Hope in hard times

I know I just blogged a few hours ago, but I felt something pushing me to do another one on hard things and situations.

I've been there before. Too often I'd say. My young Christian walk was often filled with a feeling of hopelessness and an overwhelming sense of duty. "There's so much I have to do to be the Christian I want to be."

It could be different for you. Recently, my close friends had a dear relative die. You might be in a "valley" in your life; everything is just "blah," you don't find joy in anything, your life seems to be leading you instead of the opposite. Maybe school is making life terrible for you. Maybe a certain relationship is consuming your thoughts, and robbing you of joy. Maybe you're just in desperation, wanting to be "alive" again. Regardless of your "situation," people have experienced the same thing that you are. King David says to God, "Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help." (Psalm 22:11)

The following has helped me more than words can express, and I'd like to leave it that way. Interpret it for yourself.

In the Day of Trouble I Seek the Lord
Psalm 77

1 I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah

4 You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old,
the years long ago.
6 I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;
let me meditate in my heart.”
Then my spirit made a diligent search:
7 “Will the Lord spurn forever,
and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah

10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
15 You with your arm redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

16 When the waters saw you, O God,
when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
indeed, the deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
the skies gave forth thunder;
your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lighted up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea,
your path through the great waters;
yet your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.


So yeah, hear this: yes your situation is hard.. but God, the creator of life, the deliverer of our fathers.. he will help you through it.

Psalm 22:4-5
4 In you our fathers trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried and were rescued;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.


I know it may sound cliche, but I'm still going to say it. I pray that you will trust in the Lord. The perfect place to be is at the end of the rope, because it forces us to rely on God to work, and not us. I pray that whatever your "thing" is, that you give it to God and let Him work it out. I think you will realize that it's a lot more peaceful that way. My prayer is that you'll experience Psalm 23.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.