Hope When Your Trust is Failing by Becky Harling
http://www.identitynetwork.net/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&view=post&articleid=Hope-When-Your-Trust-is-Failing-by-Becky-Harling-&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
By Becky Harling
I am convinced that trusting God is a lifelong journey. There are days when our faith is strong and steady and then life hits. We receive a cancer diagnosis, or a relationship crumbles, or financial difficulty hits. During those seasons we may start to wonder, "Does my faith really work?" You are not alone in your wondering. Asaph the Psalmist cried out, wondering if God had rejected him or if God was really listening to his prayers (Psalm 77:1-2,7). John the Baptist, when in prison, sent word to Jesus asking, "Are you the one, …or should we look for someone else?" (Luke 7:18-23).
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I am convinced that trusting God is a lifelong journey. There are days when our faith is strong and steady and then life hits. We receive a cancer diagnosis, or a relationship crumbles, or financial difficulty hits. During those seasons we may start to wonder, “Does my faith really work?”
You are not alone in your wondering.
Asaph the Psalmist cried out, wondering if God had rejected him or if God was really listening to his prayers (Psalm 77:1-2,7).
John the Baptist, when in prison, sent word to Jesus asking, “Are you the one, …or should we look for someone else?” (Luke 7:18-23).
Jerry Bridges, author of Trusting God, Even When Life Hurts, writes that “Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelm us.”1
In other words, there are action steps we can take when we feel our trust is wavering.
What are those steps? Here are just a few:
Remember. When I feel my faith shaking or my anxiety rising, I look back to remember how God has provided or met me in the past. The Psalmist Asaph does this in Psalm 77; he boldly declares, “I will remember the deeds of the LORD” (Psalm 77:11). A few weeks ago, I was having difficulty trusting God with a certain situation. But as I paused and made a mental list of the miracles I had seen God do in the past, my faith was strengthened. The same principle holds true for you. Take time to remember.
Lean In To Your Community. Everyone needs 3-5 close friends who will pray when a crisis hits. Who are the close friends you have with whom you can be vulnerable and honest? Dare to be authentic. Take the risk and call or text them for prayer.
Praise Him, Even Though You Don’t Feel Like It. This type of praise is not all “happy clappy”. It’s more of a grunt and groan. It’s where you declare by faith what God’s word says is true about God. Asaph writes, “Your ways, God, are holy” (Psalm 77:13). My guess is he didn’t feel that, he just declared it. Don’t wait to praise God until you feel like it. Instead, take action and praise by faith, and trust that your feelings will follow.
Friends, the truth is trusting God may always feel challenging. But I have found in my own life that taking these three steps strengthens my faith enormously. I believe they will help your faith as well.
Becky Harling
http://www.identitynetwork.net/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=The-Power-of-Your-Words-to-Impact-Relationships-by-Becky-Harling-&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Our words have the power to build up and encourage others. However, they also have the power to tear others down. This is why the writer of Proverbs wrote, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Proverbs 18:21b). But what does that mean? The truth is, you will either bear the fruit of encouraging others and enjoying great relationships with them, or you will suffer the consequences of the harsh words you speak. The lesson for those of us who want to enjoy close relationships is to speak life to those we love.
http://www.identitynetwork.net/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=3-Reasons-to-Feel-Confident-in-Every-Season-by-Becky-Harling-&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
In each of our lives, seasons change. We experience seasons of fruitfulness and barrenness, joy and sorrow, excitement and monotony. The writer of Ecclesiastes said it best: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Though we understand that seasons change, a new one can often stir up anxiety and uncertainty. As my father-in-law prepared to transition from earth to heaven, Steve and I sat in his living room reading Psalm 139 to him. It was his favorite psalm—and one of mine too.
http://www.identitynetwork.net/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=Finding-Peace-in-Turbulent-Times-by-Becky-Harling-&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
This past week, I discovered a fascinating place in the ocean's depths known as "the cushion of the sea." No matter the chaos above, this underwater sanctuary remains undisturbed. I find that so beautiful! Especially after two weeks of hurricanes, it's comforting to imagine that beneath those raging waters lies a realm of complete calm and tranquility. As I reflect on the cushion of the sea, it paints a vivid picture of how our souls can remain steady amid life's storms. God's peace serves as a soft cushion for our hearts in turbulent times.
