I will arise and cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out my heart like water in the presence of the Lord. I lift up my hands to him for the lives of my family. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left. God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It’s good to stick it out through the hard times when you're young. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. [Lamentations 2:19; Lamentation 3:24,26; Lamentations 3:19-30 (Message)]
Holy Spirit Peter and John wrote for us to learn and follow these important points to live by: Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part, He is blasphemed, but on your part, He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, and evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. Let us not love in word or tongue, but indeed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before Him. So, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And so, we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. [1 Peter4:12-16; 1Peter 5:6; 1Peter5:7; 1 John 3:7-10; 1 John 3:18&19; 1 John 3:21-22; 1 John 4:16-18]
Help me to take this from your word and stand strong, especially on days like today, where I feel I am adrift and drained. Help me to encourage my heart and to be encouraged by my family and the church. This is the only way I can stand back up, walk the path that God has chosen for me and to truly abide in God with each breathe I take. Help me to remember, be encouraged and continue to keep going. In Jesus’ name, Amen.