This twenty minute message is well worth listening to. Emotions are something that you have to deal with your whole life - better to learn how to do it in a healthy, godly way while you're young.
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We've just spent another five days in lockdown where I live due to Covid19. It can be a nuisance not being able to go to school or work, not being able to see friends and family and having to wear a mask. It can also be a time to slow down and reflect. I enjoyed a break from makeup, worrying about what to wear and trying to fix my hair. I had time to think about what really matters - Jesus, friends, family and things that transcend our circumstances like peace, love, faith and joy. No matter what happens, I have Jesus.
In 1 Samuel 10:19 God said through the prophet Samuel, I am your God, the one who rescues you from all your troubles and difficulties. If he is your God, he will rescue you from your troubles and difficulties too - it might not happen straight away, it might not even happen in this lifetime, but God promises an eternity with him with no sadness or tears. Revelation 21:4 says, He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. In this lifetime, he promises to be with us in our struggles. Hebrews 13:5 says, For God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you." I am eternally grateful for this hope and these promises - they help me to be strong in the difficult times. What an inspiring story - you're never too young! I did something stupid last week. I felt so upset, frustrated and wound up that I couldn't sleep. Leviticus 19:18 says, I am the Lord, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself. God said that you have to love yourself! If you don't love yourself it is difficult to love someone else. I'm not talking about being boastful or proud or loving yourself so much that you think you're God's gift to the world. I'm talking about giving yourself permission to fail and forgiving yourself when you do. No one is perfect so it’s inevitable that you will mess up - probably more than once. Angela Lynne Craig defined it well when she said, self-compassion is giving ourselves the kindness and care we would give to another.*
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 tells us about what love is. We need to show this kind of love to each other and ourselves. Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails! * https://www.angelalcraig.com/2017/01/why-is-self-compassion-so-important-and-biblical/ The start of the school year can be a very anxious time. Add to that the uncertainty of living through a pandemic with ever-changing restrictions and rules and it's no wonder we're all stressed out! God said to tell him all your worries because he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Psalm 55:22 Give your worries to the Lord. He will take care of you. He will never let good people down. Even though God made the universe and everything in it, he cares about you - your friends, your grades, your family, your relationships, your physical and mental health and much more. God is with you in the happy, good, laughing till you snort times and good hair days. He is also with you during the anxious, lonely, crying till you have snot running down your face days. Hebrews 4:15-16 For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin. Let us, then, feel free to come before God’s throne. Here there is grace. And we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it. Jesus wept when his friend Lazarus died. He was in anguish when he was praying before he was crucified. He was disgusted when the people turned the temple courts into a market place (so much that he tipped over the tables). He experienced shame when he was hung on the cross. He was angry with the hypocritical religious leaders and called them a bunch of snakes. He was frustrated with the lack of faith of the believers. Jesus can empathise with what you’re going through. He can relate to your worries. He was a human and a teenager. He experienced loneliness, temptation, persecution, happiness, love and everything in between. |
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