Tag: inspiration

A Hope that Lifts my Head

There is a hope that lifts my weary head,
A consolation strong against despair,
That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,
I find the Savior there!
Through present sufferings, furture fears,
He whispers courage in my ear.
For I am safe in everlasting arms,
And they will lead me home.

~ There is a Hope, by Stuart Townend and Mark Edwards

Hope. Sometimes this emotion of confident expectation can feel elusive in our lives. I know that when I am discouraged and feel like I am in a pit of despair, it’s difficult to think about hope. It’s hard to see anything beyond the darkness that I am experiencing.

My mood has been up and down recently – more so down than up. I’m on a new medication to augment the main medicine that I take for treatment-resistant depression. I thought it was helping, but now I am not so sure.

Besides feeling depressed and somewhat hopeless, I’ve been feeling so tired. Just weary. This isn’t new, unfortunately. I’ve been struggling with this for years. It’s like I live my life in a sort of fog, where I can’t quite get a deep breath or a sense of being fully awake and alert.

I need to remind myself that I have so many things to be grateful for! A God who loves me unconditionally, a caring husband, a healthy and happy son, a supportive family, a church where we can grow, to name a few of them. God has also provided a home for us, food to eat, clothing to wear, transportation, and so much more. And yet when I am feeling discouraged, it’s almost like I am blinded to these positive things. I have such a hard time focusing on them!

But as much as it seems like there is not a light at the end of the tunnel, this just isn’t true. There IS hope! An eternal hope that can never be taken away. The hope of my relationship with Jesus Christ, and of all the spiritual blessings that I possess in Him. Although I often feel alone during times like these, the truth is that my Savior is right here with me. Not only is He in this pit with me, but His Spirit lives inside of me! These powerful truths are enough to help me lift my weary head, gaze upon His face, and rest confidently in His everlasting arms.

Photo by James McGill on Unsplash

Trust in His Love

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love… ~ 1 John 4:16

Do you ever struggle with doubt? It can manifest itself in many different forms. It could be doubt about a decision that you’ve made, uncertainty about the direction of a relationship, or a lack of confidence in yourself as a person.

I struggle with doubt. For years I fought the temptation to doubt my salvation. Horrible obsessive thoughts and crippling anxiety made the situation worse. Satan twisted Scripture in my mind, and pushed me to focus on myself instead of Jesus – the author and perfector of my faith.

In His goodness, God delivered me from this stronghold. He helped me to rest in Him and His work on the cross for my salvation. He helped me to realize that He started a work in me and that He will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6). It can still be a struggle at times, but it does not dominate my life like it used to. Praise Him!

But uncertainty about my salvation was not the end of my struggle with doubt. More recently I’ve felt like my Abba Father has been far from me. I couldn’t hear Him speaking to me when I read the Bible or prayed. I knew He was there, I just couldn’t feel His presence. It was a difficult time.

One day during my devotions I came across a familiar Scripture verse, but in a different Bible translation: “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love” 1 John 4:16 NLT. I began to see this verse in a different light. God spoke to me through His Word.

I didn’t need to doubt His love for me! Yes, at that point in time, it felt like God was absent from my life. But in truth He wasn’t far from me. He was right there beside me! His sacrificial death for me on the cross proved His great love for me. I could know it with certainty (even if I didn’t feel it), and could TRUST in His love. God helped me to replace my worries with His truth and enabled me to rest in my Savior’s arms.

Do you ever doubt God’s love for you? Has He ever felt far away and seemingly absent from your life? Please know that He is not! God’s children never have to doubt His affection for them. Look to the cross. Look to His Word. Ask for the Lord’s help to let go of the doubts and fears and to rest in His love. You will be glad you did!

Claiming God’s Promises

“So the LORD gave to Israel all the land He had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.

And the LORD gave them rest on every side, just as He had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the LORD helped them conquer all their enemies.

Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything He had spoken came true.”

~ Joshua 21:43-45

The Israelites “took possession” of the land that the LORD had sworn to give their ancestors. The land already belonged to them, but they were required to move forward in faith to accept what God had given them.

Have I “taken possession” of all of the promises that God has given me through His Word? All of the opportunities to serve Him through the ways He’s gifted me? And all of the areas of stewardship (relationships, time, resources, etc.) that God has blessed me with?

Or am I holding back because I’m scared, doubtful, lazy, etc.?

Joshua and Caleb were the only two Israelite spies from their generation who were later permitted to go into the Promised Land. They believed God’s Word, obeyed Him, and took possession of His promise! Alternately, the other ten Israelite spies did not move forward in faith, and therefore were not permitted to enter the Promised Land.

I must believe God’s promises and take possession of them! Not one of His good promises has ever failed, and they never will. 🙌🏻🌻

©️ 2023 by Crystal Ann