When You Want to Give Up
(finding a way through)
Have you noticed how much suffering there is in the world? Broken people, broken by a broken world.
Every single one of us is walking through some kind of heartbreaking, stress-filled thing that if we linger long enough and wait for them to unravel that thing that’s got them all tied up in knots. Wounded people with overflowing bills, and fractured hearts with so much pain it’s hard to find a way out.
A world full of broken hearts and broken people, who isn’t weary from fighting to stay alive?
It’s only by chasing joy while holding onto the hope of healing that we find our way through a broken heart.
There’s a story that jumped out of the scriptures and found its way into our wounding when Joe was walking through cancer, and it keeps finding its way into our lives. The story of King Jehoshaphat, who cried out to heaven for every man, woman and child in his land. Then he bowed with his face touching the ground, and all the people of Judah joined him in worship.
“Early in the morning…Jehoshaphat stood and said…Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith…and you will be successful…. Jehoshaphat appointed met to sing to the LORD… as they went out at the head of the army saying,
”Give thanks to the LORD for his love endures forever. “ (2 Chronicles 20:20,21)
“And as they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the (armies) invading Judah and they were defeated.” (2 Chronicles 20:22)
When life hits you hard and you have no idea what to do next? Sing praises and call on all of heaven to fight on your behalf.
Prayer always leads to praise!
Life is a journey of both brokenness & beauty, the rigorous terrain of valleys and mountaintops. The seasons we want to find our way out of become opportunities to praise our way through. We don’t sing praises for the pain but for the promise of God’s presence all the way through.
One of my favorites right now:
Personal Note:
This past week my dear friend passed away. Grief is certainly a holy & heavy work! Here’s a recent picture of us! She had just celebrated her 90th birthday, I miss her dearly!
Prayer always leads to praise! Amen to that! Beautiful encouragement!