““Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”” Matthew 5:4 NIV
We all have been there. We all have reached that place where we say, “I can’t go another day.” For many of us, we are currently there. We are at a place where we do not know what to do. For some, there may be contemplations of simply leaving it all behind. When these thoughts flow through our minds, and we allow them to take root in our hearts, that is when the Devil comes in to destroy us.
In all my years, I could not bare the notion of going through what I have gone through apart from knowing Christ. I am almost certain that I would not be here if I had not known the Lord. Having suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts from the past, there were points in my life where I was close to ending it all. No one ever suspected I had this struggle in my high school days; for outwardly, I knew what to say and what to do. Inwardly, however, a war was waging; a battle for my soul was taking place.
Thoughts would loom in my head, “What’s the point”, “You’re weak”, “The Lord doesn’t have a purpose for you”, “Look at what a failure you have become”, “You’d be better off having never been born.” On and on the list goes, and I had been pelted with these demonic thoughts; these plantings from the enemy that sought so hard to rid my presence from this earth and drag my soul to the depths of despair and deplete me from having any purpose here on earth.
Praise be to God Almighty, however, that He came and saw me through! He annihilated those thoughts and doubts, and He purged me of all my iniquity. He set up borders around my mind, heart and body; and He sent a blazing fire that the enemy could not penetrate. “Found in Christ” is forever stamped upon my heart, and no demon in Hell can rob me of this blessed title. Praise be to God, that He is also calling you to be one of His children. He does not want any of you to walk through this life alone.
The world is a brutal place, and circumstances and situations in our lives can drive us to our knees. For some, this is where we find God; for others, it’s simply a lonesome cry to oneself. My friend, know that this does not have to be the case! I pray that God would awaken the hearts of those in the darkest depths of despair, and I pray that all would come to realize that there is a God out there that longs to have a living relationship with you. You don’t have to go through what you are going through, alone. You don’t have to try and figure everything out on your own; for Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, is calling out to you.
He wants to heal your scars. He wants to comfort you in your time of confusion, depression and anxiousness: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV). I know there are many out there who are hurting. Many of you have buried a loved one, have been betrayed by a friend, are confused with what your purpose in this life is, are afraid of what tomorrow will bring, are barely paying the bills, have been rejected, lack self-esteem, believe that you are marginalized... Listen, Christ can heal all those thoughts, scars and burdens! Christ can bring forth a miracle in a situation that is utterly hopeless in the natural realm.
O what a blessed truth it is that if one is willing to come with humility and repent of sins and turn to Christ, that they will experience Christ in fullness for themselves! The fountain of peace, joy and grace that flows through His Spirit into us is that which can only be experienced by the humble heart that believes Jesus Christ is Lord. He longs to do what He has already promised to do; He simply awaits your response of His wooing. Will you take heed or will you drift from His voice? O the agonizing sorrows and burdens of this world. Many are going through the trial of their lives. Families don’t know it. Friends don’t know it. Only God knows it. Families can’t fix it. Friends can’t fix it. Only God can fix it.
The trouble that presents itself during difficult times is our questioning of “how could God allow this?”; though, it should be “God help me through this.” It is important to note that whatever God permits, He works out for a greater good. It is Lucifer himself that causes this world’s pain. It is Satan who roams around the world and seeks to bring many to such a distraught anguish that hearts begin to become angry and blaspheme God. It is important to note that when we are angry at God, we should be angry at Satan. It is Satan who is the defilement of that which is good, and it is him who is the greatest deceiver. Satan is able to twist our pain and direct its blame towards God, rather than him. O how wicked Satan is. He knows deep down his damnation draws near, and his sole goal is to take you and I down with him. My friend, don’t give into the pain you feel. Don’t allow your heart to hang over the pit of unbelief; call out to God!
The burdens that some of you are carrying right now are beyond what any of us could fathom. If we were to hear what even five readers of this blog are going through, we would be in tears. Know that you are not alone in this walk throughout life. Know that there are others facing similar trials and tribulations as you. Know that there is the Healer and Comforter Who awaits your response to cry out to God and say, “Jesus, I believe! Help me!” It is important to note: It is never the prayer that saves you, but rather, it is the heart in the prayer. A simple cry of one word out of the mouth of a humble heart is worth more than ten thousand words uttered out of a self-deceived hypocrite.
It takes a humble heart to cry out to God; but when it is done, it is important to know that He is listening. Know that when you come to Him there is a call to lay down that which offends His name; but know that He will show you what must go from your life, little by little each day. He will not be overbearing, but will meet you where you are at. Though He will meet you where you are at, He will not leave you where you are at. He wants to draw you out of your problems and your circumstances; your trials and your tribulations; your sin, your guilt and your shame. He wants to breathe life into your bones. When you accept Christ as Lord and Savior, “your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it”” (Isaiah 30:21 NIV). No longer do you have to walk alone. No longer do you have to try and figure life out on your own. No longer must you weep alone; Christ is near.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV). When you are a child of God, it is Christ Jesus Who brings forth a heavenly peace. The God of this universe, the Creator of you and I; the One Who sees all, knows all and is all understands where you are at and what you are going through. He is calling; He is reaching out to you. He wants to do that which only He can do in your life. Your wife can’t do it. Your husband can’t do it. Your parents can’t do it. Your boyfriend/girlfriend can’t do it. Your friend can’t do it. It is only Christ Jesus Who can bring peace to your situation, heal you and bring forth an understanding as to why you are going through this. Not only this, but He will perform the miraculous work of bringing you through it in order that you may have a testimony of His faithfulness in this life to others. O what a blessed truth.
Know that there is only one place where God cannot operate, and that is the place of unbelief: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). The question now lies: Do you have the faith to cry out to Him and trust Him with your circumstance, your doubts and all your tomorrows? If the answer is yes, He is waiting. He wants to change your “I can’t go another day” to “God, I trust You with this day.”
He promises to see us through; we must simply have child-like faith in Him. We must believe that the God of all, can do all; for He is all. May the order of the verses below penetrate your heart into a belief that will move mountains:
““You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7 NIV)
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17-18 NIV)
You can go another day, when Christ is holding out His hand to take you through it.
Pray. Believe. Trust.
With love,
Lance VanTine
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