National Suicide Hot Line 800-273-8255
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Understanding the issues concerning suicide and mental health is an important way to take part in suicide prevention, help others in crisis, and change the conversation around suicide.
I have seen so many people who go through life with a jaded spirit. I know how difficult the storms of life can be, where you are facing one calamity after another, only to find that the hope and optimism you once had is gone. So often hopelessness becomes collateral damage after you get out of the storm. It’s one thing to make it to the other side of a difficult problem, but often when we search the inner corridors of our soul we see that the storm has changed us forever.
I have seen so many people who have lost all sense of joy and happiness in their life. They are physically alive, but emotionally dead. No one talks about the emotional weight that storms put upon us. I know that you have to act like everything is going right, I know you have to pretend that you can hold it all together. But Today, I want you to take some of the weight off and become vulnerable. It is not easy dealing with storms. I know you had so much hope and joy and laughter in your life, and God is declaring today, it’s time to get your Joy Back!
God doesn’t want you to just come through the storm alive, God wants you to flourish. God wants you to have joy. God wants to see you smile. I have learned that in storms, I have to fight for my joy. I refuse to give up my hope. Tomorrow will be better than today. Your latter shall be greater than your former. Your best days lie ahead. God wants you to thrive!
Source: Rev. Nicholas Richards
Relationships can take any form. From romantic relationships, marriages to friends or close families that have just drifted apart over time or due to specific problems. The Lord helps us cure all wounds if we follow the lead of Jesus. One of the things I have found that ruins all kinds of relationships is STUBBORNESS. Especially when you are the one who has been wronged. It is so easy and normal to hold on to our grudges, to feel right and vindicated in our refusal to forgive, but this feeling is not Godly.
I know how difficult it is to forgive. I know how much time can be wasted holding on to pain that someone did to us in the past, but if this past year–of coronavirus has taught me anything, it is that, I don’t want to waste any more time. Unforgiveness sucks the life and the joy out of you. While you may feel like you are justified in holding unto your pain, you are only hurting yourself. Think about all the times you fall short of what you KNOW, God is telling you to do, and yet, God keeps on forgiving you.
The disciples ask Jesus, “master how many times shall we forgive, is it 7 times?” to which Jesus responds, “not 7 but 70 x 7” (Matthew 18:21). There is no limit to forgiveness. Relationships are not just about husbands and wives, someone is praying for their children right now; perhaps the relationship that needs healing is the one with your sibling. I know people who haven’t spoken to their brother and sisters in over 15 years! God is calling you to heal and reconcile.
I have fallen into the spirit of stubbornness, I’ve been running around ranting about all I did for a family member, and how dare he not be grateful – his gratefulness should not be measured by me and in inability to show gratefulness should not be judge by me. I surrender today!
A bell is not a bell
till you ring it,
A song is not a song
till you sing it,
Love in your heart
is not put there to stay,
Love is not love
till you give it away.
Jesus is the Storm Bender. This story brings to mind something I read: The question is never, “Are you in a storm?” The question is, “Is Jesus in your boat?”
Jesus is the water-transforming, dead-raising, sick-healing, hope-giving, food-providing, resurrecting mankind, saving Son of God.
Hey folks as we celebrate this glorious day, I must admit as I reflect on the year 2020 I’m feeling some pain… but I know where my strengths come from and one of those outlets is music… Allow me to share how to get comfort when you’re in the rain of life’s trials and tribulations…
When the lights are down
And the stage is bare
And no more magic’s in the air
There’s not a friend in sight to care
Your tears no one will share
I’ll be your comfort through your pain
I’ll be your shelter in the rain
When your sad is bad and your bad is worst
And there’s no who to turn to first
When you’ve done everything you can
No one’s there to take your hand
I’ll be you comfort through your pain
I’ll be your shelter in the rain
When you’ve looked around
And haven’t seen me anywhere
Though when you were down
I lifted you up from there
There isn’t a thing you can ask of me
I won’t do
Just you put your trust in me
My love will see you through
When the final candle’s flickered out
“Why me” is all you can think about
When all your joy has disappeared
Your future isn’t clear
I’ll be you comfort through your pain
I’ll be your shelter in the rain
When all the odds say there’s no chance
Amidst the final dance
I’ll be you comfort through your pain
I’ll be your shelter in the rain
I’ll be you comfort through your pain
Yes, I’ll be your shelter in the rain, rain
I’ll be your shelter,
Be your shelter, be your shelter in the rain
That’s unshakable, and when all our earthly foundations are crumbling, we have to hold on tight to the certainty that God is still sovereign, He is still in control, and He is trustworthy. Hebrews 12 gives us further good advice, as we see everything around us shaking and uncertain.
In Psalm 11:3 David asked the question: When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do? Do you feel as though your foundations are being destroyed? Perhaps relationships you had counted on have fallen apart. Maybe your family foundations are beginning to shake. What can we do when our foundations are shaking?
The earthquakes which happen all around the world remind us that the earth beneath our feet is not reliable, our economy is like a roller-coaster, ethics and morality which were basic to our national heritage are quickly disappearing, and personal relationships seem to be under heavy attack.
It should not surprise us to discover that all created things are shakable. That piece of land you own, the house in which you live, the job you go to each day, your money in the bank, your investments in the stock market, that relationship which means so much to you–all of those created things are shakable.
Hebrews 12:28 – 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
