How to Help Others and Yourself Through Hurtful Situations

HOW TO RESPOND TO SOMEONE WHO IS HURTING

When people are hurting we sometimes overuse Christian statements to make them feel better.  We tend to say, “God has your back”, “Keep your chin up”, “You are blessed”, and so forth.  At times, these statements are appropriate.  But, other times, these statements do not help those who are hurting.  They are just words with no emotion and meaning.

We need to remember to listen instead of trying to give advice all the time.  We need to listen to the person’s words, and why he or she feels that way.  We do not need to make others feel that their feelings do not matter.  Sometimes all they need is a hug, a prayer, and a friend to talk to in a time of need.

“IT’S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY”

In a previous church I attended, the motto was, “it’s okay not to be okay.”  It’s okay to cry.  It’s okay to be upset.  It’s okay to ask why.  Sometimes it just does not make sense, and we want answers.  We want the chaos to stop.  We want to silence our thoughts.  We are overwhelmed and want to run the other direction.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING HOPE THROUGH THE TEARS

The truth is, we cannot stay in that state for a long period of time.  We have to continue to lean on God for comfort and peace.  We have to continue believing in hope.  We have to constantly pray, through the tears, that God has a plan for our lives.  And then one day, you realize you do not hurt as much as you used to.  You are not thinking about the situation as much.  God is at work in your life to heal your pain and loss.

APPLICATION AND PRAYER

If you are going through a difficult time, I encourage you talk to someone about it.  Find someone who you trust and who will listen to you.  I pray that you find God’s peace in your circumstances.  I encourage you to cry in God’s arms and allow Him to carry you through this hardship.  And, always remember, “it’s okay not to be okay.”

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How To Get Through Life Like A Cat

My Weekly Featured Blog is written by The Invisible Moth called, “How To Get Through Life Like A Cat”

I love how it is written. The writer is very creative and makes great points about how we need to live life.

The Invisible Moth

Take the road less traveled. Sure, it’s tempting to go down the path others have already been on for ages; the pawsteps before you are clear and easy to follow, and most of the dangers that may come, you’ve been warned about. But nothing will make up for what you’re supposed to do in your own life, for jumping onto the path destiny has set for you and you alone, regardless of whether it’s planned or prepared or expected or not. Don’t worry too much about what others think you should or shouldn’t do. Find your own road, and proudly put your pawsteps on it.

Remember to play. Chasing that butterfly or leaf is valuable. It reminds you to let go of worry and fear; you can’t control the world, you can only control how you react to it. The sun may not always shine, the butterflies may not always…

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God is Good, No Matter What…

God is good, no matter what is going on in our lives!  The past few weeks I have struggled with foot injuries, house repairs, and financial issues.  It has been very stressful and, at one point, I wanted to stop and cry.  For a moment, I lost hope that God was still good even in the midst of all my chaos.  I forgot God can be trusted with my problems if I only asked for His help.  God is always good to me, no matter what is going on in my life.  I truly believe that today!

The Bible says over and over again about how God is always good, and how we must trust Him with everything that goes on in our lives.  The Book of Psalm is a great book to read for encouragement.

“For the Lord is good.  His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.”  – Psalm 100:5

“The Lord is good to everyone.  He showers compassion on all His creation.” – Psalm 145:9

Give thanks to the Lord, for His is good!  His faithful love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:1

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.” – Psalm 34:8

God is good!  God allows things to happen to us so we can grow in our faith and learn how to trust Him more.  If life was perfect, then why would we need God?!  The only way to see God’s power in our lives is to go through hardships.  God will see us through the valleys and, through Him, we will be conquerors.

If you are going through a hard time, declare the Scripture, Philippians 4:13, over you: “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”  God will give you the strength to conquer anything.  All you have to do is trust Him.  Proverbs 3:5-6 says to “trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

 

 

 

The Bottom~ Dropped Out

My Weekly Featured Blog:
Written by: Devotion Café
“The Bottom – Dropped Out”

Proverbs 16:9 says” The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. What do you do when you’ve added all the ingredients as directed and the bottom falls out? You kn…

Source: The Bottom~ Dropped Out

Facing Challenges

We all face challenges in life.  It could be mental, emotional, or physical.  Hardship sometimes causes us to have unhealthy emotions.  When we face challenges in our lives, the devil tries to convince us that it is impossible to overcome it.  We begin to doubt ourselves and feel defeated.  Satan wants us to lose the power and authority we have with God.  But the Lord wants us to feel empowered to overcome any obstacle that comes our way.  In Isaiah 41:13 says, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.'”  We are not alone in our battles!  God is with us every step of the way.

The decisions we make during hardships are crucial.  Our choices determine our future.  Our emotions can get in the way of making good decisions.  We can easily become impatient and angry.  We have to learn how to control our emotions to have a clear mind.  We must always be in prayer with every step we take to be an overcomer through Christ.  When we feel overwhelmed with our emotions, we need to “cast all [our] anxiety on [God]” (1 Peter 5:7).  We need to go to God in prayer so He can remind us He has already given us peace.  We just need to declare His peace over our lives!  In John 14:27, Jesus says, “I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” 

Philippians 4:13 is a powerful Scripture that is well known and often misunderstood.  It states, “I can do all this through Him [, God,] who gives me strength.”  We cannot be overcomers through our own strength.  The only way we can overcome obstacles is through God.  We cannot do it alone!  We need God!

When we face challenges, God promises us rewards.  James 1:12 tells us “blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”  The Bible says “that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).  We not only get rewarded, but we build our character through hardship.  We grow in our faith and learn who we are as an individual.

The Bible promises us “that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).  I encourage you to persevere “so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4).  I pray you stay strong in your faith.  Do not let the devil get you down.  God is on your side and will always be there for you!

Declaration: You are a conqueror through Christ!