Life can be so discouraging, can't it? We have so many questions, worries, doubts, and fears that keep us trapped. We might fear the future, worry often, feel anxiety over different situations and people in life (or work and school) and we question how we will make it through another day if things don't change soon.
Lately, I have been under stress in various ways because life isn't going quite how I want it to and it can be frustrating to wait. I do realize that life as a whole is a process. Think about that. It's a process to get promoted at work. It's a process to lose weight. It's a process to get in shape through regular exercise and the consumption of vitamins, healthy food, and plenty of water. It's a process to get the whole house clean. It's a process to grow in our walk with God. It's a process to build relationships. And it's a process to learn new things.
Something that really helps me is to remember that God is ultimately in control of all things in our lives and He is faithful to cause all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8: 28). Yes, we make choices, and yes, our choices can bring suffering, consequences, and much pain and regret to us...yet God is able to build our trust in Him and our character even through poor or sinful choices. Our choices do not hinder God from working on our hearts and transforming us, yet on the same token, our choices can hinder the process of transformation and sanctification and can prevent future blessings because of the consequences they very well may incur. An example of this is desiring intimacy and not wanting to wait until you meet your future spouse so you might be intimate with someone you just met or in a dating relationship with someone you know will not end up being your spouse. Not only will a portion of your heart, emotions, time, and thoughts (to a greater or lesser degree) be given to that person, but if your body is given to them as well you might contract an STD. For those who have suffered the repercussions of intimacy with someone (or quite a few!) who are not your spouse and contracted herpes, an STD, or even AIDS from it, I'm sure you look back and think sincerely, "If only I was willing to wait!"
The next time you feel down, discouraged, disillusioned, lonely, disappointed, sad, ungrateful, angry, or like you could literally just give up on life, try reading the Bible for hours straight. Seriously. Read through the entire book of Proverbs and the book of Psalms. Read the book of Ephesians in the New Testament and one of the Gospels. Pray beforehand that God would speak to you through His word and give you eyes to see, ears that hear, and a heart that understands His truth and for a willing heart toward God. Pray that the Lord would reveal Himself to you in a way that you cannot deny and to deliver you from any hypocrisy or heart attitudes, actions, and behavior in life that keep you distanced from Him.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." Second Corinthians 1: 3-4
"casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." First Peter 5: 7
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their sorrows." Psalm 147: 3
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