NEVER
LOSE HEART
No
matter what happens in or around your life, endeavor to maintain faith, balance
and perspective. During your crisis
moments, consider the story of the shipwrecked survivor who was the only one
person left alive on a remote Pacific island. He prayed fervently every day, asking God to
send someone along to rescue him. Day by
day, he looked for God’s help, but he simply could not find it. Growing weary of waiting, he decided to
construct a crude and meager shelter in order to protect himself and his few
possessions. But then one evening, after
foraging the island for food, he returned and found his shelter completely
consumed by fire.
Everything
he owned was now burned up.
The
castaway sailor was totally confused and terribly angry with God. In despair, he shouted at God: “WHY? Why did you do this to me?” Then he fell into a deep sleep on the sandy
shore. Before dawn, he heard the sound
of a boat rapidly approaching the island. At long last, his rescuers had arrived! He asked them how they knew he was on the
island. The rescuers said they saw the
huge fire and smoke signals he had made the night before.
Often
our apparent accidents and incidents are divine providence in disguise. It is
so easy to feel angry, confused or hopeless whenever things seem to go wrong
for us. But we should never lose heart,
because GOD IS ALWAYS UP TO SOMETHING
behind the scenes. So remember…the
next time your HOUSE IS ON FIRE, it just might be a SMOKE SIGNAL that God has
orchestrated for your personal deliverance.
As the Apostle Paul stated so eloquently, “And we know that all things
work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Finally,
we must reflect prayerfully on the example of JESUS, and draw inspiration from
it. He suffered the agony and
humiliation of public crucifixion. Yet,
while “despising the shame,” HE “endured the cross” and won ultimate victory
for all of humankind. So during your
darkest moments, “Consider HIM who endured such opposition from sinners, so
that YOU will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3, NIV)
In closing,
we are constantly comforted and sustained by the promises, plans and purposes
of God. His Word is our beacon, our
bounty, our rescue and our reward. “For
I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for good and not for
evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)
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