Sadness

God meets us in the valleys just as much as the mountaintops.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

1. “God, let me die.” (A story you need to read.) 2. Elijah had just called down fire from heaven and then ran for his life because one person threatened him. 3. He collapsed in the desert, alone, and prayed the most honest prayer of his life: "I've had enough, Lord. Take my life." 4. God's response wasn't a rebuke, a lecture, or a theology lesson. It was an angel, a fresh loaf of bread, and a jar of water. 5. He was told to eat, because the journey ahead was going to be longer than he had strength for right now. 6. God never told Elijah his feelings were wrong. He just refused to let discouragement and exhaustion have the final word. 7. If you're sitting under your own tree right now, the God who met Elijah in the desert already knows where you are. He has what you need.

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. – Psalm 126:3

1. “Everything happens for a reason.” Except that isn’t in the Bible… 2. We say it because we want pain to make sense. And that instinct? That's not wrong. That's human. 3. What the Bible actually says: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28) It doesn't say everything is good. It doesn't say everything has a reason. It says God works in all things. 4. You don't have to find a reason for what happened to you. You just have to trust that God is working in it. You are not alone in hard times. 5. Faith doesn't always mean having the answer. Sometimes it just means trusting the one who does.

"Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." - Habakkuk 3:18

What would you say to someone who was dealing with sadness today?

Pray this if today feels heavy. 1. God, I feel overwhelmed and I don’t even know where to start. 2. My thoughts are loud. My heart feels tired. Please quiet the noise inside me. 3. I release what I cannot control. I surrender what I cannot fix. I give You what I cannot carry. 4. Fill my mind with Your peace, my body with rest, and my heart with hope. 5. I am not alone. You are with me here.

1: God restores what was broken 2: God heals what was hurting 3: God frees what was bound 4: God redeems what was lost 5: God is not done yet.

Here's what will happen on that day...

1: Trusting God is easy when life is good. But what about when it’s hard? 2: When the prayers feel unanswered. When the waiting feels too long. When the outcome feels uncertain. 3: Trusting God doesn’t mean you have all the answers. It's believing He does. 4: If you’re in a difficult season right now: God hasn’t forgotten you. He's working it all out, even if you can't see it.

1: When life feels heavy, hold onto these verses. 2: You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you - Isaiah 26:3 3: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. - Psalm 46:1 4: He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. - Psalm 23:2-3 5: Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. - Psalm 30:5

God turns broken things into beautiful things

1: Joy is still possible in hard seasons 2: Be honest with God. Bring all your emotions to Him. God can handle it. 3: Remember that seasons change. What feels painful today won't last forever. God is at work. 4: Stay connected in community. It's easy to isolate in hard seasons, but don't. Healing can happen when we walk through it with others. 5: Fix your eyes on God. Trust that He is still good. Hold on to His promises. 6: If you’re in a hard season right now, remember this: God has not left you. Even here, joy can still be found.

Sep-11

Never forget.

9.11.2001

Never forget. September 11, 2001

September 11, 2001. We will always remember.

September 11th. We remember.