For anyone who is struggling with something

If you're reading this, you're probably going through a hard time or you know someone who is going through a hard time. 

Maybe you haven’t told anyone what you’re going through or maybe you have and no one seems to understand. This song is for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB9kGC927VA

Maybe no one else knows, but there is One who does.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.” – Isaiah 53:3

This is The Savior. 

First comes death but then comes life! This is the cycle found all throughout scripture. That is where hope comes from. It comes from the promises that happen after death. You can’t have life until death occurs. (If you have time, click on the references and read the entirety of the verses below)

2 Tim 2:11  "... For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him."
Mark 8:34-35   "...whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it."
Gal 5:24  "Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
Gal 2:20  "... it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..."
1 Pet 2:24  "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."
Col 3:3-7  "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God..."
Rom 6:11  "Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
Jn 12:24  "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
Rom 6:5-7  "... for he who has died is freed from sin."

What you’re going through is a process. It has a purpose, although it may not feel like that at the moment.

God wants so much to give you life, but to have the life He wants to give there must be death on your part. This is not a physical death but a death that is spiritual, a death that occurs in your heart. It is a death of your plans, your selfish desires, your pleasure, your everything. In exchange God will give you new plans, new desires, new pleasures, new everything, all leading to new life. A life that is sanctified [holy, set apart, one-of-a-kind, blessed] and pleasing to God. But this newness of life can only come after death. And that death is often very painful. Sometimes extremely painful. It requires giving up something. But for everything you give up, God will exchange it for something better, something that is life!

Mark10:28-30 ²⁸ Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” ²⁹ Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, ³⁰ but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

The greatest life we could ever hope to gain is eternal life. That life is possible and only is possible because of death. Jesus died so there could be life for all who believe in Him. The greatest life was purchased by the greatest death. Whatever death you are facing, remember that in Jesus death becomes life!

Hang in there. He is faithful.

Worship in Times of Despair

I was looking through some old writings of mine and found the one below from March 29, 2012. I remember that being a difficult year for me, but I can't remember why I was writing this the day before my birthday. Thinking back to that time of my life I can say by God's grace I made it through that year, and all that was trying to overcome me was conquered by Him, and I can look back at that year and what God brought me through with joy. So if you're going through times of despair, hold on. There is hope. Praise God for that.

Here's what I wrote:

I don’t think worship can be any more passionate, or beautiful, or sincere, or intimate than when you’re completely destitute and broken. Because it is at that moment that you worship God not because He is able to save you, but because you realize God is still God and God is still good and worshiping Him is just natural because of who He is. I have never felt closer to God than when I am broken and reduced  to nothing. It is then I look to God and see how He does not change, and I worship Him because He remains God and in control, and it overwhelms me because I am aware of His character. I seek Him and there He is. He looks at me and listens to me, and in my pain He is there. I worship Him because He is God and then I worship Him because He is Savior.

 Indeed, He is able to save. He does not allow me to face anything that is too great for me to bear. When I am feeling overwhelmed, I cry out to God and say, “It is too much for me to bear.” And God reminds me that is not too much when I rely on His strength. Yes, it is true. It is not too much for Him, therefore it is not too much for me. Though I may be shaken or oppressed or discouraged or harassed, though I may be burdened or afflicted or emotionally distraught, I am not overcome. I am not. I feel His peace inside me. It is not loud or great at the moment, but it is there. And it will keep me from giving in to despair. His joy is also inside me. That is why I can still rejoice. I am not defeated, not ever. Jesus has defeated all, and He is greater than the one in the world that tries to destroy me. The enemy whispers lies to convince me I am a failure and all hope is lost in an effort to entice me to give up. This is when Truth needs to be pervading  my life, my soul. Not flowing by my soul in a trickle but submerging my soul in an ocean.  You need to know Truth. His name is Jesus, the Word of God. He is the One that saves.

Heartbeat of Peace

When I go through crazy or difficult times in my life, sometimes I feel like giving up. When it comes to peace, I see it like a rope you hold while dangling over a cliff. Sometimes the rope feels solid and thick, and other times it feels like it's barely a thread. But the fact is no matter how it feels, it's always there. I wrote the following poem to try and illustrate what God has taught me about His peace during those times.

I have been given life and a new heart. Alive in Christ. I have the heartbeat of peace. The constant, steadfast sound. The sounds around may be loud and chaotic, but that steady heart of peace keeps beating. Peace is still there. The sounds around may be quiet and still, but the steady heart of peace keeps beating. 

Peace does not cease for those who are in Christ. At times it is hard to hear, like when distractions are near. Sometimes subtle and faint, but it keeps beating on, beating on, beating on. This is the heartbeat: the gift of life for those who abide in Christ. For He has said, “Peace I leave you.” 

The Spirit inside keeps the peace beating. Never does it leave. So do not let go. Though some may not hear it now, the children of God have this promise assured: Peace is left to stay. The more you fix your eyes on the Savior, the louder the heartbeat will grow.

Isaiah 26:3, 4

You will keep in perfect peace

The one whose mind is steadfast

Because he trusts in You.

Trust in the LORD forever

For the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.