“Blessed are those that morn, for they shall be comforted.” Matt 5:4. Once we realize that we are not God, we mourn that loss of control.We need to learn about the one who is God, that He is in control, loves us, cares for us, and has the power to change us. God is so much better at being God than we ever were. It’s a process, a journey from mourning to joy. Isaiah 61:3 “To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.”
It’s a painful process. Pain lets us know something is seriously wrong and needs our attention. Pain is literally God’s Fire Alarm. However, when our internal fire alarm goes off, we tend to cover up the sound. We try to mute it with people, work, food, alcohol, sex and many things. If you ignore your home’s fire alarm, your house may burn down. It’s the same with your Spiritual, Mental, Emotional and Physical needs.
At this point, remember that just because God allows pain into your life, doesn’t mean God causes it. Pain is often the consequence of poor choices, or the poor choices of others in our life. God allows them to play out. God loves us and wants to lead us out of our pain and into His healing. So, how is your pain level? Is God using your pain to get your attention? God uses three denial busters to get our attention:
Crisis – illness caused by years of substance abuse; overbearing stress that leads to a mental health problem [workaholism; job loss; divorce, etc.]
Confrontation – People who care enough to say to us, You’re blowing it!” “You’re about to lose your health!” “Your marriage is on the rocks!”
Catastrophe – When the bottom falls out! When you hit bottom and don’t bounce – physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, relationships. God steps back and lets us feel the full impact of our own poor choices.
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Most people acknowledge God exists [95% of those polled]; however, this is because it takes more faith not to believe in a creator that it does to believe in one. Unfortunately, acknowledgment is it for most people until they have no where else to turn Since most people believe that God exists, then the real issues become, “What kind of God is He? Do I really matter to him?
Sometimes, we have misconceptions about God. A lot of people think God is like one of their parents. If their parents were unloving, abusive or aloof, then they may think that God is this way. The truth is we have a GOD who cares about us. God knows about our pain, our hurts, habits and hangups, our depression, our fears(s). He knows it all! Nothing escapes God’s notice. Matthew 6:8 tells us in pertinent part, “…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” King David tells us in Psalms 56:8 “Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll – are they not in your record?” A new translation is, “You have kept a record of my tears.” Job 13:27 says of God, “You keep a close watch on all my paths.” God knows the good, the bad and the ugly of our lives. All of our secrets.
He cares about our situation and us! Jeremiah 31:3 says to us, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” He wants to be the kind and sympathetic Father many of us never had. His love for us is unconditional [agape]. It is not based on our performance, it is based on God’s character. He gave us Jesus the Christ, and as John 15:13 reports Jesus said,”Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus died for us, his friends.
In Luke 18:27 Jesus says, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” So, nothing is too hard for God. He raised Jesus from the dead, he can set us free from any addiction. He can take our guilt and shame. God has the power to change us and/or our situation. Millions of people have been transformed with God’s Power and Love. God has done for them what they could not do for themselves. So, let it be done unto us by God!
St. Paul in 2 Timothy 1:7 gives us God’s Triple Power Surge which is all we need, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.” We need to plug into God’s Power. We need to believe that a power greater than ourselves (God) can restore us to sound choices. We need real love! To love people and have them love us back. Letting go of fear of getting hurt by the ones we love. Authentic relationships and not superficial, hurtful, selfish relationships.
First, believe the 3 truths about God:
- God Exists;
- You matter to Him:
- He has the power to help
Then Receive: Just ask Jesus for HELP. God, I need you in my life! Jesus Christ please put your spirit in me. God make me willing to change. Philippians 2:13, “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Basically, giving us the will and the power to achieve his purpose.
When we call for help, God has promised to respond, Isaiah 43:2, “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”
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