We glean words of hope daily from multiple sources in our walk with the Lord. When we find one that is particularly inspiring we post it to share the message that touched us and may possibly touch you too.
"Self-worth"
For anyone that experiences a major traumatic event the question of self-worth becomes very important. Regardless of the event, it is easy to conclude that it was experienced either because of a lack of worth to others or, more painfully, a lack of worth to God. When others hurt us this pain can be internalized and tied to the insecurity of value. We begin to think that if only we were more valuable we would not have been treated this way. This easily develops into the belief that we must not even have value to God or he would not have allowed these things to come into our lives. We believe the voice inside of us that says, “no one cares.”
A misunderstanding of our own worth can lead us to do one of two things. Either we accept that we have no value and live or die as one who is worthless, or we fill our minds with empty “happy talk” that may prop up our esteem for a while but will ultimately let us down. Our value is not based either on what others think about us or what we think about ourselves.
We have value because we were created in the image of God to have a relationship with Him! We are intrinsically valuable regardless of how we feel, how we are treated or what we experience. This is a difficult thing to understand. We so closely tie the events of life to our worth that we have a hard time separating the two. What happened to you or how you were treated should not define you and has no bearing on how much God loves you! You are so valuable, in fact, that Christ paid for your sins so that He could have a relationship with you!
The “why” of life’s events may never be explained, but don’t ever believe that those events somehow define your worth.
You are loved. You are valuable. You have a bright future because the one who created you has a plan for your life that you alone can fulfill.
"Hopelessness"
Hope is what gets us up in the morning and motivates us to achieve! It is the confidence that if we put in the time and energy we will one day experience success. Our careers, relationships and dreams will be victoriously realized if only we try hard enough.
Hope departs when we conclude that we can never try hard enough. Failures in life coupled with unrealized dreams and the trauma of life drives us to a place of despair with no thought or expectation of victory. We begin to believe that “it just doesn’t matter” because even at our best we are not good enough. We turn in our zeal for life and accomplishment for the simple desire to just “make it.” Hope gives way to simply hanging on for another day.
For the person that has a relationship with Christ, life is not lived in an attempt to obtain the victory, it is lived because of the victory! Victory is not something that we have to work for but rather something that has been eternally secured by the life, death and resurrection of Christ! When He rose again He secured the ultimate victory for all who believe in Him! This changes our focus from “obtaining” to “being!” Being what we were created to be and living for Him instead of obtaining the moving target of success. We have hope because of what was done and not because of what may happen.
The despair of hopelessness tells us that we can never experience victory. The hope of Christ tells us that we already have. Move from the “hope so” of life to the confident assurance found in Christ!
Did you know people may not understand what your going through! BUT Jesus does! His grace is sufficient! That confident Hope! IS STRONGEST!!! In ALL Things....
"Anxiety"
Anxiety, in contrast with fear, is not typically unexplainable. Where fear is a feeling that may or may not have an actual cause, anxiety is a fear about what might happen in the future. It is an overwhelming concern for the outcome of events that are imminent.
Anxiety says things like:
“How will my children turn out?”
“The change at work may cause me to lose my job.”
“I am moving but don’t have a house yet. What if I can’t find a place to live?”
“I need to pay my bills. What if I don’t have the money at the end of the month to pay them?
And any number of other concerns rooted in some degree of reality.
This is what makes anxiety so hard to deal with. We can rationalize it. We make ourselves feel good by declaring that we are just “Realists.” The problem with many who have experienced trauma in their lives is that they have concluded, because of their past, that anything outside of their control will end poorly. And so they need to be in control all of the time. When they feel out of control, anxiety and the fear of the bad thing that will probably happen begins to control them.
Control and trust are at the heart of anxiety. There is so much in life that we cannot control and this is why we are anxious. We need to focus on the things that we can control and then trust an infinite God to take care of the rest! Paul describes a “peace that passes understanding” that can be enjoyed by the one who places their cares, concerns and anxieties on Him. When we really trust that He is capable of dealing with our future, we can finally release our overwhelming need for control.
Are you anxious? Cast your care and anxiety on Him because He cares for you and can be trusted!
