There is one ray of hope: His compassion never ends. It is only the Lord's mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His loving-kindness begins afresh each day. My soul claims the Lord as my inheritance; therefore I will hope in Him. The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for Him, to those who seek for Him. Lamentations 3:21-25
Have you lost your hope? Are you feeling hopeless? Some feel hopeless about specific areas such as their marriage, children, parents, school, significant other, health, finances, or job. But for others, this emotion permeates their entire lives. They exist but have no hopes, dreams, or goals. This is not the way God intends for us to live. He created us to live with purpose, working toward goals with a sense of anticipation for things to come.
This month is Suicide Prevention Month. There needs to be awareness, to bring it out in the open, to let others know that they don't have to be ashamed, to let others know that we all struggle at times, and even more so, that they are loved and valued and that there IS hope ... one day at a time ... so DON'T do it ... is part of what it's all about.
Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish. Proverbs 29:18
Hope is a word of optimism, and it defines what we are living for. Jesus can change our hopeless perspective into joy we can only imagine. There is no such thing as 'beyond repair' for God. He has a purpose for each of us, and there is a reason for the trials we face. Sometimes only God can see a way out, but there is ... and Jesus is the way-maker because He is the way.
Why are you discouraged and depressed, O my soul? And why are you disturbed and in turmoil within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 42:11
God
HAS NOT forgotten you. He
HAS NOT overlooked you. He
DOES see you. He
DOES hear you. He
DOES long for you to draw close to Him and to sit at His feet, just basking in His presence.
Our spiritual lives are full of highs and lows, valleys and mountaintops. But some people panic, or grow bitter and angry, when they face a disappointing situation. They ask,
Where is God? Why hasn’t He answered my prayer? Why is He silent while I’m hurting? Many become disillusioned and hopeless. And instead of seeing a valley, they see an endless tunnel with no light at the end.
If you are at a low point and feeling hopeless, be encouraged. The Good Shepherd, who is the Sovereign of this universe,
IS with you. You may not always sense His presence or see how He is working, but He
IS there. The Lord
DOES love you unconditionally and
IS ready and willing to help. All you need to do is turn to Him.
God does not send anyone into a valley, but He may allow us to enter one to teach dependence upon Him. One day, perhaps you’ll look back and think,
Thank you, God, for never leaving me, and for carrying me through the low place. You’ll never be able to thank Him enough.
TRUST GOD. Even in the low points in your life. Especially in the low points of your life.
YOUR HOPE LIES IN GOD.
Cast your cases on Him; lay your burdens at His feet. In His great compassion and love, He will sustain you.
If you haven’t discovered who God is and how He operates, then start now. Spend time reading the Bible each day, learning His promises and committing them to memory. Remember to trust Him with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understandings—or emotions.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Follow Jesus, and He will walk with you—and you will never be alone again.
LIVE and have
HOPE, for
JESUS is the
DOOR OF HOPE.
Father, no matter what problems those who are depressed/discouraged are dealing with, I pray that you help them to find reasons to keep living. Give them hope. Encourage them. Be the lifter of their head/countenance. As they reach out to You for help, minister to them. Love on them. Show them who they can go to that can be trusted with their heart to talk things through, such as a friend, teacher, family member, church member, counselor, a help line. Whatever they need Lord, give it to them I pray. In Jesus' name, amen.
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By calling or texting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline '988' you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area - anytime 24/7 or go to their website at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
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associated AFTA blogs:
Don't Self-Harm You're Worth More Do You Hate Yourself?
