Hope

Have you ever been knocked unstable with news that left you reeling? Emotions high and hope seeming to take off running the opposite direction?

I've had so many times like this.
...news from a doctor
...a fight with a family member
..."no" to a long-awaited prayer
..."wait" when I need it right now

These moments happen often, and yet, for so long I have let my emotions rule my response.

As I sit here today and reflect on my response to yet another one of these moments, I am taking a minute to consider what takes me from misery to hope.

One of the biggest lies in these times of anguish is that you are wrong for feeling it. We are told over and over again to live in hope and victory, but that doesn't mean you cannot feel. It simply means that you bring those feelings to God and trust that He is with you.

When you get bad news, when you are hurt by a friend, when you are disappointed with an answer or the lack thereof, allow yourself the grace to feel it. Even Jesus experienced these emotions.

• He wept when Lazarus died.
• He threw tables in anger when the temple was misused.

Emotions are a natural response, and it is okay to feel them! Just don't allow yourself to get stuck in them. Don't dig a trench and move in. Have a good cry. Punch your pillow a few times. Have a meltdown withGod. But then it's time to move on. Give it to God and let it go.

It's easy to forget (even momentarily) where our strength comes from during these troublesome times. I often find my mind combing through all the ways I can "fix" the problem. I focus my energy and focus on my own strength. And time and time again, I don't find peace because true peace comes from surrendering our pain to God.

Even if it's a feeble prayer - maybe just a few words - God knows your heart and He knows your intention. In fact, Romans 8:26 tells us In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

When you can't think of the words to say, simply placing your heart before God is enough. The Holy Spirit will intercede for you. And sometimes, I just write my prayer out. I keep a prayer journal that has become a great help when I can't find the words or just can't get them out of my mouth because the emotions overwhelm my ability to speak.

God created us to be in fellowship with each other. He knew we would need the support of friends to help us maneuver through the jungles of life. Paul wrote in Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. We need each other - sometimes more than other times. Don't hesitate to ask a friend (or a few of them) to pray with you and for you. 

It's okay not to be okay, but it's better to give it to God and let it go. He's got this. He's got you, and He cannot fail.