You truly are so much stronger than you think!
When you were young old age seemed so very far away. It is like being a teen and saying if only I was 21. Why? But when you get there was it that great? And then the ’30s come. Oh no…that dreaded 30. It used to seem if you got there, you were old. Then the 40’s, the 50’s, and so on. The rest just flies by somehow. Then one day you find yourself old. (old is in the eyes of the one that is old) Didn’t you think once that your parents were old, your grandparents were ancient, and if you did have great grandparents still alive…egads!! People can see old age differently. Some feel young at 80, while others feel old at 30. It is perspective and it is what is and has gone on in their own life. I did say growing old and still being encouraged, didn’t I? Well, okay, let’s talk about that, but first, let’s talk a bit more about life in today’s world.
Have you ever felt the pull of the ordinary, every day, and sometimes even boring life day-to-day demands that come into your life? And what about the dreams and the expectations that went crazy? Family doesn’t always seem to care (they do I am sure, but in your mind, you don’t see it) after all they have their own life (and they should). Then over time in our life, things have gone viral. People used to talk, call each other and hear each other’s voice, sit around and drink coffee together, but now family, and friends seem they only have time for you in a text or email. Well, I am on technology overload for the last few years. I miss talking to those I care about. People think they don’t have time to talk to loved ones any longer for their life is so busy but seems they all have time for the things they like to do. Can’t judge them on that for maybe we did that as well at some point.
Isn’t it funny (not) that when you are young you think you have all this time, but suddenly you are old, and where the heck did that time go? Your body is shutting down, and hurts, things and things don’t function like they once did. You had plans to do things once you retired and now life costs more, you can’t afford to do whatever it was you might have dreamed of doing, and you have a lot of “what ifs”. Your brain is willing to do but your body doesn’t always agree to do it. There are sorrows, pains, losses, struggles, and so many disappointments. People around you in the world have lost their minds and do whatever they do to try to destroy this great country that we once knew. Some days are hard to navigate through life. I don’t need to put all of the garbage going on in the world today here, but I no longer see the America I grew up in and loved. People are doing all they can to destroy it, and for what? Aren’t they destroying it also for their loved ones? Of course, they are but they don’t seem to care.
So, what exactly do we do when life seems to throw us a curve ball? (Okay, now to the part I want to discuss) the encouragement and hope that we still can have in our life no matter what we see now in the world. There is hope! Yes, I said that, even after my beginning here. I am greatly encouraged in life for the day that I met Jesus and He came into my life as my Lord and Savior…my very soul is encouraged no matter what I see in this world. I know the end of the book and I/you are on the winning side. We are the very ones who will be victorious. So life is hard…eternity is easy. I can be encouraged through the worst of times and know that I will still come out on the other side and see my loved ones again who loved the Lord, and I will get to spend eternity with all of them, but even more…I will get to spend eternity with Jesus. That encourages me each day. Let us each learn to be encouraged. Why? Because God loves us. He is there with you through every step of life you and I take. So there are bumps in the road, curves we didn’t plan on, and just downright evil people out there. So, now is the time to get closer to Jesus and to trust Him in all your life, all the seasons you face, and then that moment when you shut your eyes for the last time and wake up in heaven (that is…if Jesus is your Lord and Savior).
Be Encouraged. God loves us. Nothing, no nothing, separates us, His children, from His love (Read: Romans 8:31-39). Even when you have days you wonder where God is…He is right there with you. He has not forgotten us. We live in a fallen world and He said in this world we will have troubles. So when someone tells you that if you come to Jesus life will be easy…they sure did not read their Bible. So we face difficulties…we can read the end of the book and see what will happen. We live in a fallen world and it is full of evil, and evil people, but even more so…it is filled with the evil of the devil who does all he can to lie, steal, cheat, and murder not only people but their dreams as well. He does all he can to destroy marriages, families, finances, and so on. The list is endless. However, at some point, we know that Jesus will return and fix all of this. God never lies so, at some point things will get right. God has not left us. His timing is perfect. We, as humans, just don’t understand the why or the timetable.
“…God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”(Heb 13:5) This means, even if it feels that He is not there, not working, or not available — He’s right there, with us. We are to “Cast all our anxiety on him because he cares for us.” (1 Pet. 5:7)
As humans, we sure can worry a lot, can’t we? God doesn’t want us to worry for the more we worry it seems the more open doors to sin come our way. Why can’t we just all trust God and give Him our problems? There is always a solution to fix whatever is going on. We make so many mountains out of molehills, don’t we? The things that seem overwhelming, are they? A month from now, a year from now, or even many years from now will that same mountain be in your path? There is nothing new under that sun. What problems you are going through someone else has gone through? No, that does not minimize your problems. But now, you take everything to God in prayer and ask Him for a solution to help you with. The thing is even when He gives us solutions…many won’t do them. Do you place your hope in God? “No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame…” (Ps. 25:3) Each day we wake up gives us another period to have hope, to be encouraged, and to get right with God. We must learn to trust in God for He is the greatest Father ever. He lets us learn lessons, but shows us the way through. That is amazing. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7) Our Father in heaven is a God of peace. He is the God of love, encouragement, strength, power, and even amid the hardest days if we are His and He is ours…He guards our souls. We might not like what is going on in and around us every day, but our soul is protected when we are His.
People can and do let us down. It is part of living on this earth. Stuff happens. People claim to love us and then somehow many people hurt the very ones they love. Some by accident, and some on purpose, but know this if you know nothing else: God cares for you. We can’t even begin to imagine just how much He loves us or what it cost Him to do so. We were not a mistake even if someone else might have told us we were. God loves each of His children. So, no matter what is going on in your life, no matter the problems, the health issues, the suffering and losses you have faced. No matter the disappointments that have come and gone…Jesus is still there and He still loves us. We can trust Him for, again, He never lies. Be encouraged today (and every day you get up), and thank Him for being there with you. Even on the days, you don’t feel Him there…He is there. May God give each of you His peace, His blessings, and His eternity… Hope to see you all there!