Weak? Fearful? Discouraged?


"This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."    Joshua 1:8-9

Friend, do you ever feel weak...as though you are being dragged along behind the car of "life" and can't seem to stand, let alone walk or run?  Do you ever feel fearful about how a certain situation is going to play out or what the next day, week, month or year holds for you? Are you prone to discouragement when the burdens of life, both the ordinary and unexpected, seem to sit on your shoulders and fill every nook and cranny of your brain with thoughts that tell you "this is too much to bear", "you deserve some time for yourself", "you shouldn't have to put up with this", and "this is not how life was supposed to be"?

When my own heart is battling weakness, fear and discouragement I often find myself wandering around in a fog. "Please help me, Lord" is my cry...but I have learned, I can't stop there. I can't continue to wander around in the muck and mire of my own "wisdom," or lack thereof.

You see, the Lord has already helped me. He has given me His Word and His Holy Spirit which both point me to the path of life and enable me to walk on that path one step at a time! He is not a God who is far off, but One who is so very near! And, I don't know about you, but there are very few rooms I can go to in my house that don't have His beautiful Words tucked into the nooks and crannies of my bookshelves, desks, nightstands and coffee table. Having a Bible at my disposal is not the problem...opening it up and believing, with all my heart, that it truly contains the Words of life, is another matter. O Lord, help my unbelief!

Yet, when I open God's precious Word to read, listen and meditate on His truth, the fog begins to lift, my heart begins to worship as I look into the face of my beautiful Lord and fear, worry and discouragement are put back into their proper place...covered by a Sovereign God who has ordained my going out and my coming in and will accomplish His good purposes, even through trials, tears and pain. He is the same God of whom Moses declared many thousands of years ago:

"There is none like God, O Jeshurun who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in His majesty. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms." 
                                                                                                                        Deuteronomy 33:26-27a

In those moments, days and even weeks when we find ourselves giving in to fear, worry, discouragement or a combination of all three...may we hold fast to the Word of God which speaks the voice of God to the children of God. And, through those pages, might we see and believe that there truly is none like our God. May His truth fill our hearts with hope as we cling to Him...our Help, our Refuge and our Rest!

Comments

Kirtus DeFehr said…
The phrase I find myself saying in those times, or at least after I have stumbled through the situation relying on my own wisdom and strength (lack there of) is, "He will hold me fast" like the song goes, "for my Savior loves me so" It always brings me back to my knee knowing He's doing what's best for me. Hey that rhymes!

Thanks for this Mrs.Pastor Bryan Pichura
Steph Siemens said…
Wow! Just reread this blog post and was amazed at how beautifully your words echo so much of what we learned from Susan Heck's teaching on remaining steadfast to the end. Holding fast to the Word of God! And Kirtus' comment fits so perfectly with Sarah's closing comments on Friday night right down to our closing song! What an amazing God we serve!