Updated on April 30, 2017
Top 5 Questions Asked by People Who Are Hurting
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. – Jeremiah 29:13
I hear them every day. Heck, most days I’m asking these questions myself! Yes, you read that right… most days. I’m sure you’ve realized by now what a flawed human and slow learner I am.
I’m not bringing these questions to the forefront right now because I suddenly have the answers. I’m just wanting to feel less alone, less strange. I figured maybe you might feel that way, too?
I’m also hoping that if all of us are praying about these hard questions, maybe we’ll begin to talk about them with people who seriously need more understanding of what pain does to your faith.
And so, without further ado, the questions and a few places to start in our search… because, see, I don’t think we should be searching nearly as desperately for answers as we should be for our Father.
What have I done to deserve this?
We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. – 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. – 1 Peter 1:7
Why isn’t God answering my prayers?
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. – 1 Peter 4:12-13
If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. – John 15:18-19
Is this really God’s plan for my life?
For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. – 2 Timothy 1:9
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11
Does God still care about me?
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” – Romans 8:15
Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” – Jeremiah 31:3
What is the point of going on like this?
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. – 2 Corinthians 1:4
I will bring that group through the fire
and make them pure.
I will refine them like silver
and purify them like gold.
They will call on my name,
and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘These are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” – Zechariah 13:9
This week, let’s get through it together, okay? Let’s search for our Father, instead of empty answers. That relationship, it changes Every. Single. Thing.
Holy God, You entrust us with such an amazing treasure. We are Your church. We carry Your light in these fragile vessels. Let us never get distracted by the questions that have no answers. We want to cling only to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Updated on April 30, 2017
When You Feel Like Giving Up
Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. – 2 Timothy 2:8-10
Let’s be real, some days are just that hard, aren’t they? I know some of mine are, and I know I’m not the only one.
And so, I have compiled just a few tips for those times. It’s hard to remember what to do when these times strike, so I’m hoping writing it down will be a good help for me.
- Allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling. There’s a balance between painting on a smile and pretending to be fine or totally giving in to despair. Find that balance and then allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling. Acknowledge that this sucks. Talk to God about it. Be honest with yourself. It’s okay to not be okay.
- Process through creativity. Choose a favorite activity that brings you peace or joy and then figure out how to use it to praise God. Sing, write, color, draw. Create crafts, speak poetry, take photos. Let your talents out and give the glory to God. Even just fifteen minutes of this can make a load of difference.
- Make a deal with yourself that involves time passing. No matter how impossible or dire a situation seems in the moment, give God time to work it out. What we feel in those bitter times never lasts as forever as we think it will. Even if the situation doesn’t disappear, God will grant you oasis in the desert. He has not forsaken you. Make a deal with yourself to just not take any drastic actions until tomorrow or until next week. God is moving.
- Make room in your mind. Many times when things seem darkest, I recognize that the voice in my head masquerading as my own voice is not actually mine. It’s many times the voice of the enemy. I remind him right out loud that there is no room for him in my heart or my mind, because the Holy Spirit lives here and He doesn’t share space with darkness or lies. Do you need to evict him from your mind, too?
- Replace the lies. It’s time to replace those depressing and obsessive thoughts that try to keep us in the stifling places. Replace them with scripture. Replace them with song. Replace them with words from a friend or family member who loves you. It’s not enough just to know they’re a lie. Steal their power by finding truth to take their place.
I hope these tips will help you. Know that I pray for you daily. Thank you for being a part of my life.
Dear God, please help us all to feel less alone. Please help us to know less despair, less darkness. How can we ever thank You enough for Your glorious warmth and light? We love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on April 30, 2017
Feeling Abandoned in the Dark?
He counts the stars
and calls them all by name. – Psalm 147:4
One thing I miss about the expansive western sky is the way the stars came out at night. Oh my. Oh. My.
One minute dusk is gathering, purpling the sky and lending a magical air to the quiet. Expectation. The world holds its breath. And then. Oh then, the sigh comes in the form of dazzle and glitter, so amazing that the eyes cannot take it all in. The mind cannot process that much beauty. Night after night, it never got old. Never dulled. Never failed to awe.
I think God knew. He knew that there was only one backdrop that would showcase the celestial properly. See, the stars weren’t chosen for the night sky. The night sky was chosen for the stars. Not just any old dark would do. No, it had to be inky black, stretched velvet and fathomless over the curve of the earth. When you find the perfect diamond, it’s worth the time and effort to create a flawless setting.
God is more glorious than the moon;
he shines brighter than the stars. – Job 25:5
I’ve been thinking a lot about the stars lately, and how the dark was created just for them to have their moment. Sometimes our lives are like that, too.
Sometimes the glory God needs the world to see… the twinkle that will cause their breath to catch as they lift their eyes to take in the awesome wonder… sometimes that glory can only be perched on the inky black. Sometimes the black has to be stretched as far as the eye can see. It has to be endless dark.
Sometimes, in some lives, the glow, the other-worldly glow that seems so very out of place in what should be a vaccum, needs the night to shine.
Photo by mkphotonet 
For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. – 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
If you’re in that place today, take a moment to look around you. See those people who are staring? They’re caught up in the wonder. See the warm glow that gives form to things around you? That’s coming from within YOU, and it’s what draws others to you.
Shine on, Dear Ones. You are not lost and forgotten here in the black. It’s simply the only setting that would do.
Dear Lord, You are the only One who could create not only the diamonds, but the perfect setting of the pitch black night sky. Thank You for using the broken to showcase Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on April 20, 2017
Seeking the Light of God’s Comforter – When Challenges Dim Our View (A Review)
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever – John 14:16
My friend, Lynn has a beautiful new book out. Oh, it’s simply stunning. As soon as it arrived, I knew I would be sharing it with you! Lynn is a fellow writer at Rest Ministries. She uses her long battle with chronic illness as a way to share the hope of Jesus with folks. And she does that in a really talented and beautiful way, through her writing and her photography.
I cannot fully explain what receiving this book in the mail did for my soul. It came the day before Brian lost his job a few weeks ago, and it has been a LIFELINE to me.
The full-page, full-color photos are just gorgeous, like Lynn’s spirit is… you’ll see what I mean as soon as you open it up for yourself. The photos were taken by Lynn through many years, and she shares the details of each one.
And the words… her words… have been such a comfort for all of us, my whole family, as we’ve read a devotional each day together. Each devotional seems to be the Lord speaking right into our lives through this difficult time. We appreciate the special scripture reflection and prayer time these devotionals invoke.
I can’t think of a sweeter gift to give than this book would be. It makes a perfect keepsake. Leave it out on the table for guests to ooh and ahh over! This book comes in soft-cover, hard-cover and e-book versions!
You can connect with Lynn on her blog, HERE.
You can order this beautiful book on the publisher’s site, HERE
or on Amazon, HERE.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Lynn. Thank You for calling her to write this book, which will touch so many lives. Thank You for her friendship. Bless her, Lord. In Your Name We Pray, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on April 19, 2017
Surrender… A Printable Prayer
– Hebrews 5:7
One True God
I come to you today with so much on my plate. So much on my heart and mind.
I’ve tried, Father, to wrestle this out on my own, I really have.
Please forgive me for not coming to You, first and only.
Lord I know that Your ways are not burdensome. Your yoke is easy, your burden is light.
I come to You now to find rest for my soul. Water that will make me never thirst again. Light that will chase away every hint of shadow.
Please, God, accept my full surrender.
I surrender my body to You. Every ache and pain, every inch and jiggle.
I surrender my family to You. Who else could love and care for them as You do? Not even I, as much as I love them.
I surrender my ministry to You. It’s Your ministry, after all… Your seed, Your kingdom.
I surrender my finances to You. I seek You first, and trust You to provide.
I surrender my relationships to You, God. Please soften my willful heart and help me to forgive. Mend wounds, and restore fractures. Help us to draw closer to each other as we draw closer to You.
I surrender my past to You. You know every heartache, every shame. You have nailed them all to the cross. Thank God.
I surrender my present to you. Take my fears and bathe them in the glory of Your truth and Your presence.
I surrender my future to You, God. Whether it be fifty years or fifty seconds, I want only for it to belong to You.
As I close this prayer, Father, I feel the peace that only surrender to You can bring. Thank You for this peace. And for Your Son.
In His Name, Amen…
Please click the image below
for a printable of this prayer.
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Shelly
Updated on April 18, 2017
For My Friend… A Printable Prayer
I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. – 2 Timothy 1:3
Dear Lord
I bring my friend to Your throne today.
I ask for Your grace and mercy in her life.
Give her direction and guidance. Most of all,
help her to know that she is loved, and has a valuable place
in Your kingdom family. Walk close beside her this week
and keep her reminded.
Shower my friend with special attention today, Father.
She is such a treasure, and I want her to know that.
Thank You for the gift that is her, and please let her feel
Your presence and care around her today.
Reach into my friend’s heart and deliver peace.
Reach into her mess and create stillness.
Reach into her loneliness and soothe.
Remind her of me. Remind her of Jesus.
Thank You for the joy she brings me, simply by being in my life.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
Please click on the image below for a printable of this prayer.
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Shelly
Updated on April 17, 2017
From the Pit… A Printable Prayer
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. – Colossians 4:2
Dear Lord
We’re crying out to you today… literally crying out.
We are desperate for Your help and Your hope.
We need Your peace and we have no idea how to feel it.
We need to see a glimmer of Your plan in our lives.
We need some divine intervention.
Please, Father, reach down right now and lift us up
out of the pit the enemy has created. I know that
only You can do it. Only You can rescue and set us on a firm
foundation. It seems like everything is crashing around us
right now, and it’s much more than we can bear.
Replace our burdens with Your yoke of love.
Please have the Spirit whisper comfort right now.
We kneel before Your throne today, Lord, and thank You
for all You have done to bring us into Your kingdom and
show us Your love. You are mighty and perfect
and we bow before You.
Please, Father, show a way through this dark time.
Help us to grow closer to each other and closer to You
through this difficulty. Provide a way when there seems
to be no way. Cause rivers to flow through this desert.
And please remind us that they are never alone.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
Please click the image below for a printable version of this prayer.
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Shelly
Updated on April 16, 2017
Thank You For Jesus… A Printable Prayer
But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. – Jude 20-21
Heavenly Father
I cannot fathom how you sent Your Son,
knowing what He would endure
and what joyful things He would never
be able to experience. And yet, I know
from scripture that it gave You great
pleasure to send Him. And when He saw
all that was accomplished, He was satisfied.
You have made Him a High Priest
who truly does know and understand, intimately,
all that we go through here on this earth.
That amazes me. It makes me so thankful.
Please enable me, no matter what the past, present,
or future holds, to see with Your perspective.
To cling to You, the only Lover of my soul
who will never fail or falter. To truly trust
every single thing into Your keeping.
I am so frail, Lord, and so weak.
Help me to remember that Jesus Himself intercedes for me.
He prays for me that I will hold to my faith.
I know that nothing can separate me from Your love.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
Please click the image below to download a printable version of this prayer.
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Shelly
Updated on April 9, 2017
Stuck on Friday (Part 2)
(If you didn’t read Part 1 of Stuck on Friday, please click here to do that before reading today’s post!)
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” – Matthew 28:5-7
photo credit: Lawrence OP via photopin cc
But I don’t give up hope, even after years of Friday. Because I know what those disciples didn’t know. Sunday is on the way.
Peter got his chance to make up for all three of those denials, replacing them with statements of love, as he shared breakfast with the best friend he’d just buried 3 days before. How surreal must that have been?
John and Mary now exchanged long glances filled with wonder, tearful hugs of joy instead of sorrow. John would spend the rest of his days speaking of the Light and Love of this Man who had done the impossible, and chosen him as a witness… as a Brother.
Thomas struggled to hold on to his new vow as his eyes struggled to believe what was right in front of them. As his hands struggled to believe what they could feel and touch. And I can picture him sliding to the floor as his knees refused to hold him up when the truth struck home. When the relief flooded in.
Do you know what the thing really is? Jesus had told them. He had told them that he would die. He had told them that he would be back. He even told them it would happen in three days.
Did they mark their calendar? Did they encourage each other to keep hope when all seemed lost? Did they remember that this Man was the Son of the Living God? The promised Messiah? They had acknowledged those truths themselves as they walked with Him.
But no. Do you ever wonder what happened? Why they didn’t do any of those things? I don’t… I know exactly what happened. They got stuck on Friday. Friday was so much, it was too much, and they lost hope.
Do you ever feel that way, Dear Ones? Do you forget that Jesus has told us He’s coming? He has told us there would be trouble and suffering in this world, but that He is coming. That He has gone for the express purpose of preparing a place for us with Him there. A place for us. Have you forgotten that He is the Son of the Living God? The promised Messiah? Didn’t you acknowledge those truths just yesterday? Just last week? Just this morning?
Don’t get stuck on Friday. Sunday’s coming. Even if you’ve had years of Fridays. Or decades. One morning you will wake to find that the tomb has become a portal. That dashed hopes have become promises kept. That deliverance has come.
Sunday. Wait for it.
Heavenly Father, I believe, help my unbelief! Keep helping me. And I’ll keep leaning, hoping… trusting. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Updated on April 9, 2017
Stuck on Friday (Part 1)
And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. – Matthew 27:59-60
photo credit: Lawrence OP via photopin cc
When you’re one of the walking wounded, having a good day is all relative, isn’t it? Maybe a good day is when you are out of bed before noon. Maybe it’s when you can manage a smile. We’re all hurting in some way or another.
In this season of Lent, I’ve been thinking a lot about how Friday felt. The disciples didn’t know Sunday was coming. They didn’t know. All they knew was what Friday brought.
Peter, curled into a ball, feeling the battering of his heart… knowing he denied his very best friend, and will never get the chance to take it back. There’s no do-overs in death. He knows this full well.
John, the fresh responsibility of caring for a grieving mother when his own suffering is still so very raw. He can’t get the mangled images out of his mind. He knows he never will. No chance to comfort the one who is gone, so he focuses on Mary.
Thomas, his hopes all dashed to pieces in one tragic night. He vows never to trust again, never to invest that much hope in anything again. It’s just too hard. Too hard.
I’ll tell you, dear ones, I’ve what feels like years of Friday. Every night I go to bed praying for at least Saturday, and the next day I wake up and it’s Friday again. Again and again and again until it’s tempting to just give up.
But I don’t. Because I know what those disciples didn’t know. Sunday is on the way.
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW…
Heavenly Father, help me not to despair. Help me to remember what I already know. Help me to keep looking for Sunday. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
