When You Don’t Know What to Do: Things That Are Always True

Musings

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. —Philippians 4:8

I remember a dear friend on the day she lost her husband. Over and over, all she could say was, “I don’t know what to do.” “I don’t know what to do.” I felt that way when Ray left for the Persian Gulf War, and I was alone in an apartment in Germany, speaking hardly any German, and suddenly responsible by myself for two little girls, two dogs, and a cat. I didn’t know what to do. Have you ever been in a spot when the grief was so heavy or the unexpected circumstance so severe that you felt paralyzed? When nothing you could do would “fix” what was broken? It’s hard to even breathe in those situations. Whether it’s a house fire, a death, a betrayal, a huge dose of anxiety … sometimes we sit frozen, unable to function.

When my world has been violently shaken, I find it helpful to recite to myself what I know is always true. Reminding myself settles me and helps me find solid ground once again. I hope these words help you as well. Even if you’re doing perfectly fine at the moment, it’s good to remember what is always true.

I have been saved through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” —John 3:16-17 NLT

Because I believe this, I am part of the “everyone” in this verse. Therefore, I am His and will not perish but have eternal life in Him.

No one can take me away from God once I am His.
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.”—John 10:28-29 NLT

No matter what I am going through and no matter who has failed me, no one can take away my salvation and my place in God’s family. He’ll make sure of it. Even when the one I am angry with is God, I’m still in His family. Being mad at a family member doesn’t mean you cease being part of the family. I am my natural father’s daughter by the blood and genes initially coming from him and my mom. Nothing can change that. And nothing can change my being part of God’s family once I am saved. I have His blood now, and His blood saves me and makes me His own.

God never stops loving and caring for His children.
Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” —Jeremiah 31:3 NLT

Life did not always go smoothly for Israel, God’s chosen people. God allowed His beloved people to be taken away into captivity. Their cities were destroyed, and their land was forsaken. Yet even then, He loved them. The eternal love of God is overwhelming! I am grateful that I will never ever not be loved by Him. Wow.

God is always present.
“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:20b NLT

So many places in the Bible highlight this truth. God is always with us. Another great passage for reassurance is Psalm 139: 7-12. In verse 7, we hear this loud and clear: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (NLT)” Even if we wanted to—we can never be anywhere in this world where God is not there. The deepest, darkest pit on earth cannot keep God from being right there with us. I will never ever be left alone or abandoned by Him, even in the darkest times. Even when I don’t “feel” Him, He is still with me.

God is a comforter in times of trouble.
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. —2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NLT

Whenever bad things happen, I have a choice: I can run toward God with all my pain and hurt and anger. Or I can run from Him. To run from Him is so foolish. It doesn’t stop the pain and won’t stop bad things from happening. Bad things happen all the time to Christians and non-Christians alike. All running does is make it impossible to be comforted by the God of all comfort. He longs to hold me and comfort me. So, I will run to Him, even when I’m angry, even when I’m angry with Him! I’ve learned that He wants to hear from me in all my moods and emotions and that when I come honestly to Him, I heal faster.

God understands pain and sorrow from personal experience.
He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. —Isaiah 53:3-4a NLT

Above all else, I need to remember that God chose to suffer in the person of Jesus Christ—God-in-flesh. Jesus was a “man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.” He gets it. He understands it. He lived it. The fact that a holy God who didn’t need us chose to create us, love us, save us, and hurt for us still amazes me. I am exceedingly grateful that He is familiar with hard times.

How I thank God for being my Rock! When all else in my world is shaken, He remains, and He will help me. Whether I feel happy, sad, numb, or angry, I cling to these truths. They steady me because they are always true.

Abba-Father, thank You. Help me to always turn toward You in trouble and keep me anchored to these truths for my soul, especially in times when my world feels all wrong. I praise You for being ever-present, ever-loving, ever-faithful, and ever-caring. I am blessed to be Your child. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

You are loved,
Sharon

 

 

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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