LifeLines #7

Feeling depressed, anxious or stressed?  

LifeLines offers biblical wisdom as a source of HOPE for today and tomorrow.

 

 

Do not worry about your life...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  -  Matthew 6:25,33

To say that we live in uncertain times would be an understatement!   Whether it's an election campaign that has huge national consequences, economic instability that leaves your family feeling vulnerable, or serious illness that challenges your own mortality; there seems to be plenty to be worried about.  While acknowledging this reality, Pastor Dan Lian made an insightful observation about Jesus words:  "Worry, stress or anxiety is not fundamentally a fear issue but a focus issue."  When we focus on all that is wrong in the world or in our lives, it can consume or cripple us.  But when we "seek first (God's) kingdom" our focus shifts from what we cannot control onto the One who is ultimately in control. Shifting our focus onto God's kingdom provides us with a vision of a different reality and gives us confidence to pursue it in the here and now.

LifeLines #6

Feeling depressed, anxious or stressed?  

LifeLines offers biblical wisdom as a source of HOPE for today and tomorrow.

 

 

Jesus took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.  "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed... -  Mark 14:33-34

Facing the darkest hours of His life, Jesus experienced some of the most painful human emotions common to anybody who is familiar with the 'dark night of the soul'.  In His distress, Jesus took some of His closest friends with Him for support rather than journeying alone.  In His sorrow, Jesus cried out to His Father in heaven for strength rather than relying on His own resources.  Through the presence of people and the power of prayer Jesus found solace despite the darkness that surrounded Him.  Jesus was indeed "hard pressed on every side, but He was not crushed; He was perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).  Like Jesus, in your 'distress and trouble' you do not have to journey alone!  Surround yourself with trusted friends and seek God in prayer.

LifeLines #5

Feeling depressed, anxious or stressed?  

LifeLines offers biblical wisdom as a source of HOPE for today and tomorrow.

 

 

The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words.  I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.  Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:  The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.  I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” -  Lamentations 3:19-24

Suffering and grief have a way of overwhelming people with memories of painful experiences, both past and present, which can make any thought of the future seem unbearable.  This is how the prophet Jeremiah felt when he cried out to God.  Yet, even amidst the depth of his grief, Jeremiah clung tightly to a hope that could not be extinguished, despite the bitterness of his memories.  His hope was based on the faithfulness of God, not the futility of life.  His hope was not engulfed by the darkness of night, but enlivened by the dawn of a new morning.  We too can "dare to hope" because the inheritance Jeremiah spoke of is yours and mine through a relationship with Jesus Christ who identifies with us in our sufferings.  This truth is affirmed by the Apostle Paul - "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (Romans 8:16-17).

LifeLines #4

Feeling depressed, anxious or stressed?  

LifeLines offers biblical wisdom as a source of HOPE for today and tomorrow.

 

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -  Philippians 4:6

There is ancient wisdom that says, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"  Like worry, anxiety does nothing to lessen your concerns but only serves to magnify them by distorting your sense of reality.  Left alone with this distorted reality, without a source of help, will inevitably highten your anxiety and literally rob 'hours' from your life. Whereas, sharing your reality with another invites a different perspective and reminds us that we don't have to struggle alone.  From a faith perspective, when we present our concerns to God in prayer, we are inviting the Creator of the Universe to handle what is beyond our control and to help us with what is within our control.  Through prayer and petition we affirm God's power while acknowledging our powerlessness.  Author Philip Yancey writes, "Prayer is a declaration of dependence upon God."  From this posture, we need not be anxious about anything!

 

LifeLines #3

Feeling depressed, anxious or stressed?  

LifeLines offers biblical wisdom as a source of HOPE for today and tomorrow.

 

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. -  Philippians 4:8

You have heard it said, "You are what you eat."  Well, the same is true for what you think. Your thought life is like fuel that drives the engine of your beliefs and behaviours.  You put bad fuel in and you run the risk of 'engine problems' by distorting what you believe about yourself and damaging the way you behave towards others.  I once heard a youth worker say, "You take normal kids and fill their minds with abnormal ideas, you will produce abnormal behaviour."  While this sounds obvious, it is extraordinary how many people do not make the connection between the way they feel and the stuff they feed their minds.  It is no surprise then that the Bible speaks so much about renewing our minds and guarding our hearts.  If you want to change the way you think, you need to be selective in what you will allow to fill your mind.

LifeLines #2

Feeling depressed, anxious or stressed?  

LifeLines offers biblical wisdom as a source of HOPE for today and tomorrow.

 

 

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.  From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.  -  Psalm 61:1-3

When you are feeling distressed who do you call out to?  Who hears your cry?  As people who have been created to be in relationship with other people, we rightly call out to our peers or professionals for help.  But beyond the human relationships that are so necessary in our lives there is a divine relationship that enables us to call out to someone who is higher than us.  You can call out to someone who is far enough removed that He can see your life from a broader perspective, yet close enough that He knows your inner most needs.  He is strong enough to lift you up when you are down, yet sensitive enough to come alongside you and listen to the cry of your heart.  He is a safe refuge where you can retreat when you are feeling weak and find strength to face any conflict in your life.

LifeLines #1

Feeling depressed, anxious or stressed?  

LifeLines offers biblical wisdom as a source of HOPE for today and tomorrow.

 

 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. - Psalm 121:1-2

Deep within the valleys of life it is easy to become overwhelmed by your surroundings when you are unable to see beyond your immediate circumstances.  Yet, when you lift your eyes above the horizon you see the heights of the mountains emerging out of the valley as a symbol of God's presence and power.  It was on a mountain that Moses encountered the presence of God, empowering him for the demands of leadership.  It was on a mountain that Elijah experienced the power of God, restoring him from a deep state of depression.  It was on a mountain that Jesus manifested both the presence and power of God, strengthening His disciples for the road of suffering ahead.  Lifting your eyes towards the divine source of help will give you a vision of hope that will reveal the same presence and power of God into your circumstances.