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9 Things to Do When You Feel Hopeless–Psalm 143

May 15, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Choices, Depression, Failure, Fear, Health, Prayer, Tough Times, Trials, Trust with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 131, 133; Psalms 138-141, 143

Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die. –Psalms 143:7

Have you ever been in this place?

King David, “The man after God’s own heart,” who wrote these words knew about depression.  He probably didn’t call it depression. Depression is a term that has become a household word only in the last 40-50 years, but he certainly mentioned one of the common characteristics of depression–hopelessness:

What do you do when you’ve lost all hope?

God allowed David to go through times of depression and hopelessness. He also  had David journal these times in the Psalms so that you and I can make it through our times of hopelessness.

If you are severely depressed by all means seek medical help, but for many of us following David’s example could be the missing piece in our pursuit of hope.

Here’s what David did:

1. Go to God–Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea (Psalm 143:1).

2. Tell Him exactly how you feel-My enemy has chased me.  He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to lie in darkness like those in the grave.  I’m losing all hope; I’m paralyzed with fear (Psalms 143:3-4).

3. Remember–I remember the days of old, I ponder all Your great works and think about what You have done (Psalms 143:5).

4. Spend time worshiping God–I lift my hands to You in prayer.  I thirst for You as parched land thirsts for rain (Psalms 143:9).

5. Update God on your Progress–Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depressions deepens.  Don’t turn away from me, or I will die (Psalms 143:7).

6. Trust God for the outcome–Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You (Psalms 143:8).

7. Ask for direction–Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you (Psalms 143:8b).  May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing (Psalm 143:10b).

8. Be teachable–Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God (Psalm 143:10).

9. Have the right motive–For the glory of Your name, O Lord, preserve my life.  Because of Your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress (Psalms 143:11).

Heavenly Father, I pray for my friends who feel hopeless tonight. Pursue them. Come close.  Lord, help them to know that Your Word is their lifeline. Holy Spirit, speak to them. Give them hope.  Heal their sadness.  Replace it with Your joy.  Lord, do it for the Glory of Your Name.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!



©2013, Dianne Guthmuller
 
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 144-145; Psalm 88-89

What If–Psalm 124

May 14, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Choices, Depression, Fear, Psalms, The Hurting World, Tough Times, Trust with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Psalm 103; Psalms 108 through 110; Psalms 122, 124

Do you ever play the “what-if” game?

What if I would have…

  • been born at a different time
  • lived in a different country
  • had a different set of parents
  • married a different person
  • been smarter, thinner, darker, lighter, etc…

King David played the what-if game too:

1 What if the Lord had not been on our side?
Let all Israel repeat:
2 What if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us?
3 They would have swallowed us alive
in their burning anger.
4 The waters would have engulfed us;
a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
5 Yes, the raging waters of their fury
would have overwhelmed our very lives.

6 Praise the Lord,
who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
7 We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap.
The trap is broken, and we are free!
8 Our help is from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

          Psalm 124

I can just see King David looking out over Jerusalem at sunset, rubbing his chin and saying these words and then pausing for a long time to think about what it would be like and then saying the words again.

What if the Lord had not been on your side?

Where would you be?

I’m serious when I say this, if the Lord had not been on my side I believe I would be in a psych hospital or dead.  I’m not trying to be a drama queen, but I cannot put into words the peace that Jesus Christ has brought into my life…peace in the midst of life’s storms.

I often wonder how people who don’t believe in Jesus cope with the day-to-day challenges of life.  Who do they turn to in the middle of the night when they’re scared to death?  Where do they go when life just doesn’t make sense?

These are tough times that we live in.  It’s really easy to ask questions like:

What if…

  • I lose my job
  • I lose my house
  • I get cancer
  • I lose my religious freedom

The list could go on and on—

As Christians we will always have a choice…

We can live in constant fear

Or we can say with David…

Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

Amen and Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller
 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 131, 133; Psalms 138 through 141; Psalm 143

 

Have You Ever Felt Abandoned by God? –Psalm 22:1

May 8, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Depression, Divorce, Holiness, Parenting, Psalms, Rejection, Tough Times, Trials, Trust with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 22-26

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.  At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”  –Matthew 27:45-46

I’ve read and heard these words countless times over the years but today I saw them in Psalms 22 and I was surprised:

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?  
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them.
They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you and were never disgraced.    –Psalms 22:2-5
 

Yes, David penned those words many years before Jesus shouted them on the cross.

Jesus AND David felt abandoned by God.

Have you ever felt abandoned by God?

Have you ever felt like God did not answer?

David used a word that we need to remember when we feel abandoned:

Yet

My paraphrase of Psalm 22:1-5

Lord, I feel like you’ve abandoned me.  I call you, but You do not answer.  I know You hear me, but you are sending me no relief.

Yet, 

You are still holy.  

You still deserved my praise.  

Our ancestors trusted You when they felt abandoned.  

They cried out to You and You saved them.  

They were never disgraced by trusting You.  

So I’m going to do the same.

Do you feel abandoned today?

Tell the Lord exactly how you feel and when you’ve said all you need to say, add this line:

Yet, You are Holy Lord.  I don’t understand but I praise You and I trust You.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 27-32

What Did Serving God Cost You Today? –2 Samuel 24:24

May 2, 2013 in 1 Chronicles, 2 Samuel, 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Biblical Principles, God Speaks today, leadership, Obedience with 1 Comment


Today’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 24:1-9; 1 Chronicles 21:1-6; 2 Samuel 24:10-17; 1 Chronicles 21:7-17; 2 Samuel 24:18-25; 1 Chronicles 21:18-22:19

So David went up to do what the Lord had commanded him. When Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he came and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.  “Why have you come, my lord the king?” Araunah asked.

David replied, “I have come to buy your threshing floor and to build an altar to the Lord there, so that he will stop the plague.”

“Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar. I will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the Lord your God accept your sacrifice.”

But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen.  –2 Samuel 24:19-24

David had just made a mistake that cost 70,000 lives.  He was in deep distress as he asked the angel of the Lord to allow His anger to fall on him and his family.  So when the time came to offer a sacrifice and prayer to ask God to stop the plague there was no way David was going to let anyone else “pay” for this offering.

How does this fit in today’s world?

Should our worship and service to our God cost us something?

In the last 25 years I’ve made many trips through the Bible, I feel safe in saying, it costs to truly serve God.  Here are three examples of the many that come to mind:

God required Abraham to leave his homeland and family. (Genesis 12:1)

God allowed Satan to test Job.  He lost everything, except his wife. (Job 1)

God gave his only Son Jesus to die for the sins of man. (John 3:16)

What has serving God cost you lately?

What offerings are you giving?

What sacrifices are you making?

    • Your time
    • Your talent
    • Your treasure

Are you enjoying someone else’s offerings and sacrifices rather than actively worshiping yourself?

Heavenly Father, we just want to please You.  If there are prices to be paid, show us.  If there are costs to be incurred make us willing. Help us to know when You want sacrifice and when you want obedience.

But Samuel replied,“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifice or your obedience to his voice?

Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.  –1 Samuel 15:22-23

Lord, teach us.  We give ourselves to You.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 23:1-25:31

Lord, Have Mercy on Our Wayward Children–2 Samuel 18:5

April 29, 2013 in 2 Samuel, 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Depression, Divorce, Failure, Family, Forgiveness, Parenting, Prayer with 2 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  2 Samuel 17: 15-29; Psalm 3; Psalm 63, 2 Samuel 18: 1 through 19:30

My heart breaks for King David.

His son

not his friend

not a co-worker

but

his son—flesh of his flesh and blood of his blood betrayed him and was trying to kill him.

I had my share of trials when my kids were teenagers. At some point I probably “thought” I was going to die but my life was a walk in the park compared to David and it’s was a walk in the park compared to what some of you are dealing with today.

David was running for his life from his own son; hiding like an animal pursued by a hunter.

I know that most of us aren’t hiding in caves to keep from being killed by one of our children.  But I do know there are parents out there who didn’t get a good night’s sleep last night because of one of their children.

And yes, for all you young parents, that instinct to protect your children from life’s hard knocks is still there when your kids are adults.

And yes, when someone just “seems” to be treating your adult child poorly, you come unglued and want “to hurt somebody!”

When King David heard the news of Absalom’s death he took his King hat off and began to grieve like a parent.

The King was overcome with emotion.  He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears.  And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom!  My son, my son Absalom!  If only I had died instead of you!  O Absalom, my son, my son.   –2 Samuel 18: 33

I have many friends who are walking with God on a road they never wanted to travel with one of their children.  Like David, this was NOT the way you planned it.  Whether it’s teenage rebellion, a gay or lesbian lifestyle, an addiction, divorce, criminal conviction, financial irresponsibility, teenage pregnancy, or a host of other issues.

I’m sure you can relate to David when he said to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom.  –2 Samuel 18:5

As parents, we have pleaded and begged for mercy for our wayward children, just like David.  Sometimes it’s hard to keep going; to even keep praying.  What do we do when it seems no mercy is coming?

We keep asking!

Father, I pray for my friends who are going through a heart-breaking time with their “Absalom” child.  Holy Spirit comfort them as only you can comfort.  I join them is asking for mercy on their child’s behalf.  I pray that today is a day of miracles for those wayward children. Bring them home like the prodigal son.  Help those children to “come to themselves” and run to You, Jesus!   Give these parents strength for today and hope for tomorrow!  Heavenly Father, we trust you with our children!

In Jesus Name.  Amen and Amen!  Let it be so Lord!

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  2 Samuel 19:31 through 20:26; Psalm 7; 2 Samuel 21: 1-22;1 Chronicles 20: 4-8

4-Steps to Better Crisis Management–1Samuel 30:6-9

April 19, 2013 in 1 Chronicles, 1 Samuel, 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Choices, leadership, Rejection, Workplace with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading:  1 Samuel 30: 1-31, 1 Chronicles 12: 20-22, 1 Samuel 31: 1-13, 1 Chronicles 10: 1-14, 1 Chronicles 9: 40-44, 2 Samuel 4: 4, 2 Samuel 1: 1-27

Have you ever had something happen in your life that caused you to “weep until you could weep no more?”

When David and his men arrived home and found their city crushed and burned to the ground and their wives and children carried off, “they wept until they could weep not more.”

In one sense David was just like them, he had lost everything he loved, but in another he was the leader and everyone looked to him to fix it.  So when David thinks it can’t get any worse—it does.  He hears his men talking of stoning him.  He’s hurting as bad as they are, but somehow it’s his fault.

Folks we’re reading real life here.

This happens…

in the workplace

with friends

in families

I hate to say this…it happens in the church.

We get hurt and we play the blame game.

Yes, part of the responsibility and burden of being a leader is  taking charge in a crisis, but wouldn’t it have been great if David’s men would have brought him into the group and grieved with him rather than putting a target on his back as the cause of the problem.

Once again, David leads by example and gives us a model to follow on those days when we’ve “wept until we can’t weep anymore.”

How was David able to deal with his own grief, compose himself and develop a plan to get their families back?

He found strength in the Lord his God.

Oh, that we could follow the plan David laid out for us in today’s scriptures:

  1. David found strength in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6b)
  2. David asked the Lord for guidance (1 Samuel 30:7)
  3. David waited to hear from God
  4. David led his men as they carried out the plan that the Lord had blessed (1 Samuel 30:9)

The order is really important! Complete one step before moving to the next one.

I don’t know about you, but when there is a crisis that needs some kind of action I usually get the news, jump in the car and pray on the way to ask God to bless what I’ve already decided to do!

What I should do is  S-T-O-P and follow David’s example.

Prayer is the most important thing we can do, but waiting for His answer is just as important.

Father God, I need your strength and your direction! Help me to follow David’s plan when the next crisis arrives.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen and Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  2 Samuel 2: 1 through 2 Samuel 3: 5, 1 Chronicles 3: 1-4a, 2 Samuel 23: 8-17, 1 Chronicles 11: 10-19, 2 Samuel 23: 18-39, 1 Chronicles 11: 20-47

Don’t Settle –Ruth 1:1-4:12

April 7, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Biblical Principles, Choices, Christian Singles, Divorce, Giving Our Best to God, Goals, Issues Women Face, Ruth, Success, The Hurting World, The Promises of God, Tough Times, Trials, Trust with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Ruth 1:1 through Ruth 4:12

In yesterday’s reading we saw what can happen when we do what’s “right” in our own eyes and in today’s scripture we see what happens when we do what’s “right” in God’s eyes.

I love the story of Ruth.

It’s a beautiful love story…

It’s  a beautiful picture of God’s provision for us

It’s a wonderful example of the blessings in doing the right thing.

Ruth’s pledge to Naomi is one of the most famous found in any literature, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back.  Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live.  Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.  Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.  May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” –Ruth 1:16-17

Ruth is a shining example of what to do when trouble comes in our lives.

We have three choices when we’re faced with a time of crisis, we can either: endure it, escape it, or enlist it. If we only endure our trials, then trials become our master, and we have a tendency to become hard and bitter. If we try to escape our trials, then we will probably miss the purposes God wants to achieve in our lives. But if we learn to enlist our trials, they will become our servants instead of our masters and work for us; and God will work all things together for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28).   Wiersbe, Warren W.: Be Committed. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1993 (An Old Testament Study. Ruth and Esther), S. Ru 1:1

One of the things I find interesting is Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi was the first thing that Boaz “noticed” about her (2:11-12).  Here’s a huge message for Christian singles—do what’s right in God’s eyes and your testimony will be the very thing that attracts a godly mate.  Unfortunately, most singles do the opposite of Ruth… they put their relationship with God on the shelf and go out looking for another person to fill that place that only God can fill. When they find what they think is a suitable fit, they go and try to pick up with God where they left off and wonder why their marriage doesn’t work.  I’m sure Ruth wanted a man in her life and I’m sure she could have found “someone” but God had a plan; her kinsman redeemer.  Thank God she didn’t settle!

Our heavenly Father had a plan for a kinsman redeemer for us too!  Jesus Christ…he paid a high price for us.  Let’s not settle!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller


Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Ruth 4:13 through Ruth 4:22, 1 Chronicles 2:9 through 1 Chronicles 2:55, 1 Chronicles 4:1 through 1 Chronicles 4:23, 1 Samuel 1:1 through 1 Samuel 1:8

God Has Secrets–Deuteronomy 29:29

March 20, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Deuteronomy, Trust, Word of God with 0 Comments


Today’s Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 29:2-31:29

“I’ve got a secret!”  Little kids love to tease each other with those words.  Adults like secrets too, as long as they’re the ones in the know.

God likes secrets too.

The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions. –Deuteronomy 29:29

God has secrets?

Of course He does!  There’s so much we don’t know.

Moses gave us some good news and bad news.

The good news: We’re not accountable for the secrets God keeps from us.

The bad news: We are accountable for all that he has revealed to us through His Word.

How much time do you spend worrying about things you either don’t know about (the future) or things you just don’t understand (why bad things happen to good people)?

How much time do you spend pondering over God’s Word and it’s meaning for your life in this particular moment in time?

Heavenly Father, I trust You.  I trust that the things that you’ve chosen to keep from me are for my good and Your Glory.  Help me to be accountable for the things You’ve revealed to me.  Draw me to Your Word.

Make me like you Jesus!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 31:30-32:52; Psalm 90

A Real Fairy Tale Ending– Job 42:12

January 31, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Faith, Job, The Hurting World, The Promises of God, Tough Times with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 40:6-42:17

Then they lived happily ever after!

Now that’s my kind of story line!

I don’t think we’ll ever find the book of Job in the fairy tale section of the bookstore, but if you really stop and think about it, the book of Job has a fairy tale ending:

…the Lord restored his (Job’s) fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring.

So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.

Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren.  Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life. –Job 42:10-17

Job’s life sure doesn’t read like a fairy tale: Forty-one chapters of disaster, despair, and disillusionment and one chapter of repentance, restoration, and rejoicing.  Shouldn’t that be just the opposite?  Lots of rejoicing and just a little disaster…

Can’t we just have the ‘Once upon a time’ and then go straight to the happily ever-after ending?

Can’t we skip the hard stuff?

Can’t we just live in the land of rejoicing?

I did a word search on the word rejoicing and was surprised to find that most of the time when the Lord talked about rejoicing, He was commanding us to rejoice; it wasn’t an option.  My favorite one is in Paul’s writings.   By the way, he was writing from prison.

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! –Philippians 4:4

Paul wasn’t rejoicing in his conditions, which I’m sure were terrible.  He was rejoicing in knowing and being comforted by the God of the Universe.

In my “Job” times I have felt as if God had forgotten about me, only to realize when the trial was over that God was closer than He had ever been before and I knew more about Him than ever before. Now that’s something to rejoice about and that’s a real fairy tale ending!

What are you facing today?

Rejoice!  You are not alone!  God is with You and He will never leave you or fail you (Hebrews 13:5).

Heavenly Father, thank You for including Job’s story in Your Word.  Thank You for the assurance that You are with us.  Help us to really believe that in our darkest hours You are carrying us!  Jesus, help us to realize the ultimate fairy tale ending won’t happen until we meet you face-to-face!  We rejoice that our names are written in Your book of heaven (Luke 10:20).

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 1:1-2:25; 1 Chronicles 6:1-3a; Exodus 3:1-4:17

Is God Your Imaginary Friend or The Almighty Ruler of the Universe? Job 40:1-2

January 30, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Absolute Truth, Believing God in the Hard Times, Family, Job, Pride, Trials, Trust with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 38:1-40:5

For about ten days we’ve been in the midst of Job’s tests and trials. I don’t think many people have gone through as much pain as Job did and lived to tell about it.  Job is one of those stories that you definitely don’t want to read when everything in your life is going great, after all his troubles could be contagious.  You certainly don’t want to read the book of Job if you believe Christians don’t suffer.

But, if you are a child of God and your life is falling apart all around you and it just doesn’t make sense, Job is the book to read.

Why?

It lets us know–

  • Bad things happen to good people (Job 1:1-2)
  • Trials and tests don’t necessarily mean we’ve sinned or been punished (Job 1:8-12)
  • Evil comes from Satan and our sinful nature (Job 1:6-7)
  • Everything that happens to us is filtered through the fingers of a loving God (Job 1:8-12)
  • Christians are tested (Job 1:12)
  • God is still in charge and defines the boundaries (Job 1:12)
  • God’s ways aren’t our ways (Job 1:12)
  • We are very small and God is very big (Job 38)

Today, Job found out just how small he was:

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Job 38: 1-3

God asked Job 53 questions of which Job had no answers.  His last statement to Job summed up the one-way conversation:

Then the Lord said to Job, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” –Job 40:1-2

Sometimes I think today’s Christian culture has made God more like an imaginary friend than the one, true, living God; the Creator of the universe and Savior of the world.

I think when we come face to face with God our words will probably sound something like Job’s:

Then Job replied to the Lord,

“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”  –Job 40:3-5

Heavenly Father, forgive us for thinking You are our servant.  Forgive us for questioning Your plan.

Teach us the balance

Petitioning You to–

  • Meet our needs
  • Rescue us from our trials
  • Heal our bodies
  • Protect those we love
  • Prosper us financially

While

Trusting Your Sovereignty.

Help us to remember Your ways aren’t our ways.  Help us to have faith to believe You will answer our prayer AND then trust You enough to say,  ”Your will be done, O Lord.”

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Job 40:6-42:17

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