His world has fallen apart. He cries out to God “Why have you forsaken me?” He feels completely abandoned. Men are attacking him, he’s surrounded and there’s no way out. He is in complete agony terrified of what will happen. But in the midst of everything he finds hope, he finds peace. In the middle of chaos David starts rejoicing about what God is going to do for Him, even though it hasn’t happened yet. He starts praising God for the great things He will do because of what He has already done. The Psalm ends in David proclaiming God’s righteousness “for He has done it.” David is rejoicing because He knew that the messiah (Jesus) would save him. David’s ability to see past is present circumstances astounds me.
There is so much that we have to be thankful for even when everything seems to be going wrong. We have to band together so that whenever one of us falls and begins to doubt, we will be there to pick up and encourage one another. How many of us in the darkest times stop to thank God for what He has done for us. How far past our current circumstances are we able to see?
Last year I went back to my high school homecoming. It was the first time back visiting the school since I graduated. Everyone asked how college was and all of that and I told them how great it was and how much God had begun working in my life. Then when I told one specific friend this, she stopped and looked confused. I asked her what was wrong and she replied, “Well, God’s always working in your life…” I was stunned. This simple truth completely changed the way I looked at what was going on in my life. In the hard times before college I couldn’t see God working, but now I know that it was only because I wasn’t really looking. I couldn’t see past my circumstances because I was too focused on the problems and not what God was doing through the situation.
I just really wanted to put all of this up today just because I know how quickly we can become overwhelmed by the problems in our lives. I want to remind everyone that though things may be seem a little off track, it will be alright. God has taken care of everything for us. He has saved us from the pain of this world through Jesus… Take advantage of this most amazing gift and accept the freedom you’ve been given. Be bold and remember who’s creation you are. Take hold of the life you’ve been given… For He has done it.
Just Sayins All…
Rusty
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