Are you prone to self-pity? It is easy to feel sorry for ourselves when we are overwhelmed with so many responsibilities and burdens. At those times, we should remember Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my…..
It is the will of God that we share our sorrows and have compassionate hearts for one another. If we are truly followers of Christ, we will gladly follow that path. It certainly makes the journey easier and even more pleasurable. Remember Matthew 9:36: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Christ knows just how lost we feel sometimes, and he has a heart of compassion…..
While discouragement is definitely a mind-set, it is also a way of feeling. Too often, we give into those inner voices that are present when we least need them! There may be a legitimate reason for those feelings – God may be pointing us to a straighter path. But many times, the voices are just a product of our own doubts and imagination, and the voices may not be speaking the truth. At those times, I seek out the more…..
What are your reasons to believe? Have you had prayers answered? Have you experienced healing? Do you know what lies ahead? I can answer yes to the questions above – but sometimes it is still difficult to have faith. When I am discouraged, I am so blessed to have Christian friends who are able to pull me out of that way of thinking. They know that it is a waste of time to be discouraged because they know what lies…..
Frustration can often come from spinning our wheels and working to achieve something that is never meant to be. It may not even matter much in the grand scheme of things. Yet we toil, and we get frustrated! So how do we deal with this? First, ask yourself, “Did I cause this?” If we brought it on ourselves, then it is a great opportunity to learn from it. So grow from it! Second, thank God for the situation! That will…..
Christian friends who are fulfilled in Christ remind us that we too should strive to not be frustrated by our circumstances but through obedience to God find true fulfillment and satisfaction in our soul. Remember one of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (fulfilled).” As Christians we don’t allow our feelings to dictate our level of satisfaction but, instead, focus on God. Mr Christian friends…..
We are living in a fallen world, and life will never be completely pain free or problem free. And it is human nature to complain. But why exactly do you complain? Do you complain because you do not want to do what God wants you to do? Do you complain because you are focusing on tough circumstances, rather than focusing on what God is trying to teach you? Are you complaining because you have forgotten what God has done for…..
It is natural to rely on our own talents and abilities in getting through the day to day struggles of life. And we complain when we can’t control the problems of life, or the pains that often come along with it. But what if we learned to fully rely on God? After all, we are not meant to bear these burdens alone. Perhaps we can take a lesson from Paul. In Philippians 4:11, he writes, “For I have learned in…..
No matter how many times we might have been told as children that, “Good things come to those who wait,” it is difficult to be patient. We want instant gratification. So why wait? What is the point? First, how about avoiding mistakes? When we are impatient, we rush into things, without conferring with God, we find ourselves going down the wrong path. Second, how about not missing out on God’s best for us? The saying “God never closes a door…..
No one wants to enter into an extended period of waiting. We exist in a world where we expect and want things now. Yet I am blessed to have Christian friends who understand the true importance of God’s answer to many of our prayers: wait. He is teaching us to rely on him and him alone – not on money or brains or any of the other talents He may have given us. Whatever we have in life has come from…..