Encouragement

At this very moment, some of my family members, coworkers, and friends are struggling with painful issues and my heart hurts for them. I know that is is of no coincidence that God has taught me what he has this week both in church and in my daily devotions. In this blog, I want to share what I have learned in hopes that it will be encouragement for anyone who needs it. I am not perfect and will never pretend to be but I feel the way that God uses me to help people is to simply share my experiences....so here goes.

In Sunday school, our lesson was on forgiveness and I have needed it more than ever this week. I too struggle with people who I have felt betrayed by and it would be easy to just "not go near them" but I don't have that choice because we share a lot of the same "places" in our lives. I have to face them whether I want to or not and the only way to do that without crying everytime is to do my best to forgive just as Christ forgave me. It is not easy at all and I am still working on this with some people but I can't let myself give up and I refuse to become cold-hearted. It's just not who God wants me to be.

In my daily devotions, God has been talking to me about how he is always there and will never crush those who are already weak. This mornings devotion said this "God doesn't mistreat his children. When we hurt financially, emotionally, physically or spiritually, He cares. He sent His Son to prove just how much." The verse today was Isaiah 42:3 (The Message) "He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt." No matter how hurt you are right now, God is still there and He has been there throughout! I have to constantly remind myself that God knew before he even created me that I would go through the circumstances that I do right now. So how do I keep the faith? I have this verse embedded in my memory: 1 Peter 4:12-13 (The Message) "Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner."

I don't want to sound like I am preaching a sermon but that verse gives me chill bumps! It reminds me of everything that Jesus went through so that we can be with him in Heaven and that any difficulty you face today is just a glimpse of what He went through for us! Satan will use whatever he can to pull us away from God and I am afraid he is succeeding with some people very close to me but I will tell you now....God loves you and wants you to turn to him in ALL circumstances! Another verse that I "keep handy" is Romans 5:3-4 which says "Rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, HOPE." 

Once again, let me say that I am not perfect nor do I have all the answers but I do serve a loving God who does! I am human. I get frustrated and angered. I get overwhelmed and painfully hurt. But I take comfort in knowing that God knew I would go through this and he is using every situation I am in to bring me closer to him. To anyone who reads this, I am begging you....Please Do Not Give Up! God has not left you and wants to give you all of the comfort and help you need!! Please just open your heart and ask him!

I will close by saying this.....I Love You!!

With all my love,
Natalie