All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
When I Am Down
When you feel down, beat-up or overwhelmed, what does God use to pick you up and get you through?
Lord Bless,
LT
TheNET Coordinator
Views: 876
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by JB on
-
Hi Linda,
Believe me when I say "I hurt" when I hear testimonies such as yours, I tell Rod that I am still in prayer about your situation down there, and will be until I hear your testimony of victory over this.
You know in Mat.17:17-21 when Jesus told the disciples, howbeit this kind cometh not out but by prayer and fasting. There are those that think He is talking about the demon coming out by prayer and fasting, but the prayer and fasting will get the doubt and unbelief out of them, and then they could cast out the demons.
I believe God’s timing is when we become as Abraham was, being fully persuaded “faith” in God’s Word. His promises. When we feel we don’t know His will in a situation, we can’t have faith for that situation. And it is faith that will move that mountain, God has already made the provision for it and has given us power over all the works of the enemy.
But I feel our doubts have shipwrecked our faith.
I have learned a couple things about life as a Christian, one is: not to be moved by what I see, feel, taste smell or hear, I am only moved by what I believe.
Maybe this sounds like just a play on words, but you said.
“The key is to accept what is your current circumstance/s/traumas (Job did) and praise God in spite of it:”
You might be saying the same thing, but I didn’t take it that way.
It is good that you can praise God in spite of your circumstances.
However I have learned that as a believer in Christ Jesus; I will face the circumstances as they are, but refuse to accept them as they are. Especially if the circumstance is in opposition to God’s Word.
We will stand on the promises of God in opposition to sense knowledge evidence.
Example would be. You come down with a sickness of some sort, the devil comes to you and says, this sickness is due to you sinning the other day. We don’t deny the fact that we sinned, nor do we ignore the fact that we have a sickness; but we will face it as it is, but we don’t accept it as it is, based on the Word of God that says I have been redeemed from the curse of the law, Christ being made a curse for me, and by His stripes I am healed.
So which one will I believe, sense knowledge evidence, or What the Word says about me? This is the faith that is the substance of the thing hoped for, it is also the evidence of the things not seen, though we see the sickness, but faith is the substance of the healing, not sense knowledge evidence of it.
A lot of people can’t believe they received it until they can see it. That is being controlled by the senses, not faith.
So we face it, we just don’t accept it, because Jesus has borne all of our sorrows and our grief’s, so it would be foolish for us to think that we have to accept them when the price has already been paid.
I know this sounds like a lot of pie in the sky to many, but too many people think that hope is faith, hope is always in the future, faith is now.
Abraham was fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was able also to perform it.
Eph.3:20 now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
And one like it, 1Jo.5:14 This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us, and if we know He hears us, we know we have the petition that we desired of Him. PS whether we see it or not, we have it.
Joe
-
Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on
-
>>There are those that think He is talking about the demon coming out by prayer and fasting, but the prayer and fasting will get the doubt and unbelief out of them, and then they could cast out the demons.
Wow! I never thought of it that way. Man that really blessed me bro Joe. And I do agree with the rest of your statements bro. Good Stuff.
Linda,
My heart breaks when I hear of your predicament and your kids. I pray God gives all of you the testimony of His awesome power soon. Thank you for sharing and being a blessing to this community.
Blessings to you and your home Joe and Linda.
-
Permalink Reply by Carla on
-
Hi Amanda,
I'm responding to your post not because I think I have all the answers..because I know that I don't. but I do want to address the scenario that you have pictured:
A little girl was playing happily in the yard and a drunk driver jumped the curb, ran her down, and killed her. Her parents were devastated. The mother said, “There’s nothing more frightening than to lose your faith in God.” And the Dad said, “Yes, there is. Believing in a God so cruel and unloving that He would allow little Sarah to die this way.”
How would you comfort these people? Wouldn’t you first start with finding out what is there assumptions of faith? To see if those assumptions are faulty? Then walk them slowly through it with truth, instead of blasting them with words like, You shouldn’t feel the way you feel--this is how you should feel--forget the pit, jump out of it, praise God and get on with your life!
An all powerful God could have prevented this; and all-loving God would have. Those are the assumptions.
How would I resond to this family? I hope I would respond with actions...not words initially. I would continue to be available for them. I would do this to build their trust in me. I would ask God to use me..however HE wants to. Once they build their trust in me, I would talk to them...this would likely take a really long time.
What would I say to them? I would most definately try to find out their worldview regarding faith. I would go from there. There is not an answer 'one fits all'. People are individuals and we must respond to them with respect while holding their dignity intact.
Here is my understanding of why this horrible event happened:
Because of sin in the world..... People do not know how to make good choices in this world if they are without the Lord (sometimes even when they are with the Lord due to sin...and other various reasons) 'Self' has been out on the throne rather than 'God'. When Adam sinned he created an alternate reality due to choice---perfection and good choices were his default when he was in a state of unconfirmed holiness.. but in order for him to be in a state of 'confirmed holiness'... he had to be tried by way of 'choice'. Adam made a bad choice--which infected all of humanity, and therefore, now our default of making choices is 'Self' rather than 'God'. Even though it was Eve who sinned initially...Adam is accountable because the man is head over the family, and it was Adam who was given the command to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil---therefore the accountability falls on him. People make choices that will effect themselves and others. Jesus came to set up His Spiritual Kingdom...not an earthly Kingdom. Jesus is very concerned about our Eternity, more so than the short time we are here on earth. I'm not saying He's not interested in our physical lives here. I believe He is very much intimately connected with us, and He cares. But I also believe that primarily, the healing He brings to us is Spiritual (although physical healing does happen). People are still looking for a physical Jesus.. It's the same mistake the Jews made when Jesus was here, and ultimately why they rejected Him. The responses of the two parents you outlined...are both frightening responses. I agree with both of them. They are both right! There is a dark grief that covers this which only Jesus can break through. Our vision is so clouded in this life..and near sighted. Life does not end here. Jesus has done something about the state of this world, what choice will people make to accept or reject Him? Each person is accountable to God. I am thankful beyond words that as a believer i am covered by the blood of Christ.
Let's talk about the drunk drivers family for a minute. This family is left with a heritage of this person who made this choice.. They need to be prayed for also.
There is no quick-fix. God does not operate in quick-fixes, and neither should we. God lovingly works with us with Grace and Longsuffering. He desires that we will work things out with His guidance, that we will come to Him and ask.... He wants us to be in relationship with one another and bear eachothers burdens. To comfort one another in love, and come alongside as we are called. This is a process which takes time. God is never in a hurry. We always are--so we tend to see God through the glasses that we wear. God works all things together for the good of those who Love Him and are called according to His purposes. Could it be that God will use a situation like this to bring about His purposes? Absolutely yes! God does not ever cause us to sin...but HE has allowed the god of this world (satan) to deceive people into making terrible destructive choices (which they are accountable for). God will still work with it. When God created the world it was not perfect--it was good and very good...but not perfect. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gen&c=1&v=1&....
The world now is the best possible way to get to the best possible world. God is working this out--but it takes time.
This family dealing with the grief of loosing a child....could possibly get to the point of being comforted in the fact that they will see her again.
I firmly believe that my children are not mine. They are God's. I give them to Him regularly. I thank Him for them. I ask Him to help me raise them because I don't know what I am doing most of the time. They are not mine, they are God's. God has given them to me for a short time. I know that I have to answer to God one day--even though i will not loose my salvation--i do not want to just barely make it through the burning flames. I want to hear 'Well done my good and faithful servant'. I want God to be proud of me. So, with tears, I hand my children back to Him. He created them for a purpose which I do not know. It is terrible that any person would have to suffer the loss of a child.. God understands. He has suffered the loss of many-it started with Adam and Eve, How God must have grieved the day His Creation died....He was the only One who could step in and do something about it, and He has. Our God is a God of many sorrows....as well as Joy.
Amanda, sin has effected all of creation so that all creation is groaning (Romans 8)
We are eagerly waiting to be free from this corruption....and one day we will be.
For now we pray for heaven on earth. When we walk in obedience His will is done. God's Love is shown to us by the ability He has given us to make choices (amongst other things).. But free choice is ours. Now we have the ability to make good choices. We will all face consequences of those choices, and those consequences will effect other people.
Blessings, Carla
-
-
Amanda,
People will always disappoint us. I'm not saying we can't trust them... but when we put any trust in man we will be left disappointed--frustrated. Our worth is found 'In Christ'. That goes for all humanity whether believer or nonbeliever. I think it would be a profitable study for all Christians to do an indepth study of our positional stance of 'who we are in Christ'. There is a list that is on the internet... it is good to read, but i believe that there has to be a inner 'knowing' and 'understanding' of what Jesus has done to clean up the mess that Adam made. This can be accomplished by indepth study and prayer.
Amanda, even though you say you can't 'feel' God, I am confident that He hears you. He has not left you. I asked Him yesterday to give me something that I could give to you. I asked Him to give me the words that would make a difference somehow to reach you. God hears you, He loves you. He wants you to be confident of who you are in Him.
This stood out for me in your comment:
Soon the loss is overwhelming and can’t be denied. God removes the protective hedge, and we are face to face with our beliefs about God. It sometimes is the only way to learn the truth. I don’t like it very much. But hey, I’m just the clay.
God wants to do away with our misunderstandings. He wants us to see Him in His Glory, and His Power. God has been teaching me alot of Grace lately. This verse is so beautiful:
2Cr 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast [fn] about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
We need to rid ourselves of 'self' on the throne....and replace that lie with 'God' on the throne. We are not strong.. we are humans whom God loves and understands us in our weaknesses... and HE wants to lift us out of the weakness with His Power.
As believers we have died to self. All our hopes, desires, dreams.. our Will died when we accepted Christ. We are alive now 'In Christ'. We live for His purposes... This is truly heaven on earth. We are not always successful because we are still battling this sin nature...but God has given us a new 'natural default'.. We now are able to make the right choice because we are no longer a slave to sin. We can't make choices for others--only for ourselves. When you see that you are becoming disappointed by actions of others---takek your eyes off of them and put them squarely on Jesus. He is the author and finisher of your faith--and you are accountable only to Him. Don't worry about the things that others are doing---You look at Jesus.
God has sealed us with His Holy Spirit, but that is not the same as God Himself. God will not share His Glory with another. God is Sovereign, Omnipresent, He is Mighty and Powerful. He is slow to anger and rich in Mercy. God is longsuffering and Kind and Compassionate. ...just because God lives in us as believers, it does not make it the same.. we are a mere reflection of Him. As the moon is to the Sun. Try to look directly into the Sun...you cannot, you would be blinded if you try to for any length of time. It's much easier to look into the moon.. because the brightness of the sun is far too much for us to bear...the moon has no glory of it's own...any light that it has comes from the sun. The moon can't help but to reflect the sun's brightness...that is the purpose of the moon--it is why it was created. Just as we were created to reflect the Glory of God. The difference between us and the moon is that we were given a free choice---because of Love---.
Sometimes I say quiety to the Lord "Why Lord did you give us this choice--it has done so much harm".. and He answers me "because I want you to want Me--I will never force anyone my child". God is a gentlemen full of Grace and Richness and Fullnes of Mercy and Compassionate. Eyes on Him. If you want to see the Father, look long and hard at Jesus.
Blessings, Carla
-
-
Hey Amanda.. i understood what you said. but thanks for the clarity just in case..
I'm happy to hear that you are tired of wrestling with God-- He's the Boss! :-)
Instead of wrestling just fall into His arms and let His Love fill you.
Forgive yourself for all the things that you think are unforgiveable--Nothing is unforgiveable to God. (except the unpardonable sin---but you cannot commit that because you are still alive).
Blessings, Carla
-
Permalink Reply by littlesheep88 on
-
You sound like me. I've been reading your comments and others that have posted here and you remind me of me. I'm going through the same kind of battle you are, or was until I submitted to what the Lord was doing in my life.
I had many questions like you. I would sit and watch TBN all day on television and hear all the preachers, and listen to my preacher, and what I've heard and the past, and what I'm hearing now and this preacher has this take on things, and that preacher has this take on things and I like them both! Whose wrong? Am I wrong? Maybe I'm not understanding this correctly. I'm strong in the Lord! Why do I feel so weak...I'm so timid. I can't do this. Am I really saved? I don't feel saved. Maybe I didn't receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost right? Maybe I don't really believe in Jesus. Why is this so hard? Why doesnt't this make sense? Why isn't God making this clear to me? Why isn't He showing me what I need to know? Why aren't you listening to me God? Don't you see I'm seeking you? I'm doing what they're telling me to. It's not working. I'm so confused. How doI know for sure? I don't know what to do. Please Help me. Please send someone to help me. What's the deal here is it me? Why am I in this rut? What is the matter with me? This is so stupid! I'm sorry God. I just want to make sure I'm saved. I don't know how to do this. Praise God? How do I do that? I'm such a weak Christian. Maybe I've done something wrong. Maybe it's me? Well How do I fix it? Sigh....
It's fairly simple...God wants you to trust Him. He wants you to GROW and mature into son and not a child of God.
" Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation," 1 Pet 2:2
That pure spiritual milk is the Word of God. He wants you to have faith, believe and trust on Him.
" And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
And what is that reward? It's knowing Him. He knows you very intimately. When you rise and sleep (please read Psalm 139) and even the number of hairs on your head. He wants you to know Him intimately. He wants you to know Him in a personal way so that even in dark times we still trust Him. That's what God cares about. He doesn't want you relying on someone else's faith or settle for second-hand religion through others. He wants you to know Him and you know Him through His Word.
God makes all things work out for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose, even in confusion. There has to come a point in your life of total surrender, which is taking God at His word. Where the rubber meets the road. When you walk in faith in God Word and what He says above all else. Pray for this everyday--Revelation knowledge of God. There is a difference in knowing about God and experiencing God. Like someone telling you He is faithful and a provider and actually experiencing His faithfulness and provision. God wants us to live by faith (tough sometimes, but necessary) and the older we grow in God the less feeling and emotion He wants us to have to carry us through.
So as Mk 11:22 says "Have faith in God" Which really means have faith in His word. Believe what He says is true even in difficulties and distress.
I have much more to say But I'm out of time the library is closing!
Be Blessed. -
-
-
Littlesheep (Paula) You rock girl.
blessings to you beloved. Man girl - you blessed me. :) -
-
-
Amanda,
You are loved. You are still gifted. God will not take away the giftedness He gave you. You are accountable how you use that giftedness, but you still have it.
You are going through a difficult time right now, but this will not last. This is anopportunity for growth...even in this you are helping others. Do not loose your hope Amanda.
Heavenly Father,
I thank you that you have brought Amanda to us Lord. I thank you that she is a blessing here in many ways that she does not know. Lord, i lift this beloved child of yours up to You. i ask that You would comfort her as only You can do. Reassure her Lord that she is Yours. Embrace her Father. Wrap Your loving arms around her and keep her safe hidden from the enemy. I speak life into Amanda in Jesus' name. Father I ask that you would restore and heal all of the brokenness in Amanda's life. Lift her up Lord for Your Glory and her well being. Lord i also pray for Amanda's family at this time. i ask that you would bless them and strengthen these relationships. Thank you Lord for hearing this prayer.
I ask and pray this in Jesus name. Amen
Be Lifted Up Amanda. -
-
Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
-
Amanda,
Charles Finney, a man used of God to reach may thousands of people as an envagelist, used to need to withdraw from his work when he felt dry and empty of the Spirit. He would take his Bible and retreat to spend time alone with God until he sensed the power of God return. We go through many seasons in life. Some are seasons of recovery. I personally have burned out twice in ministry and required short sabbaticals. You are in a season of recovery that requires you take steps one day at a time. Just as the season changes from autumn to winter to spring, so shall this season eventually change for you too.
Lord Bless,
LT
TheNET Coordinator -
-
Permalink Reply by Sarah Gardener on
-
Dear Amanda,
I apologise for any offensive words and will remain silent now as any more words seem to hurt as they did Job when his friends spoke and my God hold me accountable.
I will pray for you and love you in the Lord.
Linda Ruth
-
-
Sis Amanda,
I tried finding an extraordinary testimonial I saw in Daystart TV or you tube, I looked for it but was unsuccessful. If someone knows the name please post it or send it to me so I can posted here. I will not do the family justice and the work of the Lord in that situation by my rendition of it, solely going by memory. But that testimony had me weeping at the beauty of being in Christ.
This man in Texas I believe was forever helping people, a white male who had flowned missions on the Second World War, loved by the community and church. His plane was shot, but he always made it back to the base. He retired and was always looking to improve people’s lives. One day the Spirit guided him to stop by a little church. He found the church to be a church of African Americans. He befriended and old man who was forever helping everyone else however he could, a man full of the love of God but extremely poor. The ex-air force pilot and outstanding Christian man felt from God to try to help this new friend in Christ with whatever he could.
They became very good friends and his little boy and little girl became very good friends with the brothers family as well. They helped them out however they could. Gave them blankets etc... The ex-pilot also felt from God to help him with his rundown house. And he was already talking to folks about the churches’ need to help this beautiful man of God who was extremely poor to fix or built a house for him.
One day the ex-pilots little girl (her name was Joy, she was 3 or four years old) was found ran over on the country road of their house. The community was outraged that the individual had not even stopped to aid the little girl. The car had left fragments of the light fixture from the impact. The police were able to determine the make of the car and quickly made an arrest. They arrested the African American the family of the little girl had helped so much. When they arrested him, he had no idea what the arrest was about. He had an old truck and the brother used thick glasses to see and the day of the accident it was a bit dark outside. Joy had run out the house because she was angry at her older brother of 6 for not given her a toy. The brother never saw the small child and does remember filling a bump on the road, but was not aware he had killed Joy.
When Joy's father was told of the arrest and of the man guilty of the killing his Joy, he immediately when to the station and embrace the killer of her daughter, he had been told that he was not even aware of the accident.
The community, both church community and secular community where overwhelmed with what had happened and could not understand how this father could forgive this man and not only forgive him, but embrace him and buy him and his wife cloth for the funeral. It did not stop there; he had his friend sitting on the first row at the funeral, next to him wearing the cloth he had bought for them. When his friend got to the funeral he walked over to the parking lot grab his hand and walked him over to his chair. The community testifies that they had never, EVER seen anything even close to such forgiveness and love. Joy's father and mother were mature Christians who were deeply hurt by the lost, but were empower by God to affect a whole city by their testimony of forgiveness.
Joy's father then approached the church and told them of the plan to build his brother and friend in Christ a home. NO one could understand it or believe it. How could it be possible that he showed up in court dropped all the charges the DA had charged his friend with and now wanted to build this man and his family a brand new home. People who were friends of the family were in complete unbelief. One church member and good friend of Joy's dad offered to help build the house. Then even members of the police station pitched in. It was an entire community coming together to build the man a home.
Joy's father at the end of the video says something like this: If the short life of Joy was only to help them exemplify the love and forgiveness of our heavenly Father here on earth and if one life had been impacted by what the Lord had empowered his family to do, then the sacrifice was worth it.
Wow!!!!!!! Incredible, it is amazing what mere humans can become through Christ. Joy's mom stated that anyone who has lost such a precious gift knows they will never stop grieving for their lost and there are days she goes away from the house to a lake in the property and she sobs before God and unburdens her heart with her Lord. Her boy was in denial for many years that his little sister even existed, is like he had erase her from his memory, it was his way of coping with the lost. Years later he told his mom that it was his fault that his little sister had died, for he had made her mad by not given her the toy. The mother asked him to go get the toy and a hammer and told him that it was not his fault but the toys fault and told him to punish the toy. He smashed it on the driveways of their homes until he could not mash it any more.
Sis we all grieve differently but the Holy Spirit will guide us on how to counsel each individual according to where they are at. This means limits us to counsel people in a real tangible way. That is why LT, Carla and I always tell people to seek out counseling by their pastor or Christian counselor. Each member had a different maturity level in Christ and dealt with the lost accordingly. But forgiving blessed them and an entire community. That testimony had such an impact in my life that I was able to reconstruct by memory, though my recollection of it does not give it justice, but I trust you have been blessed by it as well.
To touch on every aspect of the process is time consuming and really should be done in person for this medium limits us. As much as we love you, we are limited by obvious limitations this medium affords. I am not a sister that can embrace you and just listen to you. When I counsel people I find that many times I say nothing at all, but just listen to them and embrace them and my brothers feel so much better by that. So I understand where you are coming from and hope you understand our heart as well. This is an extensive topic which is hard to cover without a personal relationship with the person. However we will love you the best we know how. I share this testimony with you because all things are possible with Christ. Yes is a process, at times a long one and there are no simple generic answers that fit every possible circumstance, but the Spirit of the Lord guides us. And He guides me to remind you that He can empower you to overcome through your abiding in Him. All the answers are within the 66 love letters He had His servants penned down for you and me.
Love to you my friend and sister.
-
-
Sis Amanda,
Thousands are going through similar situations as your, but only a handful have the courage to be so transparent. You blessed many of us by your willingness to be real.
We (I) am blessed by it and love you for it beloved in Christ.
Thank you for your encouraging words sis. Praise God, He is so, so good to us. :)
Welcome to
All About GOD
The Good News
Meet Face-to-Face & Collaborate
© 2024 Created by AllAboutGOD.com.
Powered by
