To one of my closest friends,
I know that you're at the point where encouragement is not all that helpful. Stress, depression, and the unfortunate onset of mono have you in a place that is pretty much closed off to any sort of uplifting thought. However, I'm still going to write to you anyways. This season will past. You are not defined by your afflictions.
Romans 8:26-27
...the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the spirit is saying, for the spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.
Depression alone is debilitating. It shoots down any possibility for motivation and eventually leads to the shutting down of emotions. I normally refer to this state as "being numb". I do not know if you've reached this point, but if you have I understand where you're at. At least, in a sense. For, no two peoples' experiences are ever quite the same, but you know what I mean. On top of this depression, I know that stress has a way of pulling you between two extremes. First being the indifference of depression and the intense dissonance of stress.
Long story short, you're in fear and doubt of a lot of things right now. You're looking up hill and feeling as if you're weighed down by all of these calamities. You fear you won't make it much further. But thankfully, we weren't designed to walk this thing alone. One of the most common commands found throughout scripture is that telling us to not fear. The command to not doubt is also in there quite a bit. Sounds nice enough, but we both know it is a lot more difficult than simply ceasing to fear or doubt. So, what do we do to take steps in this direction?
First of all, I challenge you to evaluate yourself differently. Take a step back for a minute. If someone else were in your position, what kind of advice would you give them? What would you expect of them and their performance? I'm almost certain that you'd expect much less of them than you're expecting of yourself in this season. Take heart, those around you are not disappointed in you. We love you. And so does God.
It's so easy to tell someone to just stop worrying about something. It's not so easy to receive this advice and actually follow through with it. I've never been told to stop worrying and that alone was enough to stop me from worrying. Ideally, there's a shift in circumstances. Either that, or a shift in heart. Neither of which are things that we have a whole lot of control over, at least not in a genuine sense. We can choose to look at circumstances differently, but deep down, we know the circumstances haven't changed. We can choose to have a different heart towards a matter... or at least we think we can. The problem is that this shift was originated in our heads... thus, making it a shift in our minds. The heart is still in despair.
What are we to do in a situation like this? To put it simply, we call upon the One who can do something about it. We've all heard that God can make all things new. This is including our hearts, even out circumstances. Not only is He able, He is willing. When we know that God is able and willing to shift the course of reality out of love for us, our foundation for being overwhelmed practically ceases to exist.
We don't expect anything of you. We know that you are stronger than you think you are.
I will walk with you through this season.
I will not give up on you.
Your friend,
Jake
Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
To My Friend, Post-Breakup
Dearest Friend of Mine,
Breakups are awful. I know they're used for a greater purpose, and they can lead to greater things, and a greater Will is being revealed, (you know the drill,) but right now all you can think about is how much they suck. And they do. I'm so so so sorry for the heartbreak you're feeling right now. The pain is real. I've been there, and I can confidently say that breakups are almost always hard.
They allow for a certain period of grief, and I want to be the first to say that being sad is okay! Crying on the couch with some ice-cream is understandable, and I would argue, necessary, in most cases. So take the time to grieve a little. It's okay.
A wise man once told me, though, that we're allowed to grieve but we should never be in despair. There's a difference. Grieving is temporary, and it's used to cope with your loss. But the hope of Jesus tells us that these struggles are temporary, and we should take heart!
Yes, that's right, the One who overcame the world, sin, and even death came through on the other side, and you will too! The Bible says we'll emerge victorious, and that God has marvelous plans for our lives that are so wonderful we can't even fully comprehend them!
Let that sink in a little.
While you're sniffling about a guy, God is preparing you for something that is literally unimaginable. I know he's not just "some guy," and that he will always have a space in your heart... but God needs to have enough room in your heart, too. Put your hope in HIM, and get through the grief with your eyes fixed on Him, because He will never disappoint. He will guide you along GOOD pastures, and through some valleys, too.
The important thing to make sure you're not in despair is that you put your hope in the LORD alone. Be confident that He will do what He promises. He'll give you the desires of your heart, and will hold you in His arms during this difficult time.
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart...
-Isaiah 40:11 NIV
Breakups are awful. I know they're used for a greater purpose, and they can lead to greater things, and a greater Will is being revealed, (you know the drill,) but right now all you can think about is how much they suck. And they do. I'm so so so sorry for the heartbreak you're feeling right now. The pain is real. I've been there, and I can confidently say that breakups are almost always hard.
They allow for a certain period of grief, and I want to be the first to say that being sad is okay! Crying on the couch with some ice-cream is understandable, and I would argue, necessary, in most cases. So take the time to grieve a little. It's okay.
A wise man once told me, though, that we're allowed to grieve but we should never be in despair. There's a difference. Grieving is temporary, and it's used to cope with your loss. But the hope of Jesus tells us that these struggles are temporary, and we should take heart!
Yes, that's right, the One who overcame the world, sin, and even death came through on the other side, and you will too! The Bible says we'll emerge victorious, and that God has marvelous plans for our lives that are so wonderful we can't even fully comprehend them!
Let that sink in a little.
While you're sniffling about a guy, God is preparing you for something that is literally unimaginable. I know he's not just "some guy," and that he will always have a space in your heart... but God needs to have enough room in your heart, too. Put your hope in HIM, and get through the grief with your eyes fixed on Him, because He will never disappoint. He will guide you along GOOD pastures, and through some valleys, too.
The important thing to make sure you're not in despair is that you put your hope in the LORD alone. Be confident that He will do what He promises. He'll give you the desires of your heart, and will hold you in His arms during this difficult time.
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart...
-Isaiah 40:11 NIV
Trust the Good Shepherd.
I'm here for you and I love you mucho,
Carly
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
For my Friend with Dwindling Motivation
Hey girl, (and me, because we can all use this message,)
You told me recently that you're having a hard time this year in college because of a lack of motivation. You're smart, and capable, and devoted to just about everything you do. But this year, for some reason, it's difficult to stay motivated and work hard on your schoolwork.
I've been there. We all have. But the beautiful thing about being a person of faith is that it gives your life purpose, meaning, and it can motivate you whenever you're lacking drive. With God, even the seemingly meaningless tasks can be done with our eyes fixed on Him.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
-Colossians 3:23-24
You may think that this only applies to things related to the church, like Bible study or prayer... but Paul makes it very clear that we should apply this to everything and everyone:
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
-Colossians 3:17
Work like you're working for the Lord this week. In every paper, in every study session, in every class that seems pointless, know that God is working within you. He is using every situation to give you strength and perseverance.
You told me recently that you're having a hard time this year in college because of a lack of motivation. You're smart, and capable, and devoted to just about everything you do. But this year, for some reason, it's difficult to stay motivated and work hard on your schoolwork.
I've been there. We all have. But the beautiful thing about being a person of faith is that it gives your life purpose, meaning, and it can motivate you whenever you're lacking drive. With God, even the seemingly meaningless tasks can be done with our eyes fixed on Him.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
-Colossians 3:23-24
You may think that this only applies to things related to the church, like Bible study or prayer... but Paul makes it very clear that we should apply this to everything and everyone:
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
-Colossians 3:17
Work like you're working for the Lord this week. In every paper, in every study session, in every class that seems pointless, know that God is working within you. He is using every situation to give you strength and perseverance.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
-1 Thessalonians 5:18NLT
I love you more than words can say.
Love and Grace,
Carly
To an amazing friend,
I know life gets tough, and it becomes hard to overcome everything life throws at you, from school, to a boyfriend, to new friendships, to a new culture, and I know you don't want to admit it, but life is hard. Just know that I'm praying for you, and I believe that God has a plan.
I love the verse Romans 8:28:
"God works ALL things together for the GOOD of those who LOVE Him and have been called according to His PURPOSE."
You told me this verse last night when you were helping me overcome an life obstacle, and it just reminded me of the reason I was here at college. Thank you, and know and believe that, that verse is true it is beyond anything that you have to face, it brings light and love into darkness that may surround.
I know you miss your family, friends, and everyone from all over the world. Know that I do too, I feel your pain of distance, but also know that I'm here for you, as a prayer warrior and of course a friend. I believe that you can do it. That although the journey maybe hard now, it has a so much greater and bigger purpose. And even if you feel that where you are now in your journey is difficult, know that having you in my life this year has been such a blessing! And I couldn't ask God for a better friend.
Writing this letter I'm thinking of a song... that I've heard you play on your Spotify list... and it's been playing through my head through out the day...
"So put me anywhere, just put Your glory in me
I’ll serve anywhere, just let me see Your beauty
So put me anywhere, just put Your glory in me
I’ll serve anywhere, just let me see Your beauty
Catch me up in Your story
All my life for Your glory
My God, My joy, My delight..."
This song means so much, because this right here, right now is where God has placed us. And He is our joy and delight. No matter the struggle of the 12-page paper due and all those stresses of life. God, cares and wants you to succeed and carry on. Knowing you'll serve Him above ALL else.
I love you! And I'm always praying for you, believing you can do it! I'm cheering you on.
Yours in Christ,
Thea Schooling
I know life gets tough, and it becomes hard to overcome everything life throws at you, from school, to a boyfriend, to new friendships, to a new culture, and I know you don't want to admit it, but life is hard. Just know that I'm praying for you, and I believe that God has a plan.
I love the verse Romans 8:28:
"God works ALL things together for the GOOD of those who LOVE Him and have been called according to His PURPOSE."
You told me this verse last night when you were helping me overcome an life obstacle, and it just reminded me of the reason I was here at college. Thank you, and know and believe that, that verse is true it is beyond anything that you have to face, it brings light and love into darkness that may surround.
I know you miss your family, friends, and everyone from all over the world. Know that I do too, I feel your pain of distance, but also know that I'm here for you, as a prayer warrior and of course a friend. I believe that you can do it. That although the journey maybe hard now, it has a so much greater and bigger purpose. And even if you feel that where you are now in your journey is difficult, know that having you in my life this year has been such a blessing! And I couldn't ask God for a better friend.
Writing this letter I'm thinking of a song... that I've heard you play on your Spotify list... and it's been playing through my head through out the day...
"So put me anywhere, just put Your glory in me
I’ll serve anywhere, just let me see Your beauty
So put me anywhere, just put Your glory in me
I’ll serve anywhere, just let me see Your beauty
Catch me up in Your story
All my life for Your glory
My God, My joy, My delight..."
This song means so much, because this right here, right now is where God has placed us. And He is our joy and delight. No matter the struggle of the 12-page paper due and all those stresses of life. God, cares and wants you to succeed and carry on. Knowing you'll serve Him above ALL else.
I love you! And I'm always praying for you, believing you can do it! I'm cheering you on.
Yours in Christ,
Thea Schooling
To My Friend Doubting God's Goodness
Hey man,
I'm writing to you as you're in doubt of God's goodness towards you. My response to this is made under the assumption that God is impartial and has no respect for our persons. In other words, He views us all as equal. What He would do for one of us, He would do for all of us. This is due to God's just and never-changing nature. What's awesome about this is that we can take hold of promises that God has made throughout history and live with the understanding that, "since God has done this in the past, He is able and willing to do this in my life as well". Even if you don't agree with me about these characteristics, please hang in there and at least hear me out.
I have to admit, the bulk of this letter is actually taken from a devotional I wrote about a year ago. I've wrestled with how to approach this scenario and what would be most beneficial up until a few minutes ago when I stumbled upon this old writing of mine. I never expected to find this, and quite honestly I don't remember writing it. It doesn't even seem like my writing style. Anyways, here is the devotional. Even thought it may seem to be slightly out of context, trust me, it is relevant to our conversation.
Think about the story of Jesus for a minute. When God himself came down from heaven in human form, very few people even noticed at first. There wasn't thunder and flashing lights... or a loud voice announcing his arrival. It was a quiet, humble entrance into the world. His arrival was revealed through relationship. Jesus was a son, His parents knew of his arrival. Then they shared the word of his arrival with those around them at the time. Sooner or later, the word spread. The anointed one's time had come. But it wasn't as spectacular as the people had expected.
I'm writing to you as you're in doubt of God's goodness towards you. My response to this is made under the assumption that God is impartial and has no respect for our persons. In other words, He views us all as equal. What He would do for one of us, He would do for all of us. This is due to God's just and never-changing nature. What's awesome about this is that we can take hold of promises that God has made throughout history and live with the understanding that, "since God has done this in the past, He is able and willing to do this in my life as well". Even if you don't agree with me about these characteristics, please hang in there and at least hear me out.
I have to admit, the bulk of this letter is actually taken from a devotional I wrote about a year ago. I've wrestled with how to approach this scenario and what would be most beneficial up until a few minutes ago when I stumbled upon this old writing of mine. I never expected to find this, and quite honestly I don't remember writing it. It doesn't even seem like my writing style. Anyways, here is the devotional. Even thought it may seem to be slightly out of context, trust me, it is relevant to our conversation.
Think about the story of Jesus for a minute. When God himself came down from heaven in human form, very few people even noticed at first. There wasn't thunder and flashing lights... or a loud voice announcing his arrival. It was a quiet, humble entrance into the world. His arrival was revealed through relationship. Jesus was a son, His parents knew of his arrival. Then they shared the word of his arrival with those around them at the time. Sooner or later, the word spread. The anointed one's time had come. But it wasn't as spectacular as the people had expected.
In order to expound upon the magnificence of this action, please take a minute to think about the throne room as it is described in Revelation. John the revalator describes the throne room in such detail, yet it is so far beyond our imagination. God is worshiped along with Christ, for they are one, at all times. The worship has always been there, and always will be. He was willing to leave this for you. There is a glory that fills that place. There is no pain or suffering, and everything is perfect. Now, God chose to leave this throne. He left this place temporarily to die for the sake of eternal relationship with His creation, His beloved children. He did this for you.
This is amazing. The God of all Creation chose to leave the throne for the sake of His children. But realize this, when He arrived here on earth, the circumstances were not so glorious. He was born in a manger. There wasn't anything spectacular about the arrival outside of the fact that God had come to save the world, which is very spectacular, but you know what I mean.
Then think about the way Christ handled His ministry on the earth. He didn't walk around handing out money to the poor. No, there was something very different about His teaching. He broke down barriers and He strongly encouraged relationship. When He saw a crippled individual, He healed them. When he ministered to people, He sat down and talked with them. Think about the woman at the well in the book of John. He sat there and talked with the woman about her life, and then gave her what she was in need of. He got to know people and then served them out of love.
This way of handling ministry was mimicked by the apostles as well. You see, we have this ministry of reconciliation, which translates to not holding peoples' sins against them. This means that we are to love them unconditionally as Christ has and continues to love us. Think about this for a while, the King left His throne because He loved you enough to leave His glory and die for you. If we follow this example and live out of an overflow of love for others, then we will get what is at the heart of Christ's ministry.
Alright, so I admit that my initial purpose in writing that devotional was not solely to highlight the goodness of God towards us each as individuals. However, there are some really solid points in there that I would like to make note of. We as people struggle daily. As Christians, we are not exempt from this. Oftentimes we get discouraged by lack of progress. Sometimes we feel as if we are led on by God, just to be let down when things don't turn out as expected.
Proverbs 13:12 states that "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life". The interesting thing about this verse is that it states that when hope itself is deferred, not what is hoped for, it makes the heart sick. It is when we stop hoping that we start getting upset and aggravated. It is at this point that we stop seeing results. It's at this point that we close our eyes to the goodness of God.
When you were young, you were encouraged to dream big. When you were asked what you wanted to be in kindergarten, you probably said something along the lines of an astronaut or a football player. It's most likely that you didn't say you wanted to be an accountant or production manager. The point is, as we grow up, we let the world affect our outlook on what is possible. You've been beat down. You've been discouraged, but these discouraging aspects of life should not be seen as God revoking his blessing from you. Remember that the world will come at you incessantly. In the midst of this, you forget that you are a child of a God who can make anything possible. It is because of this that we settle for less than what we are capable of. But when we remember who our Father is, we can live with great hope. It is only when we acknowledge Him that we truly see the goodness of what He is constantly doing in our lives
He loves every single one of us unconditionally. You are not an exception.
His blessings often do not appear in the way we expect them to. Remember, if you're not seeing God's blessing in your life, it means He is trying to reveal Himself to you in a new way. Jesus came to the earth with a new type of teaching. Don't be turned away too easily. If it takes the audible voice of God speaking to you in order for you to notice Him, you two probably aren't that intimate. The fact that it is not obvious what God is doing just means that He wants you to see Him in a new way. Keep your eyes fixed and search for Him. When you find Him, your world will be rocked.
I proclaim blessings over you in Christ's name.
Be blessed bro,
Jake
Alright, so I admit that my initial purpose in writing that devotional was not solely to highlight the goodness of God towards us each as individuals. However, there are some really solid points in there that I would like to make note of. We as people struggle daily. As Christians, we are not exempt from this. Oftentimes we get discouraged by lack of progress. Sometimes we feel as if we are led on by God, just to be let down when things don't turn out as expected.
Proverbs 13:12 states that "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life". The interesting thing about this verse is that it states that when hope itself is deferred, not what is hoped for, it makes the heart sick. It is when we stop hoping that we start getting upset and aggravated. It is at this point that we stop seeing results. It's at this point that we close our eyes to the goodness of God.
When you were young, you were encouraged to dream big. When you were asked what you wanted to be in kindergarten, you probably said something along the lines of an astronaut or a football player. It's most likely that you didn't say you wanted to be an accountant or production manager. The point is, as we grow up, we let the world affect our outlook on what is possible. You've been beat down. You've been discouraged, but these discouraging aspects of life should not be seen as God revoking his blessing from you. Remember that the world will come at you incessantly. In the midst of this, you forget that you are a child of a God who can make anything possible. It is because of this that we settle for less than what we are capable of. But when we remember who our Father is, we can live with great hope. It is only when we acknowledge Him that we truly see the goodness of what He is constantly doing in our lives
He loves every single one of us unconditionally. You are not an exception.
His blessings often do not appear in the way we expect them to. Remember, if you're not seeing God's blessing in your life, it means He is trying to reveal Himself to you in a new way. Jesus came to the earth with a new type of teaching. Don't be turned away too easily. If it takes the audible voice of God speaking to you in order for you to notice Him, you two probably aren't that intimate. The fact that it is not obvious what God is doing just means that He wants you to see Him in a new way. Keep your eyes fixed and search for Him. When you find Him, your world will be rocked.
I proclaim blessings over you in Christ's name.
Be blessed bro,
Jake
To My Friend Who is Stressed
Hey there,
Before I formally begin this letter, I want you to know that this letter was initially going to be intended to be for one individual in particular, but I now believe that many people may benefit from reading this. For the recipient of these thoughts, I want you to know that your story amazes me. For now, I know that you are stressed, you miss your family, and that you are hating your job. Just hang in there, persistence is a fruit of the spirit. Don't lose heart either, your passion brightens this world everywhere you go. I trust that God will continue to do great things through you. Just keep your eyes on Him and remember that He has your good in mind.
When I was stressed out the other day, you sent me these verses, so I'm going to remind you of them.
Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Several times throughout the bible we are reminded that Jesus' yoke is light, he has freed us from the heavy burden of the Law of the Old Testament. Furthermore, he has promised us peace. This peace is a gift, just like everything else that Jesus offers us. It is not by any means something that we have to earn. Why then, do so many of us live lives void of this peace? The fact of the matter is that we indeed live hectic lives. I believe that this is because we try to take control of things that are not our responsibility.
In such a fast paced society of universalism and the "self-made man", we've all entered in what I would like to call a rat race. Hang in with me for a moment. Imagine a rat in cage. Have you ever seen one of those little metal wheels that we as people have invented and placed into the cage? This enables the rat to run all day if it wants to. It can run its little heart out. But here's the sad part... no matter how long or hard that little guy runs, it will never make it out of the cage. I think we as people have successfully invented our own little metal wheels, hopped up on them and started to run.
We all live these fast paced lives and in the midst of all of our efforts we forget that this running won't get us anywhere. We forget that God is truly in control of every aspect of our lives and has our good in mind. Rather than continuing to run ourselves out, we are instructed to lift our voices to the One who can truly have an impact on our lives. There are a lot of things in life that we don't understand. We face various struggles daily. It should come as no surprise that we get stressed when we aren't looking at God.
Today as you're going about your day, I know that you have a lot on your mind. You're considering double majoring in school, which is no small feat. You're missing your family and you long to have them close. You're stressed and the fact that you are spending time in a job that you don't like is not making things easier. But take heart, the God of the universe has his eyes on you. You are his beloved. Even though you can't make sense of all of this right now, he is orchestrating this all for your benefit.
All of these things are seem daunting right now, but I can promise you that they are not concerns in the eyes of the Father. He knows that this looks like a mountain to you, but what may seem like a mountain in our eyes certainly does not appear this way to God. He'll never give you something that, partnered with Him, you can't overcome. I challenge you to fix your eyes on him and let go of all of these things that are weighing you down in order to embrace Him.
His yoke is light.
In Him is where you'll find peace.
From your friend,
Jake
Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Several times throughout the bible we are reminded that Jesus' yoke is light, he has freed us from the heavy burden of the Law of the Old Testament. Furthermore, he has promised us peace. This peace is a gift, just like everything else that Jesus offers us. It is not by any means something that we have to earn. Why then, do so many of us live lives void of this peace? The fact of the matter is that we indeed live hectic lives. I believe that this is because we try to take control of things that are not our responsibility.
In such a fast paced society of universalism and the "self-made man", we've all entered in what I would like to call a rat race. Hang in with me for a moment. Imagine a rat in cage. Have you ever seen one of those little metal wheels that we as people have invented and placed into the cage? This enables the rat to run all day if it wants to. It can run its little heart out. But here's the sad part... no matter how long or hard that little guy runs, it will never make it out of the cage. I think we as people have successfully invented our own little metal wheels, hopped up on them and started to run.
We all live these fast paced lives and in the midst of all of our efforts we forget that this running won't get us anywhere. We forget that God is truly in control of every aspect of our lives and has our good in mind. Rather than continuing to run ourselves out, we are instructed to lift our voices to the One who can truly have an impact on our lives. There are a lot of things in life that we don't understand. We face various struggles daily. It should come as no surprise that we get stressed when we aren't looking at God.
Today as you're going about your day, I know that you have a lot on your mind. You're considering double majoring in school, which is no small feat. You're missing your family and you long to have them close. You're stressed and the fact that you are spending time in a job that you don't like is not making things easier. But take heart, the God of the universe has his eyes on you. You are his beloved. Even though you can't make sense of all of this right now, he is orchestrating this all for your benefit.
All of these things are seem daunting right now, but I can promise you that they are not concerns in the eyes of the Father. He knows that this looks like a mountain to you, but what may seem like a mountain in our eyes certainly does not appear this way to God. He'll never give you something that, partnered with Him, you can't overcome. I challenge you to fix your eyes on him and let go of all of these things that are weighing you down in order to embrace Him.
His yoke is light.
In Him is where you'll find peace.
From your friend,
Jake
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