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Welcome to CC. Please read my depression thread, below in my signature. 
And check out my CC faith book, which is stickied at the top of page 1 in the Miscellaneous forum. If you feel like telling us more about your situation, feel free to start a thread in the Family forum. Feel free to pm me anytime. Oh, and God needs to be capitalized.
And check out my CC faith book, which is stickied at the top of page 1 in the Miscellaneous forum. If you feel like telling us more about your situation, feel free to start a thread in the Family forum. Feel free to pm me anytime. Oh, and God needs to be capitalized.
Welcome Adriana! It is a pleasure to meet you. Feel free to share any concerns. As you probably know, an oxymoron is the joining of two words that don't seem to go together. For example; light darkness, a deafening silence, a bold retreat, a powerful servant, a short sermon....you get the idea. And when you put the ideas of joy and trial together it sounds like an oxymoron. We think of joy as being something that takes place in pleasant times. Joy accompanies good times, not difficult times.
But this is part of the problem. We have a narrow view of joy. Whether it relates to circumstances or people Paul in Philippians 1:12-18 encourages us to learn that we must always look at the big picture in Christ. We must ask ourselves, "Am I seeking to build the Kingdom of God, or a Kingdom to myself?"
We must remember, too, that sometimes we have been the contentious person. I don't think Paul ever forgot that at one time he was zealous for the wrong reasons once too. At one time he persecuted Christians. He sought to put them to death. He meant well....but he did wrong. Sometimes well meaning people in our lives do hurtful things and don't realize what they are doing. We must continue to act with grace, even when others do not act that way toward us. Someday we may need that grace.
Finally, we must remember that even though people and circumstances disappoint us, God will not. If we anchor our joy to the behavior of others or our reasonability to circumstances, we will ride a roller coaster all our life. People and circumstances (including feelings) are inconsistent. We want to live godly lives, but sometimes we look more like the Devil than we do the Lord. We must look to the Lord for our satisfaction and joy. We must have a relationship with the Lord that will still be sweet even if the entire world turns against us. And in that we can claim His promise,".... the joy of the Lord is our strength."
I will lay down my time and heart in your direction in prayer for the people and circumstances swirling you like a tornado, and I will pray to stave off Satan's suggestions to distain God's graces. "Lord, instill strength in Adriana and leave in her Your strength found in her disposition in You. Establish Adriana's steps, for I know You hold the future and I know You love Adriana unreservedly. I pray this in Your precious name Amen!" Trust God over circumstances, over feelings, over people, over any and all things including yourself, and His joy will be your joy...even in difficult times (You've got His Word on it!). May God richly bless you, and keep you.
But this is part of the problem. We have a narrow view of joy. Whether it relates to circumstances or people Paul in Philippians 1:12-18 encourages us to learn that we must always look at the big picture in Christ. We must ask ourselves, "Am I seeking to build the Kingdom of God, or a Kingdom to myself?"
I have good news, brothers and sisters; and I want to share it. Believe it or not, my imprisonment has actually helped spread the good news to new places and populations. Word has spread thru the ranks of the Imperial guard and to everyone else around me that I am in prison because of my faith in Jesus Christ. My imprisonment has instilled courage in most of our brothers and sisters, so they are trusting God more and have been even more daring as they speak the good news without fear.
I am well aware that some people out there are preaching the message of Jesus Christ because of jealousies and rivalries. Their motives aren't pure. They're driven by selfish ambitions and personal agendas, hoping somehow to add to my pain here in prison. And I also know there are others who are preaching Jesus from true goodness, motivated by love. They wish me the best because they know I'm here in prison in defense of the gospel. So what do we do then? Listen, what matters is that in every way, regardless of the motives - whether pure or shady - the great story of Jesus Christ is a cause for joy, I will continue to rejoice. (Philippians 1:12-18).
I am well aware that some people out there are preaching the message of Jesus Christ because of jealousies and rivalries. Their motives aren't pure. They're driven by selfish ambitions and personal agendas, hoping somehow to add to my pain here in prison. And I also know there are others who are preaching Jesus from true goodness, motivated by love. They wish me the best because they know I'm here in prison in defense of the gospel. So what do we do then? Listen, what matters is that in every way, regardless of the motives - whether pure or shady - the great story of Jesus Christ is a cause for joy, I will continue to rejoice. (Philippians 1:12-18).
We must remember, too, that sometimes we have been the contentious person. I don't think Paul ever forgot that at one time he was zealous for the wrong reasons once too. At one time he persecuted Christians. He sought to put them to death. He meant well....but he did wrong. Sometimes well meaning people in our lives do hurtful things and don't realize what they are doing. We must continue to act with grace, even when others do not act that way toward us. Someday we may need that grace.
Finally, we must remember that even though people and circumstances disappoint us, God will not. If we anchor our joy to the behavior of others or our reasonability to circumstances, we will ride a roller coaster all our life. People and circumstances (including feelings) are inconsistent. We want to live godly lives, but sometimes we look more like the Devil than we do the Lord. We must look to the Lord for our satisfaction and joy. We must have a relationship with the Lord that will still be sweet even if the entire world turns against us. And in that we can claim His promise,".... the joy of the Lord is our strength."
I will lay down my time and heart in your direction in prayer for the people and circumstances swirling you like a tornado, and I will pray to stave off Satan's suggestions to distain God's graces. "Lord, instill strength in Adriana and leave in her Your strength found in her disposition in You. Establish Adriana's steps, for I know You hold the future and I know You love Adriana unreservedly. I pray this in Your precious name Amen!" Trust God over circumstances, over feelings, over people, over any and all things including yourself, and His joy will be your joy...even in difficult times (You've got His Word on it!). May God richly bless you, and keep you.
