Hope For Tomorrow “Apart from God we can do nothing.” John 15.5 Something that affects so many of us to some degree or another is the ailment called “trying to please.” The person we try to please could be our self The person we are trying to please could be near or far or alive or dead…none the less…This is when we hold ourselves to an unrealistic or immeasurable high standard. Sometimes others load us with so many tasks that we get lost in what we should be doing. We choose to give up for a short or long period of time. We choose the amount of time spent on thinking about ourselves. It’s not wrong to do for or think about ourselves or others, but when we think to much about ourselves or others we lose sight of the world around us. This can cause us to become easily frustrated, angered, or allow things to bottle up inside us. It can cause depression. Life & our actions seem empty. Sometimes we begin to feel guilty or sad because we unrealistically perceive others to be doing so much while we just can’t seem to do enough. Nothing seems good enough. We think life is passing us by. We become even more frustrated or depressed. We feel useless or hopeless. Maybe we make bad choices. We expect things from ourselves or other people that are beyond obtaining--goals that are unobtainable. We feel on a viscous cycle of ups & downs. It is impossible to focus on God when we focus so much on ourselves or on negative things. We feel pulled in so many directions. A heightened sense of responsibility, loneliness, or estrangement from others soon follows. This is not good from God’s standpoint. He wants what is best for us in mind, body, & soul. God is tender-hearted to those who have struggles through life. Everyone is temped in life to think thoughts & do wrong, but it is what you do with those thoughts that are important. God wants you to stop the negative, dismiss harmful. Embrace God, all that is good in life, & love another no matter what is happening around us. God wants us to succeed. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way & your body be well even as I know your soul keeps well & prospers.” 3 John 1.2 Sometimes, we will be required by life’s circumstances to handle more than we feel is possible, but that feeling should be a temporary thing. Sometimes, we make life harder than is necessary by dwelling on the past, over-indulging ourselves or over-committing ourselves. We find ourselves thinking about what could have bee, should have been, or would have been instead of what is. Life’s situations may cause us to do more than our share of the load at times. When you feel your life is putting you into a corner, putting pressure on you or your life feels out of balance, look around & see God always provides someone willing to help you with your load of responsibility. When is it important or necessary to take a break do not feel guilty. Do not let others make you feel guilty. “Be confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion unto the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1.6 Learn to trust your body & your instincts! Others may not understand or have a negative opinion about your decision to just let the world happen around you--this is not the same as giving up. You know what you need. If your unsure, check with your doctor. Sometimes you can’t choose the road your opportunity comes zooming in on, but you can choose the road it travels along on. Trust God’s way, Trust He knows what He‘s doing with your life. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart & lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, & He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3.5-6 Further Reading---Psalm 23, Psalm 91.4 Psalm 139 and “God’s Psychiatry” by Rev. Charles L. Allen, copyright 1953 by Fleming H. Revell Company. Printed in the USA. (end)