Psalm 13:5-6 But I will trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.

Have you ever lost your keys or your wallet? When you lose something, what's the best thing you can do? The best thing to do is start from the beginning and retrace your steps -- back track to the point that you last remember having what it is that you've lost.

Finding what you've lost doesn't just apply to personal belongings like keys, wallets and phones. Sometimes the very thing we lose is our most important possession: our faith. Losing your faith happens for a lot of different reasons, but I believe one of the greatest causes is disappointment. The disappointment may be towards yourself or God, and sometimes both.

The truth is, most people have or will experience a time when they let themselves down, or when God doesn't come through for them. Maybe you asked God for a new job, to restore a marriage or heal an ill family member and He didn't come through for you. The natural response will be to begin to doubt God's ability to be the healer or provider that you've come to believe Him to be. But, even though you may not have seen Him come through in this area it doesn't change that He is still a healer and your provider. You may lose your faith in that area, but don't just let it go. Back-track and go to where you started when you had faith in Him and begin to allow God to find that trust you once had.

TODAY'S CHALLENGE

It's going to take some time to find that trust again, but God understands and He longs to prove himself to you. Maybe you were believing for something really huge and God didn't come through. I can't, nor will I try to explain why He didn't, but I do know letting go of your faith isn't the answer. Instead of letting go completely, find little areas in your life that you want to see God move. Ask Him for those things and in your heart and learn to trust Him again. One of the keys to restoring your trust in Him is to think of the times that He has been good to you and thank Him for those.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Father I come to you today with a broken, hurt and even doubting heart. I love you so much and I long to see you be all that your word says you are. I purpose in my heart to try and trust you again. I give you all my cares and concerns and ask that you would show Yourself to me. Be my healer, restorer and provider. Thank you for this day. In Jesus name, amen.

Posted by Justin at 04:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

We all have or will go through times when we get hurt. The hurt may be from a friend abandoning you, a job letting you go or God not giving you what you ask for. The hurts may vary, but sometimes the results are the same. We push ourselves away from that very thing or person we feel hurt by.

Pushing yourself away and creating distance from a person that has hurt you only seems natural. The last thing you want to do is be close to that person when they have let you down. We create the same distance when we feel like God has let us down. No matter what has happened I don't believe that we can get through that hurt without letting God help us and heal us. In fact, when we feel God has let us down and we are hurting, I believe we should run to Him.

To run to closer to the very one we've been hurt by goes against everything in us, but I believe it's essential in order to get through that situation and hurt. He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The hardest part is going to be making yourself vulnerable and allowing Him to be close to you again. I do believe that what it says in Ephesians 1 is true where it says that He binds up the broken hearted, and heals their wounds.

I believe that Jesus is and always will be the healer. On this earth there will be many things that we won't be able to explain why or how God allowed them to happen, but it's important to keep him close even when you feel let down.

TODAY'S CHALLENGE

If you feel hurt by God, tell him. He longs for you to be honest with him. Tell Him why you feel hurt and then ask Him to be the healer of your broken heart. Ask Him to be your strength in times of trouble.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Lord, even though I don't understand why I feel let down and hurt I want to trust you. I want to trust that you can be my healer and that you only have plans to prosper me and not to harm me. I ask that you would fill me with your presence and let me feel your peace in my life. I love you and commit this day to you. In Jesus name, amen.

Posted by Justin at 03:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)