Pastor Brian’s Blog 11/21/18
Ever have those days when you are anxious and you just can’t seem to get out of your “funk?” Have you ever felt like no one in your life understands the pain you are feeling? Mother Theresa said after touring the United States, “Loneliness, the hunger for human love, is the world’s worst ill. People all over the world are suffering more from loneliness than from poverty.” Can you say, “Been there; done that?” Do you feel like there is nothing going on in your life to cause you to give thanks?
“Really?”
In this Thanksgiving season, would you let me encourage you? Better yet, allow God to encourage you. When you feel like no one can understand how deep and devastating your pain is, Jesus can… “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:3-5
Maybe the path you are on right now is overwhelming you. Satan is telling you ‘you can’t do it,’ and chances are, he is right. You can’t, but Jesus and you can… “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 And for those of you that might not know Greek, the Greek words for “all things” actually means… ALL THINGS!
Maybe you have questions for God. Jesus knows all about that, because He did too… About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”, which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46
Are there times when you have felt alone or disappointed because the very people that should be there for you, were not? Jesus understands that as well. When He needed someone to be there for Him, no one was there. Even His best friends failed Him… They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Mark 14:32-34, 37
Maybe you have an unsaved spouse, or your children who were brought up in a Christian home have rejected your God. No one sees you cry for them, no one understands how your hearts breaks for them. No one that is, but Jesus… As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. Luke 19:41-42
Just maybe you are reading my blog and you feel hopeless, you feel like your life situation is desperate, irreparable, or irreversible. Can I just remind you that just one word from the creator of the universe and everything changes… Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:3
Oh by the way, this One, this Jesus has also promised never to leave you alone… God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 The One who spoke everything into existence, is with YOU. He is with you not only on your good days, on those days that you are singing those praise songs, but He is also with you on those tough days, those days when you feel like God is not being fair with you, those days when you are not happy with God at all.
God is with you every day, He is there watching you, He is there cheering you on, He is there ready to carry you, to pick you up, He is willing to walk with you through your pain, your discouragement, your loneliness, all the while drawing you closer to Him.
Nothing in your life to be thankful for? “Really?” Think again! We have much to be thankful for, because we have God!! And for those that do not have God, you can be thankful as well, because God will accept you anytime you are willing to come to Him… The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
So from Judy and I, Happy Thanksgiving! In this Thanksgiving season… in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 And when you think about it, isn’t Jesus worth thanking?!?!
