Hope Reflected

Encouragement and Hope from God's Word

psalm Archive

Friday

24

February 2017

Hope Reflected | Jealousy

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Published Work

jealousy proverbs 14:30

 

It was at the age of eight when I was gifted the Barbie Fold ‘n Fun House, and that Barbie house was amazing. Three different rooms, a rooftop patio, a couch that turned into a bed, and ‘outdoor’ sitting area with a street light that actually worked; my Barbie collection was complete now that Barbie, Ken, and friends had a place to live. Or so I thought. Enter the Barbie Dreamhouse, gifted to one of my best friends. Not only did it have a rooftop patio, it also featured six rooms spread over two stories, a Jacuzzi tub, and a ‘functioning’ fireplace. It made my Barbie Fold ‘n Fun House look more like a cottage. I would have loved to have that Barbie Dreamhouse as my own. It wasn’t until I stopped comparing my Barbie accessories to my friend’s that I actually started to appreciate and enjoy what I already had.

 

Jealousy. It happens to everyone at some point, and if you say it hasn’t happened to you, you’re lying. The key is that we shouldn’t dwell on jealousy or let it consume us. That being said, there are two types of jealousy of which we should be aware. There’s a rightful jealousy (that occurs when you have ownership of something that you’re trying to guard or protect), and there is an unhealthy, sinful jealousy (that occurs when we covet something we don’t have that belongs to someone else).

 

The Bible talks about both types of jealousy. You’ve likely read in the book of Exodus where God is described as a jealous God. That’s not a bad thing! You see, we belong to God. He created us, and when we take our focus off Him and put it on ourselves and on earthly things, that’s not right. God has a right to command our full attention, because we belong to Him. Interestingly, when we take our focus off Christ, that’s when we are at the greatest risk of going astray and falling away. Enter the bad type of jealousy (among other sins). Alternatively, when we keep our focus on God, and desire to do His will and live for Him, God wants nothing more than to see us happy, living in love and enjoying Him (the exact opposite of jealousy).

 

How do you guard yourself or catch yourself when you’re jealous? An important thing is to take the focus off yourself. We tend to get jealous or envious when we focus too much on what we have – or don’t have. Comparison to others is a dangerous game, and you won’t win. You’ll either come away with a false sense of pride, or you’ll feel inadequate.

 

  1. Admit jealousy for what it is. “You are still wordly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? (1 Corinthians 3:3) Each of us is human, and none of us is above jealousy or envy, but that doesn’t make it OK. Jealousy is wrong, and the first step to overcoming your jealousy is admitting it.
  2. Put your focus in the right place. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2) We tend to get caught up in jealousy when our focus isn’t in the right place. As Christians, we’re called to act with love, and love’s attributes do not include jealousy (1 Corinthians 13:4). When we put our focus on the Lord, He’ll help us put things in perspective. (Psalm 37:1, 3).
  3. Choose contentment over comparison. “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30) You’ve likely heard the adage, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” and there is great truth in these words. When we start comparing ourselves to others and going through all the haves and have-nots, there’s not doubt we’ll get jealous. It’s important to remember that God makes no mistakes. When we let jealousy take control, we’re essentially saying that God makes mistakes and that His gifts aren’t enough. When we choose contentment, however, we’re resting in God’s grace and His goodness.

 

Don’t let your coffee get cold because you’re so busy looking at someone else’s mug. Make the conscious choice to count your blessings, and remember the Lord “who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:5)

 

Originally published as “Jealousy.” Minto Express, Independent Plus, Arthur Enterprise-News, Mount Forest Confederate. February 16, 2017: 7. Print.

Monday

13

February 2017

Your Consolation Brought Me Joy | Encouragement from Psalm 94:19

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psalm 94:19 encouragement your consolation brought me joy

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm 94:19

A new week brings with it new challenges: School assignments that are due, big meetings at work, extracurricular activities every night, personal responsibilities. The list is endless; there’s always something to do, somewhere to go, and someone to help.

Sometimes we can get so caught up in our circumstances, and just running, that we get overwhelmed. According to Matthew Henry’s commentary, Psalm 94 was written during a time of great persecution within the church. Yet, the Psalmist penned, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” (Psalm 94:19)

Even in the midst of adversity and anxiety, God provides encouragement and support. We can get so caught up in trying to control our own circumstances and lives that we forget the simple strength of “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) You can’t be comforted or consoled when you’re running and being “busy”.

Slow down, soul, and let God’s consolation bring you joy. When anxiety is great with you, — and even when it’s not — let God refresh your spirit and renew your strength.

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm 94:19

Friday

10

February 2017

Hope Reflected | The Cure for Loneliness | 3 things to do when you feel alone

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Published Work

loneliness quote c.s. lewis

At some point in life, each of us feels alone. Perhaps it’s physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. You may feel like there’s no one out there who gets what you’re going through, as though there’s no one out there who understands what you’re thinking or feeling, or as though you’re the only one who’s been there before.

As a child, in gym class – my least favourite class, btw – when we’d be playing dodge ball, or another “team building” game, group captains were assigned to create teams. Each captain got to choose who would be part of his or her team. And there was always someone who was the last to be selected. There were similar situations in class, when students were asked to form groups. There was always someone who didn’t get chosen to be part of a group.

Perhaps you feel like no one wants you to be on their team, or no one wants you to be part of their group. Maybe you’re single and you feel like you’re never going to meet “the one”. Maybe you’re an empty nester whose children are off at college or university. Maybe you’re a senior who feels isolated and misses family or like you’re constantly saying goodbye to people who are passing away into eternity. Maybe you’re someone who has plenty of friends yet still struggles with feelings of loneliness.

You don’t have to be alone to feel the force of loneliness. If you’re feeling isolated, or as though no cares or understands where you’re at or what you’re going through, take heart! There is a cure for loneliness, and steps you can take to overcome your feelings of loneliness.

  1. Admit that you’re lonely. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 The first step to overcoming loneliness is admitting that you’re lonely. Tell the Lord how you feel; there’s no one who will understand more deeply. Jesus Himself experienced the anguish of loneliness. We read about the most public display of His loneliness and agony when He cried out, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) But if we’re being real, Jesus’s loneliness on earth started long before He went to the cross for us. He spent His whole earthly life as an outsider – the only sinless man living in an entirely sinful world – Who came to redeem our sins and eradicate any feelings of loneliness and heartache we could ever experience.
  2. Enjoy the presence of God. “You will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 If you’re feeling lonely, take a cue from David, who, arguably, experienced more loneliness and heartache throughout his life than any of us ever will. Wherever he was at, David claimed God’s promises and declared that being in the presence of God was the fullness of joy. When feelings of loneliness flood your heart and mind, get into God’s Word; train your thoughts on Him; talk to Him. Learn to enjoy the presence of God. We are promised in James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” When you feel alone, remember that there is One who truly cares for you.
  3. Reach out. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 A long time ago I heard the advice that in times of loneliness or anxiety, we should “Stop looking in, and start looking out and up.” Those are wise words. When you’re feeling lonely, reach out! It could be as easy as picking up the phone and calling someone you love, or getting involved with a local Church group or Bible study. Also, if you’re not feeling lonely, why not reach out to someone who is or who could use a friend? Visit the elderly or send a handwritten note of encouragement.

At some point in life, each one of us experiences the feelings of loneliness. C.S. Lewis once said, “Look for yourself and you will find loneliness and despair. But look for Christ and you will find Him and everything else.” Just remember, you are never truly alone; Jesus Christ longs to have a relationship with you, if you’ll put your trust in Him.

Originally published as “The Cure for Loneliness: 3 things to do when you feel alone.” Minto Express, Independent Plus, Arthur Enterprise-News, Mount Forest Confederate. February 2, 2017: 7. Print.

Monday

30

January 2017

Encouragement | Psalm 147:3 | God Heals the Brokenhearted

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Encouragement

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

The Psalmist David throughout his life, likely experienced more heartache and emotional wounds than we will ever know. When I’m looking for encouragement, the book of Psalms is one of the first places I head in the Bible. Filled with examples of God’s promises and how God heals the brokenhearted,—from Moses and David to Asaph and Solomon,—the book of Psalms is filled with chapter upon chapter of examples that demonstrate God’s care and grace toward us.

One truth that is particularly evident? God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3) Whether you’re looking at the life of David, Moses, Asaph, or Solomon; in each man’s life, we see examples of how God healed broken hearts and bound up wounds.

Whatever you are seeking, rest assured that God is the only One Who can heal the brokenhearted and bind up your wounds.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

Monday

16

January 2017

Encouragement | Psalm 145:8 | Attributes of God

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the Lord is gracious psalm 145:8 attributes of God

“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” Psalm 145:8

If you’re looking for encouragement this week, turn your Bible open to Psalm 145 and read about some of the incredible attributes of God. In verse 8 alone, we are told about four great attributes of God.

  • The LORD is gracious — Defined as the unmerited favour of God, grace is a bestowal of blessings that we do not deserve.
  • The LORD is full of compassion — God is not just compassionate, He is FULL of compassion. Defined as sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings of others, compassion is something of which the Lord has no shortage. If you’re suffering, or in a valley, trust God to show you compassion. He will lead you through.
  • The LORD is slow to anger — As you face the emotions of others (and even yourself), who are often quick-tempered, bitter, or irritable, remember that one of God’s attributes is that He is slow to anger. Have patience with yourself and those around you.
  • The LORD is of great mercy — As grace is the unmerited favour of God, mercy is not giving us what we deserve. When someone does you wrong, or offends you, instead of reacting with like, try compassion on for size.

“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” Psalm 145:8

 

Monday

12

December 2016

Encouragement | Fearfully and Wonderfully Made | Psalm 139:14

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I am fearfully and wonderfully made encouragement Psalm 139:14

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:14

Have you ever found yourself looking in the mirror and finding all the physical attributes about yourself that you don’t like?

“I’m fat.” “I have wrinkles.” “My legs are thick.” “My stomach’s too big.” “This outfit doesn’t look right.”

Let’s be honest; we’ve all been there! In fact, some of us made comments just this morning about our own physical appearance and how unsatisfied we are.

Well, I’m here to encourage you. Take a few minutes today to read through Psalm 139. Written by David, this Psalm describes the everlasting presence and power of God.

Psalm 139:14 says “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my should knoweth right well.”

When you stand in front of the mirror next time, ready to body shame, just remember: You are fearfully and wonderfully made. God’s hands created you, and He makes no mistakes. You are exactly who He created you to be!

Beyond your physical appearance, God knows your heart and soul, and He knows exactly where you’re at today. This life and the next are about so much more than physical appearance and what we think is important in the here and now. I need this reminder every day. Every. Day.

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:14

 

Monday

5

December 2016

Encouragement | Psalm 61:2

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psalm 61:2 encouragement

 

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2

One thing I love about reading through the book of Psalms is that each Psalm usually begins with a heavy heart, and ends in praise and rejoicing. Psalm 61 is no exception.

There are several reasons I love Psalm 61, and verse 2 is a bit part of that. Here are some of the reasons that Psalm 61:2 is such a huge encouragement:

  • No matter where we are on this earth, God hears us. There is no where we can go that God cannot reach (Psalm 139:7). This fact alone should provide comfort and encouragement.
  • We all feel overwhelmed at some point or another. David says, “when my heart is overwhelmed”. Not if, when. It is completely normal for our hearts to feel overwhelmed on occasion. The key is that we need to take it to the Lord.
  • God is our rock. What an encouraging and reassuring fact, to know that we have a rock which cannot be moved (Psalm 62:6).

If you’re in need of some encouragement this week, just remember, God hears you when you cry, and when you’re overwhelmed; all you need to do is talk to Him. He will lead you and protect you!

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2

 

Friday

2

December 2016

Hope Reflected: Dealing with Disappointment

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Published Work

 

hope reflected dealing with disappointment

There will be some days when it rains (and sometimes it happens both literally and figuratively!). There will be some days when you’ll forget that you left the oven on and you’ll burn what could have been a delicious dinner. There will some days when people you thought couldn’t let you down actually drop you or throw you under the bus. There will be some days when it seems like nothing is going right and everything is going wrong. Let’s face it – there will always be some days.

Dealing with disappointment is a reality of life. Though some disappointments will be more harsh than others, throughout our lives, we’ll all deal with several doses of the displeasure of disappointment. And that’s not a bad thing – you wouldn’t be human if once in a while you didn’t experience disappointment.

My college pastor used to say that the key to getting over disappointment is not letting it hold you down. You can become bitter, or you can become better. Rather than dealing with your disappointment, you can let it consume you, zap your energy, and capture your thoughts. None of those are good things. We’re always better dealing with disappointment head on. Sometimes – OK, most times – that’s way easier to say than it is to live!

Before you think I’m getting all down on you, I’m writing this so you know that you’re not alone if experience a day – or two, or three, or hey, maybe even an entire week, – of disappointment. Life happens to all of us! The key is in how we handle it.

The Bible talks a lot about dealing with disappointment, and today I’d like to share four verses with you, to encourage you through whatever you may be dealing with as you read this.

Psalm 42:11 “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.” Matthew Henry once said, “The way to forget our miseries, is to remember the God of our mercies.” Amen! I’d venture to say that David, who wrote Psalm 42, arguably experienced more disappointment throughout his adulthood than most of us will experience in a lifetime. He still chose, however, to put his hope in God.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” We can rest assured that our Lord wants to give us a future and a hope, when we trust in Him. In his commentary about this verse, Matthew Poole says that our deliverance “will not depend upon your merits, but upon my [God’s] own mercy and kind thoughts and purposes.”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Again, if you think you’ve experienced disappointment, do some research into the life of Paul. Throughout his life, Paul faced many disappointments, and yet he still had an incredible faith in God. Note that Romans 8:28 says “all things work together for good”. ALL things. Not just some things. Not just good things. ALL things. That includes disappointments.

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Paul, who wrote the letter to the Philippians, once again provides sound advice. Even in disappointment, we shouldn’t get anxious. We should in every thing – not just some things or good things or happy things – be praying and be thankful! That can be quite the challenge, because often when I’m disappointed the last thing I feel like doing is praying, let alone being thankful. But, we’re encouraged to just that. We’re also promised the peace of God when we do.

Like Paul said in Philippians 3:13-14, “this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” If you’ve experienced some disappointment the past week, you’re not alone. Choose to get better not to get bitter, and you’ll find dealing with disappointment is actually an opportunity to grow.

Originally published as “Dealing with Disappointment.” Minto Express, Arthur Enterprise-News, Independent Plus. September 28, 2016: 5. Print.

Monday

14

November 2016

Encouragement: 2 Timothy 1:7

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Encouragement

encouragement 2 timothy 1:7

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

The past few weeks, the media’s been building and encouraging a lot of ‘fear’ in people; and admittedly, it’s easy to get caught up in the emotion and excitement. There’s something very important to remember, however. God is in control.

And what’s more? We’re clearly told in the Bible that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear”. If you are feeling afraid, or nervous, or apprehensive about the future, consider this: In Isaiah 41:10, we are encouraged to “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” In Psalm 34:4, we are told, “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

Paul wrote to book of 2 Timothy from prison, and yet he encouraged us by saying that God hasn’t given us the spirit of fear. To have that realization and be able to admit that from prison? Wow! What a Faith! Can you imagine all the difficulties and persecution that Paul faced behind bars? I can’t either, but it probably was not an easy or comfortable place to be.

If you’re feeling nervous, or anxious, or fearful heading into the challenges of a new week, remember the second part of 2 Timothy 1:7. God has given us the spirit “of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Consider this: With the spirit of God’s power, love, and sound mind, we can set out to face any challenge that is before us. It’s easier said that done, but whatever you’re facing, God has promised that He will be there for you!

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

 

Monday

31

October 2016

Encouragement: Psalm 147: 7-8

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psalm 147 encouragement

“Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.” Psalm 147: 7-8

Autumn weather often brings along with it cloudy days, cold winds, and lots of rain.

Even during the dullest of days, there is so much to praise God for! He is the one Who creates the clouds, sends rain for the earth, and Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

If you’re searching for reasons to give Him praise, consider all the ways that God has demonstrated His faithfulness throughout your life. Count your blessings, and you’re sure to be encouraged.

“Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.” Psalm 147: 7-8

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