February 7, 2017

I’ve been procrastinating writing this post, but God keeps nudging me.  To be honest, the reason I haven’t wanted to post is because I’m struggling.  I didn’t want to share that because of the way it would reflect on me, however, God reminded me that what I’m going through may help others, and that’s the real reason for this blog!

I’ve been feeling like a failure in multiple areas of my life, for several months now.  Do you ever go through those dry times?  You know, the times when it’s difficult to get out of bed in the morning, and halfway through the day you just want to just crawl back under the covers and stay there?  Or when you’d rather sit on the couch and binge watch Netflix with a carton of ice cream than face the world?  (I hope you can relate, otherwise it sounds like I’m just a lazy bum!  Lol)

Even when I’m feeling unenthusiastic and purposeless, God still loves me and  He’s still working in my life.  How do I know this?  Because when I read His word, there are verses that jump off the page and speak into my situation, and while I am praying (sometimes through tears), my Heavenly Father whispers to me that His great joy still exists, even in the midst of my sadness.

For example, here’s a verse that I’ve been returning to again and again:

Seek your happiness in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desire.  Psalm 37:4 (Good News Translation)

or another translation:

Take great joy in the Eternal!  His gifts are coming and they are all your heart desires! Psalm 37:4 (The Voice)

When we seek happiness by the world’s standards, or in the things of the world, we will never truly be happy.  If we take delight (or find joy) in the Lord, He will give us our heart’s desires and we will receive a full measure of joy!

I have realized through memorizing Psalm 37:4 and reflecting on it, how much I need God in every moment.  I need to seek His face every day, and as I do that, He shows me all of the ways He is blessing me, and that makes me happy!

And I’ve had to remind myself that even when I don’t feel happy, or if I feel like I’m not accomplishing what I want to…or I haven’t reached the goals I should have attained, God still loves me.  He has a perfect plan and perfect timing for my life, and for yours, too!

This message is from the Lord.  “I have good plans for you.  I don’t plan to hurt you.  I plan to give you hope and a good future.”    Jeremiah 29:11  (Easy-to-Read Version)

I hope that reading this has encouraged you, if you’ve been feeling down lately.  And if you would be willing to share what you’ve been struggling with, or how you’ve come through a difficult time, I’d love to read about it and pray for you.  Please leave a comment!

 

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Jesus, thank you for loving me completely, even though you know me completely, with all of my faults and weaknesses.  Please change my perspective and help me to delight in you so I may receive joy in full measure, rather than dwelling too much on the problems in my life.   Please remind me to ask you for help with my problems, because nothing is too difficult for you!  Thank you that your love brings me through each day, and gives me peace when I lay down to sleep at night.  Thank you, Jesus, for blessing me beyond measure with your unending, never-failing love!