Reflections4Life™ April 19, 2020
“In Times
of Pain and Heartache”
“He gives strength to the weary, and to him
who lacks might He increases power.” Isaiah 40:29 (NASB)
Scripture Contemplation; Psalm 121; Isaiah
40; Jeremiah 17; Zechariah 4; Ephesians 4; 6; Philippians 4:13…
It
is so easy to let go and stop believing than it is to hold on and keep
believing, standing in faith, and trusting God to do just what He said. Oh, how
I am there this very day. At the crossroads of holding on and letting go. Yet,
my relationship with the Father just won’t allow me to let go. Even, in
this time of pain and heartache, I will continue to hold on, because I know God
has me. The wonderful
thing is… He has you, too!
I
decree that this week’s Reflections
will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart,
mind, and soul. The times before you may be difficult and painful, and at times heart-wrenching; I implore you to look to the hills, which comes your faith;
for your strength comes from the Lord.
This
is what I know: I am alive and breathing only by the grace and mercy of the
Lord. There is a war going on between my flesh, emotions, and spirit. There
is a battle between my intellect and my faith. There are times when I can’t say
who is winning because my heart just aches so much that my throat tightens from
squeezing back the tears that want to continually flow. Yet, I still reach
forward to God, even though I can admit that I am angry with God.
Yes.
I said it. I am angry with God. Surely, He could have stepped in! Surely, He
could have done something! Surely, He could have prevented certain things!
Surely, He could have heard my prayers and answered! Surely, He could have said
something instead of being silent! I could go on and on because my flesh will
always cry out this way, while my spirit says: All things are working out for
my good. I will not grow weary in well-doing. I will see the righteousness of
God in my life and in this land.
I
cannot be anything but transparent before you today, beloveds. When I say the
pain and heartache that I am experiencing at this moment is deep; it is. It is
so excruciating that it feels like someone has a vice-grip on my heart and is
squeezing it. The enemy is taunting, while my spirit is yelling: GOD CANNOT
LIE!!!
Have
you been here beloved? Are you here now beloved? I can only imagine what you
may be experiencing in these Pandemic times we are living. It is as though, COVID-19 has a personal vendetta against us; aimed to destroy everyone and
everything we love and hold dear. Are you in so much pain and heartache that
you do not know how or if you are going to make it? The last thing you want is
a bunch of scriptures quoted to you. The last thing you want to hear is that
God is working it out. All you know is that you want the pain to stop. You want
God to answer your prayers…NOW!
This
is the point where we need the scriptures more than ever. This is the point
when we must remember the promises of God. This is the time when we must be very
honest with ourselves, and the Lord. Trust me, God can handle it! Tell God you
are hurting. Tell the Father if you are angry with Him. Tell God about your
disappointments. And, after you have done all of that; after you have cried and
felt sorry for yourself; open your mouth and begin to give God the praise. Open
your mouth and begin to declare the scriptures, the promises of God, to your
situation and your circumstances.
Declare and decree them over your family for generations to come!
Yes!
It is difficult. It is hard to do these things when the pain is so raw and
present. When you feel like you’re in a hopeless situation and you are
bombarded with bad news all the time, every day. Yet, this is what we must do
to hold on. This is what we must do by faith. We cannot trust our feelings, Beloved.
We cannot go by what things appear to be. We cannot allow the present
sufferings keep us from walking in faith and calling upon the Lord. Why?
Because the moment we give in to the pain and heartache is the moment, the
enemy wins this battle.
We
must determine in our hearts to go forward and to hang on no matter what we are
going through. It is easy to let go and to go back to the world’s way. You just
let go. It is much harder to hold on because the flesh continually wants to
wallow in the pain instead of remembering the promise. My goodness, it hurts so
badly! Some days I just cry and cry, and my heart aches so badly. I just want
it to be over. I just want God to do what He said and bring His promises to
pass right now!
I
confessed my anger to the Lord. I let out all that is in my heart. I bring it to
the throne and lay it at the altar. Then, though my flesh does not want to, I
remember His promises and I give Him the praise. I speak the scriptures. I make
God my strength. Yes. It still hurts, but I know that if I give up; if I let go
now; things will only get worse, at a steep cost and the devil wins. And I
refuse to give the victory to the enemy when he has already been defeated.
There
must come a time when we ask ourselves if we are going to believe God or not.
If we are going to trust Him where we cannot trace Him. If we are going to walk
by faith and not by sight. And, if we truly believe that God will deliver the
righteous out every affliction! I am holding on—determined that this pain and
heartache will not last.
We will win…in fact—WE HAVE ALREADY WON! GOD IS ON OUR SIDE!
My
Beloved, I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found
permanent rest in your lives. What we are experiencing right now is painful.
You may not be able to see the road before you, but I encourage you to continue
to trust God to bring you through. Let your faith lead you where your flesh is
reluctant to go. We walk by faith, not by sight. Let the power of God fill you
and strengthen you. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!
