When our ambitions and goals have been broken, how can we find peace?
Life quickly teaches us that our fantasies rarely come true. We can sometimes find ourselves in gloomy areas as a result of difficult , unpleasant and traumatic events.
Read Psalms 88 and Psalms 107.
Some of us have enemies that reside with us. Have you ever felt defeated? What causes us to grow discouraged? Discouragement can also be caused by a physical problem. We’re simply exhausted from working for too long and too hard without taking a break. Perhaps a physical ailment causes us to be depressed and discouraged. Another source of discouragement is our tendency to be overly idealistic.
People attempt to deal with spiritual despair in a variety of ineffective ways. Many people divert their attention to other activities in the hopes of finding fulfillment. Unfortunately, some people turn to drugs, alcohol, or adultery. All of this merely adds to their sense of despair. A few people grow so depressed that they commit suicide.
If you’re coping with or anticipating uncomfortable change, consider the following questions as you spend time with God:
Lord, what am I to do now?
Why does this bother me this much, Lord?
In this situation, what is my worst fear and what is my ego about? Lord, how do you want me to feel about your love and grace during this time?
Whenever we vent out our emotions to God,and summon the confidence to ask, “What do you want me to do now, Lord?” we can expect a response. He will communicate with us through someone else, our circumstances, his commands (rarely), or his Word, the Bible.
In these cases, we need to
- Set aside any sinful behaviors.
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1).
Obstacles can appear in our path as a result of our wicked or carnal choices. Believers are no longer bound by sin, yet we could choose to stay in sin because it gives us temporary pleasure. We need to stop sinning.
2) Put your faith in God to overcome obstacles
“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation” (Isaiah 12:2).
3. Deal with negativity and strongholds in our thinking
Because “being optimistic is a setup for disappointment, and being pessimistic is a dreadful way to live,” we are to be Realists. Being realistic allows me to view things for what they are.” —
To maintain a clear perspective, we must:
Keep our flaws in context.
“There is no one on earth who does what is right all of the time and never makes a mistake,” the Bible says. (Good News Translation of Ecclesiastes 7:20)
We need to work on your flaws, but don’t expect us to be flawless.
Avoid comparisons.
Galatians 5:26
Be a mediator.
Romans 12:18. You may not be able to completely control the acts of others, but you can control how you react to them. You have the option of being peaceful.
Develop a sense of thankfulness.
Colossians 3:15.
A grateful attitude will assist you in focusing on the positive aspects of your life. Recognize your challenges, but don’t lose sight of the positive aspects of your life.
Take a look at your friendships.
The Bible says: “Bad associations spoil useful habits.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) When you spend time with people who are critical, cynical, or bitter, you will pick up on their bad tendencies. Be realistic; friends will have challenges and may become pessimistic about their lives for a period of time. Support them, but don’t become consumed by their problems. “We shouldn’t spend all of our time with negative people.
Biblical Truth:
Psalm 32:8, “The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.'” (NLT)
REFLECT ON YOUR ACTIONS AND RESPOND:
Which aspect of your life lacks direction: your marriage, kids, profession, or health?
Have you ever felt as if God was a long way away?
When did you feel the most hopeless in your life? Did you keep praying during those times?
Consider moments when you’ve felt the need to moan. How did you deal with it? What would you have to modify in order to follow Scripture’s instructions?
Who is the antidote to our gloom?
Read 1 Corinthians 4:16-18 and consider the future promise. What should we look at and why should we look at it?
What options do people who are depressed, disappointed or suicidal have?
Why is it so tough to act on those possibilities when you’re depressed?
Why might it be especially difficult to act on those options while depressed? How difficult is it for you to exercise the option of trusting God in these times?
In a fictional conversation with a friend that is suffering, how would you reply to the following question:If trusting God won’t bring me out of my circumstance, what good would it do?
The majority of the Bible’s authors have gone through a lot of grief and difficulty. James 1:2-8, 1 Peter 1:3-9, and Thessalonians 5:16-19 are the texts to read. What advice do these authors have for someone going through a difficult time?
