James 1:5-8
5-8 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
Sometimes you are sad. And it may feel natural to fight that sadness or be upset with yourself for being sad. You don’t want to be sad so maybe you don’t let yourself be there. You distract and avoid. You ignore. Instead of doing that, acknowledge your sadness. Find out what you are sad about. Maybe you are grieving a loss or a change. Things didn’t turn out the way you wanted them to, so your sad. People are no longer in your life, so your sad. You are taking on too much and not taking care of you, so your sad. Understand your sadness and understand yourself more.
You are responsible for your reactions. You are responsible for taking care of you. If you are sad, over tired, or overwhelmed and can’t do any more, do something about it. Don’t blame others. Stop being a victim and make a change. It isn’t fair for you to neglect self-care and take care of your needs and everyone else suffers for it. You don’t communicate and expect others to magically know what you want and how you feel. You don’t communicate because you may not like the reaction that comes back. You don’t know how to deal with it. You take responsibility for people’s happiness. Yet fail to take responsibility for your own. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone just took responsibility for their own self, for their own mess and stopped having silent expectations of others? When you expect others to fulfill your needs, and don’t take responsibility for any yourself, you set yourself up for despair. Be ever aware of your thoughts. Those expectations creep in. Before you know it, you have transferred the responsibility for your happiness onto someone else. You have put faith in others instead of God. It is subtle. But there are always signs you are moving in that direction. You may start to notice your house is in disarray or you have stopped making meals. Maybe you stopped exercising. Be aware of how you are doing. Be aware of how you show love for yourself and how you hold back that love.
Keep your head up. Avoid falling into the pit of despair. The enemy has prepared this pit for you. He calls you to just take a moment and count your woes. He encourages you to rest in the pit. His goal is for you to take up residency there. The enemy welcomes you to give up. He wants you to stop fighting. If you have already fallen in the pit than get up. Brush yourself off and move on. If you are inching toward that pit, stop and move away. Make small moves if needed. Just move away from the pit of despair and toward the light of God.
When you get sad you believe God is no longer on your side. You believe you have been forgotten and He will leave you stuck exactly where you are at. It is hard to see any relief. You ask where is your hope? Your hope is in God. You cry who will love you? God will, and He does. Where is your peace? It is right beside you, every step of the way. Choose that peace. That peace is Him. Choose it over despair. When you are unsure of how to do that pray to the Father.
Believe even though it feels like you are stuck, you are not. You are moving. It is slow. It is deliberate. You must have an expectation that it will get better. You will not always be sad. God is wrapping His arms around you. He is soothing you. He is sending reassurance that all will be well.
Prayer
Father God,
I am grateful for all You provide. You keep me safe during the storm. You keep me in Your presence. Forgive me for inching towards despair. Sometimes it is easier to wallow than it is to get up and move. Forgive me for not having hope that the storm will pass. I get sad over the thought that I am stuck and neglect to see how far You have brought me. Thank you for the distance achieved. I know you will continue to guide me. I pray I continue to follow and never give up. I pray my natural instinct is to run from the pit of despair and not jump in. Help me to see my present moment with a new vision, a vision that keeps you in mind. You are always with me. May I feel Your peace.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
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