Keeping
the Suburbs from Killing your Soul
May 25, 2016
Jeff Lampl
Jeff Lampl
When we are depressed and
discouraged it’s normal to feel hopeless . . . .
that nothing good will ever result from the circumstances we find ourselves in.
that nothing good will ever result from the circumstances we find ourselves in.
Read Philippians 1:12-14 (click on the passage and the scripture will appear)
The problem with being stuck
in the middle of our problems is that with that in an overwhelmed state or in our
depression we can’t see reality.
Just as on an overcast day
the sun is still shining, but we can’t see it, in the same way it is true that in
our discouragement we can’t see the bigger reality of what God is doing above
the cloud of my overwhelmed, stuck, hopeless feelings.
Reality is SO MUCH BIGGER than
what I can see at any given moment. Just
as Paul noted that his imprisonment, intended to squelch the spread of the gospel,
instead actually furthered it. God is
at work and using even the worst circumstances to bring about the best circumstances.
Do you believe this? Really believe this?
In my experience as a spoiled
member of an instant gratification generation, it is hard to believe this when
things are bad. What to do? What I do is choose to believe it. I actually tell myself that God is making
good out of this, whatever “this” I am facing.
It takes practice, but as it takes hold, I have discovered for myself at
least that God’s peace actually does become available in such a way that I (not
always) experience the “peace that passes understanding”.
Follow on
Twitter @jefflampl
There have been times when I've found myself sitting in the ash heap of all of my hopes and dreams. Times when the word HOPE was something that mocked me. Strange as it seems I now thank God for those times. In the darkest times of my life, even the times before I came to know Him, He protected me. When I look back and see how the bad times prepared me to see His faithfulness and love in everything, I am grateful for the tears and the pain. The peace that passes understanding is a huge part of it, and so is the joy in knowing the depth of the Lord's intentional presence in my life. He never lets go of us.
ReplyDelete