The Struggle is Real
Are there times right now in your life where you are struggling?
With the economy and all the price hikes. How are you going to cope?
Are there relationships in your life that are not completely whole? Too much unforgiveness, disunity and it makes you literally feel sick.
Some of the disharmony has escalated so bad that family members are not even talking to each other, and you often don’t know why.
How to fix it? You rack your brain often.
Friendships that used to be a joy have in some areas soured and again you don’t fully know why.
The loneliness you feel seems accentuated lately, unsure how to reel it in.
And who do you look to for help? No one is around – they are all too busy.
Ah but the Lord is available!
He is always with us.
We forget too quickly if we are not careful.
We get wrapped up in our own problems.
In the book of Isaiah it warns us to call on Him while he may be found.
Seek the Lord while he may be found,
Isaiah 55:6 NRSV
call upon him while he is near;
Does this mean there may be a time when we can’t find Him?
God is ever merciful but if we ignore him or shut him out for too long our hearts may become hardened towards Him and we allow the enemy full reign in our lives.
We must remember the words of our God in another passage of
“You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:9b-10 NRSV
He has chosen us and not cast us off.
We do not need to feel afraid.
We can call upon Him to help us.
So, as we struggle in these days about many things remember to bring them to the Lord in prayer and wait to hear His response.
His love continues to pour out for us, and He will come to our aid in all areas.
Trust in Him.
He is our hope.
He is the answer to all things.
He can lighten our loads and show us the way to live!
Thank you Lord that you care for each of us. You know us intimately and you call us by name. We are drawn to your unlimited love.
Guide us in our everyday lives.
Help us in our everyday choices, decisions.
We look to you for all things.
Send us your grace that our hearts stay softened and open towards you.
Send us your helper, the Holy Spirit.
And we ask all of this in your mighty Name and in the power of your Son Jesus with the Holy Spirit. Amen!
May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’
Love
Rosemary
Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What areas of your life are a struggle right now?
Have you turned to God for His help? If not, why not? What is stopping you from turning to Him?
How could you begin to call upon Him more?
2 Comments
Dianne
Wow! Your journal jottings were just what I needed to read this morning. God is always SO good but especially lately as I’ve prayed for his perfect will in so many complex circumstances and been abundantly blessed by his answers. I’ve felt afraid to ask for more; felt ungrateful even though I believe he knows all, understands where I’m coming from and loves me still. I’m so thankful for his encouraging message sent through your insightful sharing. Thank you Rosemary, and I am sure God will continue to bless you abundantly for you are his faithful servant. Thanks be to God!
Valerie Lack
Dear Rosemary
Thank you for the questions. What areas of my life am I struggling with right now: I feel tossed about by what is taking place in the world, I try not to get angry about the many things which are wrong. I understand that we are probably going through the birthing pains, which we were told about in scripture. I try to leave it to God, but it is difficult to see how everything will work for good in the end.
Even here in what was the lucky country, there is so much evil. How on earth has it come to this ? with fire bombings of businesses, murders, children stealing cars and hooning. Terrorist attacks and So much more, that we can’t correct. The police do their best, but when they capture those responsible for mayhem, those charged in the courts are given such light sentences or not punished at all, and they walk away free to do nefarious things all over again.
Yes I daily ask God to give me the right attitude towards criminal, to forgive as Jesus did, to help me understand and accept all that is taking place in the world, but I find it very difficult.
I will ask him for more help and hope and pray.