~Where Do We Find Hope When We Feel Hopeless?

                                         

Encouragement comes in many ways....a kind word or deed, a beautiful sky or the ocean, the scriptures, poems, books, art, music, etc. In this journey called life we have days where we feel such a devastating blow to our hearts and emotions that cannot be explained and we may feel hopeless. Hopelessness is a very dangerous place to be and a time to make the necessary steps to do what we can to find hope and encouragement.

One of the best places to find hope is to find a good church and attend regularly and you will be amazed at the difference in your life, your mind and emotions. I always tell people that cannot afford therapy to go to church where they will receive free therapy.

We live in a day and age where we have access to every song or book imaginable on hope. Helping others is also a way to bring perspective to our hopelessness because we will always find others who are worse off than we are and in need of what we are able to offer them. These are just exercises in finding hope because it does exist for everyone!

Often we just need to be reminded where to look for it....HOPE ~ 

                                                                                      Healing

                                                                                      Of

                                                                                      People

                                                                                      Everywhere

I took this picture of my daughter with her husband and little one January 5, 2012.

~Receive from Others

 Galatians 6:2  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 

During difficult times we usually want to build a wall around ourselves and want to be alone. The scriptures say we need to allow others to reach out to us because we all need that emotional support. Most of all we need the perspective of others when life is hard. Some times others will help us to see the big picture when we can't make sense of what may be going on at that particular moment.

This is one of the reasons that God created the church and so important to be involved with a small group. When crisis comes the support is already in place and they will be there to encourage and help us through those difficult moments. We need to look out for each other. We need God's promises and we need God's people.

This devotional came from http://rickwarren.org/listen - Growing In The Seasons Of Life. Rick Warrens son committed suicide and I have been encouraged by his messages of God's goodness in everything good and bad. Please pass this link on to others who you know are in great need of something spiritually and emotionally that only God can heal.

 We are thankful for nieces and nephews that minister to our hearts with their love for us, taken October 2014.

What does FAITH look like?

This is a great picture of what “FAITH” looks like. My husband tells my nephew to jump and he does because as you can tell by his face he knows his uncle is going to catch him. He has no doubt and his face is fearless with a huge smile that this is going to work out perfectly and be fun! I have seen so many kids his age that were too afraid because they thought they were going to be hurt or worse even drown. They felt something would happen and did not believe the person who was wanting them to jump so they could catch them. Those children have to learn as they grow to trust a parent or adult that they will catch them after many words and tears usually.

Life has so many moments that make us believe or feel like those kids that we are going to be hurt or drown. We get overwhelmed and want to quit because life is too difficult. That’s the reason God writes to us in the scriptures so we don’t give up. God is in the pool saying JUMP to me and I will protect you! Do we have the faith required to jump? What is Faith?

Hebrews 11:1 Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen.

Tony Evans says, “Faith is acting like God is telling the truth.” - Faith is acting like it is so even if is not so. In order that it might be so. Simply because God said so.