Skip to main content

There Is a Lot of Pain Out There

Pain. 

Can't live with it, can't live without it.

We have heard from a lot of people in pain since we've launched Keep the Heart, and while we wish that we could help, it is virtually impossible for our tiny staff to respond to every note or phone message that we receive. What can you do when the pain is so great that it feels like you're being crushed under the weight of it?

1. Pray for specific direction. "Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee." (Psa. 143:8) There is no human who can match the guidance of the Lord. The Lord knows what you need, but still expects you to pray. When the blind man was following Jesus and crying, "Have mercy on me," Jesus asked him, "What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?" It was then that the blind man responded, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." (Luke 18:38-43) Don't just cry out. Cry specifically.

2. Seek local, godly counsel. "Counsel in the heart of
man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out." (Prov. 20:5) There is something about being able to read a person's face while listening to their story, and there is an ability to "draw out" key issues when counseling in person.

3. Walk in the law of the Lord. "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord." (Psa. 119:1) Bible commentator Matthew Henry made this observation: "All men would be happy, but few take the right way..." The word "undefiled" refers to one who is wholesome, innocent, and having integrity. We all need to examine our lives regularly for any signs of having drifted off course. The "blessed" are the obedient.

4. Remember that help comes from the Lord. "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth." (Psa. 121:1-2) It is tempting to imagine that if we could just talk to the right person, they could solve our problems. God uses man as a "delivery person" of sorts, but the help is coming from the Lord; not man. The Lord is able to deliver us from any situation, with or without the aid of any man.

If you have ever left us a voicemail message or if you have written to us requesting counsel, please pardon the lack of response. This website was designed to provide written challenges and encouragement for women from a biblical perspective, but it was never intended to be a worldwide counseling service. We trust that you'll understand.

Pray. Seek godly counsel in your area. And remember: God is able to deliver  you.

"And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."
(Psalm 50:15)

Comments

  1. I just posted on my blog about an amazing book that helped me through a most difficult time. We don't always understand what God is doing and our emotions can sure get the best of us. We look to every one trying to figure it all out. Some things you just can't help people with. It takes coming to the end of our rope and trusting him.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Parents Are Not Responsible for That

Parenthood is not a role for wimps or whiners. There are the exciting times such as music recitals, sports tournaments, and graduations. But if your tribe is like ours, you've probably also had the maddening moments, like the time one of our children discovered how to unfasten the tapes on his diaper and used the contents as "chalk" on the bedroom  wall (yes, it was "his," so that narrows the field of suspects). Children are young for a few blinks, and then we spin around and we're hearing "Pomp and Circumstance," that familiar graduation march as our "babies" walk down the aisle in cap and gown. If they choose to go on to college, four snaps later, we're sitting in the auditorium at their college graduation, scanning a long list of names in the commencement bulletin while waiting to watch them walk across the platform to receive yet another diploma. It's warp-speed fast (except that diaper stage). Parents don't min

What Just Happened?

I find myself praying in questions lately. "Lord, what just happened here?" (This time last month, we were walking a sandy beach in Florida, calling it our "last anniversary vacation.") "Did you REALLY take my Norman ALREADY ?" (I spent way too much time on Google, and all the articles said that Norman had a chance of surviving at least a year.) " LORD , are you SURE I can endure all this excruciating pain?" (I'm certain that I cannot bear this, but obviously, if I'm typing, I'm still bearing this somehow. Only God.) The last anniversary vacation Now here's what I do not want after you've read this: platitudes. Absolutely no platitudes. (Platitude: Overused statement applied liberally and repeatedly in an attempt to comfort or instruct. Paraphrased definition.) Example: "Heaven is getting sweeter." I understand that this is a phrase from a song, and it is not offensive in any way. It j

Wait-Hate

Sitting at what I was sure was the world's longest left-turn signal, I suddenly realized that I was being impatient for no good reason. After all, I was only waiting to turn left and then right...into the gas station. Not exactly like being late for an important date! Wait hate. Many of us struggle with it, and the impatience is making life unnecessarily miserable. Why do we hate to wait? I have some theories and good guesses, but it is possible that one of the biggest reasons why we can't even tolerate driving in a lane with a slow car in front of us is because we've been trained by our culture to expect everything instantly. Have you ever been "that person," driving and yelling "Move over, Pokey Joe!" even though your windows were closed and that other driver couldn't hear you? Tap. Swipe. Send.  Wait-Hate is learned, and this impatience is very costly. Instead of praying and allowing God time to provide direction and confirm