We are all rational beings who live our lives with wisdom and discernment, without succumbing to the follies of wickedness and godlessness.  It is sometimes inevitable to witness a life within a family or circle of friends take a wrong turn and descend into tragedy, while feeling powerless to help.

This is not necessarily due to the choices people make themselves.  I have seen more than once how children struggle in the brokenness of decisions made by parents, how parents are left in despair due to the choices of their children, not to mention the wounds inflicted on spouses through betrayal and selfishness.  Sadness doesn’t always have a clear starting point, and it can sometimes feel like it will never end.

Illness and death, as well as the natural course of life such as work, income, and dwelling places subject to unexpected changes, are things one could expect but the emotional impact of reality is profound.  It is during such times that the Word of God becomes our lifebuoy in a stormy sea.

Someone once said: The sea doesn’t have streetlights.

Darkness makes everything worse. Thoughts that whirl like windmills in a storm become frightening at night.

In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.  (Psalms 94:19)

Another translation captures the windmill effect of nighttime-thoughts quite well.

When my thoughts multiply within me, your consolations revive my soul.

Revive is such a beautiful word that speaks of freshness and new life, like a resurrection from death.  How can one revive heart and thoughts when life’s storms rage around them?  Through the consolation of the Word, the Voice of God that promises comfort and courage.

A child of God has hope to experience the joy and peace of God amidst difficult circumstances.  It’s not the time to seek help in the wrong places. Unbelievers have many techniques to fill the void that the lack of faith   leaves.  We can always find help, but not before we bring it to the Lord in prayer to discern the right people and plan for our spiritual healing.

In all cases, our eyes must remain on God.  It was a shock for me to learn that anger and bitterness can find a foothold in our lives through the woundedness of our souls.  Emotional pain can cause such hurt that revenge and bitterness generate insatiable anger and fear.

Rise up and cling to the marvelous promises of God, just as we have learned last time to rest in the assurance that God is the enemy of your enemy.  It is the still small voice of the Holy Spirit in the living words of the Word.

Thus says the Lord:

“Refrain your voice from weeping,
And your eyes from tears;
For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord,
And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.

 There is hope in your future, says the Lord,
That your children shall come back to their own border.  (Jeremiah 31:16,17)

With such a promise in our hearts, we can take a moment and count our blessings.  When the Bible talks about children, it is a promise for the future. The words promise well-being over our descendants.

Take time and write down all the things you are grateful for.  It is the best remedy for anger and depression.  It is our own eye that pins our heart in pain and continues the torment of bitterness.

But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matthew 6:23)

It is Jesus himself who warns against an ungodly outlook on life.  The consequences are devastating and can even lead to physical illness.

The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.  (Luke 11:34)

In gratitude, we can sing with hope for miracles and deliverance.

Sing, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away your judgments,
He has cast out your enemy.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
You shall see disaster no more.  (Zephaniah 3:14,15)

The danger, however, is placing our hope and trust in other things than God and the Word.  Self-sufficiency, personal wisdom, and other people that fuel our bitterness and pride together with self-righteousness and a prideful lack of insight into our own mistakes could certainly be called the “idols of survival.” 

How is it possible to remain humble before God and others, and dependent on the Holy Spirit when things go so wrong and become so difficult?

Listen to the warning.

When you cry out,
Let your collection of idols deliver you.
But the wind will carry them all away,
A breath will take them.
But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land,
And shall inherit My holy mountain. (Isaiah 57:13)

The Lord will deal with your enemies.  The warning not to trust in idols is not an encouragement to simply sit still and do nothing to sort out and improve your life.  It’s about an attitude of trust and humility before the Lord.

We are miraculous beings with intellect and energy.  We can make plans and work, but our salvation and path of glory and miracles in any circumstance do not come from our own efforts but from our faith in the One who blesses plans and lets us enjoy the fruit of our labor.

But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,
And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. (Isaiah 11:4)

Where is your focus, and what occupies your thoughts?

Commit your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established.  (Proverbs 16:3)