I Believe: Don't be afraid to ask for help -- or forgiveness
Posted: Saturday, August 16, 2008
It's been a tough week. I haven't had one of those for a long, long time. Praise God. I'd almost forgotten what they're like. I'm a naturally cheerful person. I usually wake up each morning with the joy of the Lord in my heart and those wonderfully familiar words running through my mind: "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).
I'm a rejoice-er. I'm glad-filled. So this week really was a surprise. It started off well, but changed in an instant. One minute I'm laughing with a group of people and the next minute we're not laughing at all.
It's like riding the world's biggest roller coaster. At first it's fun. Everyone has their arms up in the air, waving, screaming and laughing at the same time as they fly downhill at incredible speeds. They lean into the upcoming corner. They're "banking" in the way the roller coaster will go. Has to go. But does not go.
The roller coaster comes to a complete, abrupt stop. That kind of stop always hurts. Sometimes, it's even deadly. At the very least, it immediately swallows the laughter and leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Everyone looks at each other, trying to understand what's happened. Trying to read an ancient language, the one I call "Face Language." People can tell exactly how I feel by looking at my face and I can usually tell exactly how others feel by looking at theirs.
We've all had bad weeks. I'm not talking about weeks where big trauma happens, but the normal, run-of-the-mill weeks that should flow smoothly, but are interrupted by crazy, sad, mad, unhappy stuff -- over and over again. (Fill in your own details here.)
Remember that week when around every corner there was an abrupt stop? Maybe it's an unkind word. Or a belittling expression. Maybe you overhear words of criticism or gossip. Maybe you feel contempt from others. Maybe old memories return. Ones you know God's forgiven, but they re-surface anyway, resurrecting that old friend, Guilt. Guilt is never well behaved, but always overbearing and rude.
You might even say, "But, Jesus has set me free. Why am I feeling so bad now?"
Maybe you begin to doubt your worth. Is there something wrong with me? Have I done something I don't remember? Does anyone like me? Maybe it gets to the point that you hit a wall around every abrupt corner and you're so stunned you can't even pray and ask for help.
God loves us so much that he gives us help, especially during those times. Call on the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. Say, "Holy Spirit, I don't even know what to pray. Please pray for me." And he will.
I wish I'd led the kind of life that shows that I am a true believer every moment of every day of every week of every month of every year. I actually know a few women whom I believe have led lives pretty close to that. And yet, in the midst of the toughness, God uses our mistakes for his good. He helps us to grow in our faith. In our love for him. For others, he helps us to become more compassionate.
I feel compassion for others; many times for people I don't know. My husband's used to finding me talking to someone he assumes is a good friend, but I've only just met. It's because God brings people. Maybe they need a smile, a word of encouragement, a prayer. But this week has been different. While unfortunate things were happening all around me, God sent his people to me. So it's been a tough week and also a humbling and joyful one.
Learn to ask for help. People who don't, become bitter, unhealthy. Researchers say that laughter is good medicine. I know that's true. But I also know that God is the best medicine of all.
Stand face to face with God. Boldly ask for forgiveness. For help. Be honest. Pray. Open the greatest "Face Book" of them all -- the Bible. You'll meet people just like you and me. You'll learn Godly lessons from their stories, their mistakes.
In this roller coaster life, may we all be able to say with the Psalmist: "Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice." Psalm 63:7 (NKJ)
Kathy Yoder is a devotional writer. She may be reached dkeyoder@longlines.com.
I'm a rejoice-er. I'm glad-filled. So this week really was a surprise. It started off well, but changed in an instant. One minute I'm laughing with a group of people and the next minute we're not laughing at all.
It's like riding the world's biggest roller coaster. At first it's fun. Everyone has their arms up in the air, waving, screaming and laughing at the same time as they fly downhill at incredible speeds. They lean into the upcoming corner. They're "banking" in the way the roller coaster will go. Has to go. But does not go.
The roller coaster comes to a complete, abrupt stop. That kind of stop always hurts. Sometimes, it's even deadly. At the very least, it immediately swallows the laughter and leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Everyone looks at each other, trying to understand what's happened. Trying to read an ancient language, the one I call "Face Language." People can tell exactly how I feel by looking at my face and I can usually tell exactly how others feel by looking at theirs.
We've all had bad weeks. I'm not talking about weeks where big trauma happens, but the normal, run-of-the-mill weeks that should flow smoothly, but are interrupted by crazy, sad, mad, unhappy stuff -- over and over again. (Fill in your own details here.)
Remember that week when around every corner there was an abrupt stop? Maybe it's an unkind word. Or a belittling expression. Maybe you overhear words of criticism or gossip. Maybe you feel contempt from others. Maybe old memories return. Ones you know God's forgiven, but they re-surface anyway, resurrecting that old friend, Guilt. Guilt is never well behaved, but always overbearing and rude.
You might even say, "But, Jesus has set me free. Why am I feeling so bad now?"
Maybe you begin to doubt your worth. Is there something wrong with me? Have I done something I don't remember? Does anyone like me? Maybe it gets to the point that you hit a wall around every abrupt corner and you're so stunned you can't even pray and ask for help.
God loves us so much that he gives us help, especially during those times. Call on the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. Say, "Holy Spirit, I don't even know what to pray. Please pray for me." And he will.
I wish I'd led the kind of life that shows that I am a true believer every moment of every day of every week of every month of every year. I actually know a few women whom I believe have led lives pretty close to that. And yet, in the midst of the toughness, God uses our mistakes for his good. He helps us to grow in our faith. In our love for him. For others, he helps us to become more compassionate.
I feel compassion for others; many times for people I don't know. My husband's used to finding me talking to someone he assumes is a good friend, but I've only just met. It's because God brings people. Maybe they need a smile, a word of encouragement, a prayer. But this week has been different. While unfortunate things were happening all around me, God sent his people to me. So it's been a tough week and also a humbling and joyful one.
Learn to ask for help. People who don't, become bitter, unhealthy. Researchers say that laughter is good medicine. I know that's true. But I also know that God is the best medicine of all.
Stand face to face with God. Boldly ask for forgiveness. For help. Be honest. Pray. Open the greatest "Face Book" of them all -- the Bible. You'll meet people just like you and me. You'll learn Godly lessons from their stories, their mistakes.
In this roller coaster life, may we all be able to say with the Psalmist: "Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice." Psalm 63:7 (NKJ)
Kathy Yoder is a devotional writer. She may be reached dkeyoder@longlines.com.
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