“Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
Galatians 6:9 (NLT) In the waiting room of life, you can choose to panic. That’s our natural response! We tend to focus on what’s going on around us. We let our circumstances convince us that there is no reason to wait patiently, to be at peace, to trust, to hope. Instead of panicking, you can choose to trust God. To be able to do that, you need to remember two things: One, God is never in a hurry. And two, God is never late. God’s timing is always perfect. What happens in those times where it appears that God is late? God is getting you ready for a miracle! There are so many examples of this in Scripture, including the story of Lazarus (John 11). Lazarus was one of Jesus’ best friends, and he had two sisters named Mary and Martha. They lived in Bethany, which was just a few miles from where Jesus was on the day Lazarus got sick. They sent word to Jesus that his friend was gravely ill and asked him to come to them. Jesus could have easily been in Bethany in an hour or two. But it took him three days to go about five miles. When he got there, they told him, “You’re too late! We’ve already buried Lazarus.” Jesus wasn’t late—because he already knew what he was going to do. His goal was not to heal Lazarus. His goal was to raise him from the dead. Jesus’ goal was not to just make Lazarus well. His goal was to do a miracle of astronomical proportions. Jesus walked up to Lazarus’ tomb, told them to roll the stone away, and said, “Lazarus, come out.” And Lazarus did! Sometimes God lets a situation get so bad that only a miracle will do. God already knows what he’s going to do in your life next month, next year, and in the next decade, and his plan for you is good. Don’t panic. Don’t give up your faith. Hold on. Keep praying and serving and meeting with God’s family. Keep sowing. Keep believing. Because you’re getting ready for a miracle.
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“After waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.”
Hebrews 6:15 (NIV) When you’re waiting on God, remember that you’re in good company. Millions of saints before you have sat in God’s waiting room. You’re not alone! In fact, if you’re in the waiting room right now—maybe you’re waiting on a job, on an answer, or on a result—there are a lot of people around you who are in that same situation. Hebrews 11:2 says, “People who lived in the past became famous because of faith” (ICB)—and every one of those people had to wait. Think about Hannah, who had to wait years to have the baby that she was praying God would give her. Think about Joseph, who had a God-given vision of being a ruler from a very young age but spent 14 years in a prison for a crime he did not commit. Think of Moses, who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years while he waited for his next assignment and to know his purpose in life. Think of Abraham, who waited a hundred years before he had Isaac, the child God had promised him years before. Think about Noah, who waited 120 years before it rained. Think of David, who was told he would be king but then was sent back to the pasture to shepherd for years before he ever saw the inside of a palace. God waited thousands of years before sending the Messiah that had been promised. And he spent 400 years in silence before Jesus was born, with no message for the people who were waiting for deliverance. Your wait may seem too long for you to handle. But there were many faithful people throughout history who waited far longer than you and still trusted in God’s goodness and promises. We get in a hurry. But God is never in a hurry. Waiting is essential to your faith, so God is going to use all the time it takes to make you into the person he wants you to be. Hebrews 6:15 says, “After waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised” (NIV). While you’re waiting, remember those who have waited faithfully before you who saw God answer in ways even bigger than they imagined. Ask him to help you wait faithfully too. “It is wonderful to be grateful and to sing your praises, LORD Most High! It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love and at night to announce how faithful you are.”
Psalm 92:1-2 (CEV) God loves to give second chances. Consider Jonah. God gave him a mission to tell the people of Nineveh to repent. But Jonah didn’t like Nineveh and wanted the people to experience God’s judgment. So Jonah ran away from God and ended up in the belly of a fish. Still, God gave him a second chance! He’ll give you one too. What do you do when he does? Live gratefully. That’s how Jonah responded, at least at first. In fact, he thanked God before he had even been rescued: “As for me, I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving” (Jonah 2:9 CSB). When God gives you a second chance, do what Jonah did. Wake up every day with profound gratitude for the opportunity God has given you. The Bible says, “It is wonderful to be grateful and to sing your praises, LORD Most High! It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love and at night to announce how faithful you are” (Psalm 92:1-2 CEV). It’s not just a one-time prayer. It’s a lifestyle of gratitude. The psalmist sang God’s praises every morning and every night. If you’re alive and have blood flowing through your veins, your mission is still in front of you. No matter what has happened in the past, you can thank God for a second chance to fulfill his plan for your life. It’s worth singing about! “When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord.”
Jonah 2:7 (TLB) When you feel hopeless, choose to think about the one thing you know will lift your spirit: the goodness of God. How did Jonah do it? Here’s what he said: “When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord” (Jonah 2:7 TLB). That’s the answer to hopelessness! You turn your thoughts to God. You think about his goodness, his greatness, his love, his fairness, and his kindness. In the New Testament, the Greek word for this is metanoia or “repentance.” Repentance doesn’t just mean you stop doing bad stuff. It means you change your mind and look at life from God’s viewpoint instead of your own. Corrie ten Boom, a survivor of the Nazi death camps, once said, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God, you’ll be at rest.” Everything depends on where you’re looking. As you focus your attention on God’s goodness, look to his Word. One of the verses one can lean on during some of the darkest times of one's life is Psalm 27:13, which says, “I know that I will live to see the LORD’s goodness in this present life” (GNT). It’s a great reminder that God’s purpose in your life is greater than whatever problem you’re facing. Even though it may be difficult, instead of focusing on your worries, choose to look up and turn your “thoughts once more to the Lord.” “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.”
Galatians 6:9 (TLB) If things don’t happen right away or when you think they should, that doesn’t mean you should quit. You need to be diligent and develop endurance. The Bible says, “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up” (Galatians 6:9 TLB). Is there something you feel like giving up on? Maybe it’s your marriage; it seems like it’s dead and going nowhere. Maybe it’s your career; you’ve tried and tried and tried to make a difference, and it just isn’t happening. Maybe you feel like giving up on a dream or a goal—or even yourself. Here’s an important thing to know. A thousand years before you were born, God knew that you would be reading this today, so God could have me say this to you as a friend: Don’t give up. The tunnel may seem extremely dark right now, but there is always a light at the end. It may be just around the corner! You are known by God, loved by God—and you have a purpose that God designed you uniquely to fulfill. Don’t think what you’re doing doesn’t matter. Don’t give up on doing the right thing. Don’t think anyone would be better off without you. Those are lies from the mouth of the Devil himself. Remember what God has said about you. Remember that he wants to bless you. Don’t give up. Look up to God. Find a spiritual family—a church and a small group—to help you through the tough times. Meditate on God’s Word for encouragement. Most of all, don’t give up on God. He will never give up on you! “God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.”
2 Corinthians 1:4-5 (NLT) When you’re going through pain, you can choose to focus on yourself or on other people. When you choose to focus on serving other hurting people, that’s called redemptive suffering. It is the highest and best use of your pain. No matter what pain you’ve gone through, Jesus wants to redeem your suffering. He doesn’t want it to be wasted! He wants to use it to help other people when they are in pain. “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:4-5 NLT). Who’s better qualified to help a struggling veteran than somebody who’s been a struggling veteran? Who’s better qualified to help someone recovering from a prescription drug addiction than somebody who has recovered from a prescription drug addiction? Who could better help someone who is suffering from a chronic illness than someone who has also suffered in the same way? Your greatest ministry will come out of your deepest pain. If you’ll be honest with God, others, and yourself about whatever struggle you’ve faced, then that struggle will become your ministry. Sharing your strengths doesn’t make you feel any closer to someone. But when you share the experiences that have led you to surrender to God and rely on his strength, then you’ll be connected to others more deeply than you can imagine. Why? Because when you—as a broken person—share with other broken people how God has restored you, you’re not just sharing something you have in common. You’re sharing hope that other people can also experience redemption through Jesus Christ. Sharing your pain helps you and the people around you to grow in Christ. Using your pain to serve others is a form of ministry. Don’t waste your pain. Let God use it for your greatest ministry. “We don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.”
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT) If your focus is shortsighted—where you’re only thinking about your current difficulties or pain—then it’s only natural to want to give up. But if you look at things from an eternal perspective, then you’ll be able to keep going, no matter what happens. “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT). This passage gives us four reasons to stay strong emotionally and never give up: We never give up, because “our spirits are being renewed every day.” We wouldn’t dream of going a whole week without food, but some people don’t even open their Bibles for an entire week. That’s depriving our soul of the most essential nourishment it needs! If you want to renew your spirit every day, then get into God’s Word. We never give up, because “our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.” Problems don’t come to stay; they come to pass. Even if we have problems that last our entire lives, they would be miniscule compared to the trillions of years we’re going to have in heaven. We know that problems on earth are temporary and that God has long-range plans for us. We never give up, because we know our problems will “produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” God is using everything in our lives—even the hard stuff—to build our character for eternity. Romans 8:28 says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (NIV). We never give up, because we “fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.” When we’re focused on things that last forever, we’re able to finish the race because we have long-term thinking. Our attention is fixed on eternity. So, what are you focused on today? Instead of looking at your problems, look at Jesus. And don’t give up! “We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.”
2 Corinthians 4:9 (TLB) If you’ve ever been at a race, then you’ve heard spectators shout, “Keep going!” to motivate the athletes. That’s also great advice for anyone who feels emotionally, mentally, or spiritually exhausted from running the marathon of life: Keep going! Scripture includes many examples of people who had determination to keep going in the face of opposition, including Jesus and Paul. Jesus faced constant opposition. Religious and political leaders intimidated him. They tried to stop his ministry by telling him that King Herod wanted to kill him. But Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way” (Luke 13:32-33 NLT). Nothing was going to stop Jesus from accomplishing his purposes—not fear, opposition, or criticism. He was resilient and had the endurance to keep on keeping on. Paul also faced obstacles that threatened to slow him down. In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, he said, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (TLB). Maybe that sounds familiar, because you feel like troubles are coming at you from many directions. You’re tired and worn out, and you don’t think you’ll make it to the finish line. How do you keep going? You get the power to keep going in the same place Jesus and Paul got it: from God. “We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work” (2 Timothy 1:8-9 MSG). God doesn’t expect you to fulfill your purpose and do his will in your own power. First, he saves you, and then he gives you the power for daily living. He will give you everything you need to keep going and finish what he has called you to do. “[God] canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross.”
Colossians 2:14 (NCV) We all mess up from time to time. We all make mistakes! We don’t have to live with guilt, because the Bible says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NIV). But we do have to live with our mistakes. The Bible never hides this truth. It is painfully honest about the failures of its heroes. God saved the world from flood through a man named Noah—who then got drunk and naked and ruined it all. Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea and into freedom—yet his anger kept him out of the Promised Land. King David was a man after God’s heart—but he also had an affair and murdered the woman’s husband so he wouldn’t be discovered. God realizes our frailty. If he only used perfect people, the Bible would be a pretty short book! But God does not leave us alone in our sin. He has a solution for our failures: grace. The Bible says, “[God] canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14 NCV). In fact, when you look at all those failures in the Bible, you get a clear picture. We can be amazed at how God used those people to accomplish his purposes in big ways. But what is most encouraging is that he used them in spite of their failures and mistakes. Just like those heroes of the Bible, you and I are trophies of God’s grace. Your primary witness to the world around you is not all the great things you do for God. Your most important witness will be how you handle mistakes you’ve made. Do you mope about your failures, or do you revel in the grace of God? People want to meet a God who turns failures into triumphs. They want to know a God who can transform the lives of broken people. The amazing part of God’s grace isn’t just his power to forgive. It’s also the strength and renewal he gives us when we choose to start over and trust in him to help us keep going. “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
Psalm 23:2 (NIV) What should you do when you’re emotionally exhausted? When the Prophet Elijah faced emotional exhaustion, God led him to do three things that helped him recover—and they’re things that can help you recover, too, when you’re at the end of your rope. 1. Rest your body. In the world’s most famous psalm, the Bible says of God, “He makes me lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2 NIV). Sometimes God has to make you lie down because you’re unwilling to do it on your own. You can’t be spiritually and emotionally strong while you’re physically depleted. That’s what happened to Elijah. God did not scold Elijah. God didn’t say, “Come on, man. You’re just having a pity party.” He simply let Elijah sleep. The Bible says about Elijah: “Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep” (1 Kings 19:5 NIV). Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do when you’re emotionally exhausted is to take a nap. 2. Release your frustrations. Revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing. In 1 Kings 19:10, Elijah says this to God: “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too” (NIV). Elijah didn’t hold anything back. He didn’t filter his feelings. Instead, he told God his frustrations. Here’s the point you can’t miss about this verse: God isn’t shocked when you complain to him; he’ll listen to you until you run out of words. Let them all out. God can handle anything you throw at him. 3. Remember and refocus on God. When you’re emotionally exhausted and approaching burnout, you need to remember what God says and who he is. When you do that, you shift your eyes away from your problem and toward Jesus. You get a fresh awareness of God’s power, God’s presence, and God’s personality. You need to see God far more than you need to see your problems. If you read 1 Kings 19:11-13, you’ll see how God demonstrated his power firsthand to Elijah. The Lord showed him who was in control. When you’re struggling through burnout, it’s often because you’re trying to play God and control everything. When you refocus on God, you realize he is in control—and you stop trying to exert your own control. If you’re feeling burned out and emotionally exhausted, God hasn’t forgotten you. Just like God did with Elijah, God stands ready and willing to help you. |
AuthorTaken from Daily Hope by Rick Warren. Categories
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