So Many...

I have several friends/students/family members and some acquaintances whom I know are going through some really tough situations as of late. Children diagnosed with recurring cancer, the loss of a spouse, parent, or friend. Families in utter chaos and ruin..... =( and in the flesh I am absolutely overwhelmed..what do you say to someone who has lost a loved one, or someone who's family is just cruel? I can't offer them any simple words of comfort. But one thing I can do is point them to Christ. He really is the comforter. He promises us peace.Phillippians 4:6-7do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. His word says, don't be anxious,pray with thanksgiving, making your requests known AND then the peace that passes all understanding will GUARD....I love that "peace of God" will guard. 

    There are also people I know whom are allowing the enemy to be who fills their hearts and minds. They are suffering from feelings of condemnation, or selfishness, or negative thoughts, and hurt "feelings". Allowing emotions to rule their thoughts and actions. As I have battled this in MY own mind, what to say to this person, or what can I do to make it "better" I realized I can't....they have to do the work. Some of the best things I have learned in the last hand full of years is this. If you are feeling condemned, and blaming God for those feelings know this in Roman's 8:1 it says Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. So then those feelings are either from the enemy(satan),yourself, or others...If you know Christ, it's not from Him! 

The other thing is this not "following your heart"  Jeremiah 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?So there you have it...you simply cannot trust it, but you can trust God, not man, we make a mess of things, but God you can always bank on.  It's always dangerous to trust our emotions...always! We get "offended" or get our "feelings" hurt, and then run with it, either by hurting back, or ignoring the one who hurt us. Not trusting God, with all things. Not going to the one who hurt us and getting facts, asking questions. But instead gossiping to others, stewing on it, or allowing a root of bitterness to grow, all the while thinking they are justified in their actions. When in reality not at all. We are given very clear guidelines on what to do. Umm like proverbs 3:5 Trust the Lord with ALL your heart, it goes on to say "lean not on your own understanding", so you see you cannot simply think you know. Or think it's better to pull away..ignore....gossip..... Trust God, and continue to love unconditionally. Yes, even when you are hurt. It's not easy, but there is no promise of that in the Bible anyway, so don't expect it to be easy!!! I am having to walk this road myself, loving when I'd rather distance myself, being kind when I'd really rather say what is on my sassy mind, and trust me I have plenty to say!!!! Loving when I know I am not loved back, being kind to others knowing they have caused pain to someone I love, being kind to someone whom I know will/is taking what I say and do (no matter what it is!) and twisting it. These are things happening to me now, and yet I have decided that I am going to keep my mind fixed on Christ, I am going to continue to love, even at the risk of being hurt again and rejected. I cannot change them, make them like me, or my family or my church, I cannot convince them to do what is right in the eyes of God. But God can change them, He is able!!! God can heal them, He is able! 

One of my favorite songs "even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, your perfect love is casting out fears, there will be an end to these troubles but until that day comes I'll live to see you here on this earth, and I will fear no evil, for my God is with me , and if my God is with me, whom then shall I fear"!!!! 

Ok so I doubt many will get to the end of this post, as it is longer than the recommended 250 words, but writing it out has been healing for me!!!

K~