Whose Fault is It Really?

~~ Matthew14:31 (NIV) ~~ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”



A couple years ago I went through a very bad Bipolar Disorder episode.  It was six months long.  I thought it would never end.  It was triggered by an upsetting event in my life, and was the worst episode that I had ever experienced (before or since).  At times I was sure that I wouldn’t survive it.  Other times, I was just as sure that God had deserted me.  Why did I have to suffer so badly for so long?  I came close to walking out on my whole life, my church, and everyone that loves me.  I wanted to disappear to a place where no one knew me.  I thought this would make my troubles disappear as well.  

Everybody Goes Through Storms in Life
Sometimes in the midst of those storms it feels like you’re all alone trying to survive.  It’s during these times, our weakest moments, we start to wonder if God is even there.  Is He listening?  Did He forget about me?  Why am I going through this?  Did he fall asleep and leave me to fend for myself?  Ever feel like screaming “Wake up Lord!”?  
 
Jesus Cares for You
Like it or not, the reason we feel this way is because we’re trying to calm our own storms when we should be looking to Jesus.  It’s our responsibility to go to Him and ask for help.  We lose sight of Him because Satan distracts us.  We are blinded and it’s because we allow the enemy to do it.  We control Christ in our lives.  We have the choice to let Him in or keep Him out.  We have the freedom to accept Satan’s lies.  It’s our choice. 

One day the disciples were in the boat with Jesus, they got upset thinking that Jesus didn’t care because He had fallen asleep in the midst of a terrible storm.  We do the same thing all the time.  We want to blame Him.  What we don’t often realize is that it’s our choice to ask and accept help from Jesus.  

Jesus will Never Leave You
When we ask for His help we have to be honest, sincere, and truthful; with ourselves as much as with Him.   It wasn’t until I truly listened to God and let Him lead me that I finally got out of that terrible never-ending episode.  God loves me; and you!  He will NEVER leave us, but first we have to go to Him and ask for help.  Another day when the disciples were with Jesus, Peter walked on the water toward Jesus.  He started to sink after he took his eyes off Jesus.  You have to turn to Jesus and trust Him.  Then He will lead you out of the storm.  He won’t throw you a lifeline unless you look to him and have the faith it takes that He can and will save you.

Let’s Pray
 ~~ Dear God ~~  You are so loving, faithful, and merciful.  So often I try to run my life like I truly have the strength and knowledge to do so; even though I don’t.  I don’t turn to You when I should.  Instead, I turn to You only when I want something or when I get in trouble and need rescuing.  Then I wonder where You are when I’m not doing so well.  Thank You for your perfect love.  Thank You for never abandoning me.  Thank You for Your leading.  Please help me to have faith that You are with me always and that You will indeed rescue me.  I pray in Jesus name, AMEN.

Now It’s Your Turn
Thoughts?  Questions?  Want to share your story?  Ask for prayer?  Please consider sharing in the comments section; even if the link you clicked to get here was on another site(If you’re on the homepage, click on the post headline, and scroll down to find the comments section.)

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What Quenches Your Thirst?

~~ John 4:14 (NIV) ~~  But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.






Ever have one of those moments when a big revelation hits you?  I like those.  I had one of those moments recently.  Something that I thought was one thing turned out to be something else completely. 

It’s a Life Altering Eye-opener
I’ve never been one to hide the fact that I struggle with loneliness.  I’m single and I hate it.  My whole being longs for a husband... or so I thought.  I read a devotional message called Letting God Fill My Empty Places by Renee Swope of Proverbs 31Ministries.  It suddenly hit me that the soul wrenching thirst that I’m feeling is not for a husband.  It’s for Jesus.  I want more of Him. 

Jesus Can Quench the Thirst
When Jesus talked to the woman at the well, He told her that He could give her living water that would quench her thirst so that she would not thirst again.  She was at the well to draw water when what she really needed more was to a relationship with the Holy Spirit. 

Happiness is a Choice
That’s not to say that God doesn’t have it in His plans for me to remarry some day.  I firmly believe that it will happen.  But, first I have to let God transform me.  He has to prepare me to be not only the woman that He wants me to be but the woman that my future husband will need me to be.  I just have to keep reminding myself that happiness is a choice.  I am right were God wants me to be at this moment.  Happiness is not a destination; it is the journey.  Jesus is the destination.

Are you sure that what you long for is what you really want?  What truly quenches your thirst?  The answer may surprise you.

Let’s Pray
 ~~ Dear God ~~  Thank You ever faithful, always loving Father for knowing what it is we really need.  You know us better than we know ourselves.  So often we think we know everything and what we really need when in fact it is simply a want.  Help me to quench my thirst in Jesus only, and not in other things or other people.  In Jesus name, AMEN.

Now It’s Your Turn
Thoughts?  Questions?  Want to share your story?  Ask for prayer?  Please consider sharing in the comments section; even if the link you clicked to get here was on another site(If you’re on the homepage, click on the post headline, and scroll down to find the comments section.)

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