There are so many days lately where I have not felt inspired, enthusiastic, or energetic about anything. I'm sure everyone has felt that way at some point, right? That down-in-the-gutter feeling. " Can I just forget this problem or that problem? Maybe it will just...disappear if I ignore it. " Huh-uh. Unfortunately, that does not work or help in the long run. It may take some time to work through a situation in your head, but ultimately a decision still has to be made, words have to be spoken, deeds have to be done.
In my own personal life and in the lives of many around me there have been some immense struggles recently. Suffering is nothing new to us, but each situation has its own unique qualities that create a fresh feeling to the suffering. Still can't help but ask ' how? ' and ' why? ' and ' when will this be over? '. All the knowledge of a light being at the end of the tunnel only brings a small flame of comfort. Because struggle is struggle.
So what to do on the days when forever stretches in yawning midnight black and it feels SO unbearable? I'm learning that it's by remembering to not look at the forever part so much. There is no defined time limit to the trials of life. Today might be the best day of your life and tomorrow the worst---or the other way around. There is no way of knowing for certain what lies ahead. You might be hurting; I might be hurting. Today is today. Don't carry that hurt ahead in your mind. Take it one day at a time. Focus on pushing through ( or savouring! ) today. It's just like walking. One foot in front of the other. One day, then the next. God holds tomorrow. Only He knows what it will bring and nothing that happens in our lives happens without His say-so. :) Even the " bad ", hard things have a purpose. Eventually there will be retrospect and you will see things about a situation that you never could have seen in the heat of battle. Perhaps the why, perhaps the silver lining, the lesson learned, maybe nothing. It may have not even been for your benefit, but for the benefit of someone else. Hold tight, anchor down, find what calms you and wait for the storm of the day to pass. God sees the other side...and it could be outrageously beautiful. ;)
This is so true, whenever I'm feeling like this I always remember that God never gives us more than we can handles - and he's walking with us every step of the way.
ReplyDeleteThis verse has also helped me a lot on days like this:
Matthew 6:25-34
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.