I
could write a book on this subject, because I've suffered emotional pains
worse than death on numerous occasions throughout my life. I mean pain that
caused horrible nightmares, and when I awoke my pain was worse than my
nightmares. Some people don't understand what it's like to experience
overwhelming mental anguish, emotional trauma, intense heartache and woeful despair that is inexplicably
painful.
I highly recommend the following two sermons on
the subject. The Missing Ingredient To
The Spirit-Filled Life |
MP3 (an incredible sermon by Evangelist Phil Kidd).
It's Fun
To Die
(awesome MP3 by Dr. Jack Hyles).
In our text verse, Job said he was weary of his own life. But Job through his utter frustration, confusion and emotional trauma held on to His faith in God, who said in Job13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Unshakable faith can only come from having your faith shaken. Be careful about asking God in prayer to increase your faith, because it means turning your life upside down like The Poseidon Adventure (a 1972 film about a luxury ocean-liner that gets hit by a rogue tidal wave and capsizes. Then the survivors spend the rest of the movie trying to figure out how to escape the ship, while everything's upside down! That's the way your life will feel when God tests your faith my friend).
Without my faith in God, and the precious promises of the Scriptures tucked away in my heart from years of listening diligently to preaching in church, I probably wouldn't be here right now. God has always sustained me by faith in His Word. This life is a one-shot deal, never to be given again. If I don't take this opportunity to serve God now, preach the gospel, make a difference, obey God and hang in there during the rough times, we'll never be given this chance again, because life only comes around once. Job 14:14, “If a man die, shall he live again? ...”
God has used my afflictions to further conform me into the image of Christ,
partaking of His suffering. 1st Peter 4:13, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye
are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” We suffer through
life, “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than
to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). 1st
Peter 4:1, “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm
yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the
flesh hath ceased from sin.” While the wicked world is partying and
having a sinful good time, we choose rather to suffer affliction in our
Christian life, walking by faith instead of sight. There's is no inner joy
like serving the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that we are on the winning side
for eternity.
Is Your Soul afflicted?
King David felt like his soul was trapped in prison...
Psalms 142:7, “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.”
Job said he was weary of his life...
Job 10:1, “My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.”
The Apostle Paul and his fellow servants in the ministry said they despaired even of life itself...
2nd Corinthians 1:8, “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.”
King David said he had sorrow in his heart daily and felt like the sun would never shine again...
Psalms 13:2, “How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?”
These are just a few mentions from the Bible of Christians who struggled with emotional pain and overwhelming mental anguish. This is why some people commit suicide, that is, to make the pain stop. Unfortunately, such people can no longer do anything for God if they're dead. They are gone forever from this world, forfeiting the unique one time opportunity which God has given us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20).
Job was confused. He makes an appeal to his three hypocritical friends who are condemning him as a sinner. In true fashion to humanity, sinful people will kick you when you're down-and-out, and keep you there if you let them (by their discouraging words)...
Job 10:15, “If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction.”
Abram (later to be renamed Abraham by God) had a horror of darkness come over his soul...
Genesis 15:12, “And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.”
Even worse is if that person didn't know the Lord and died in their sins. If you are saved, then you know the Lord personally. You have His Spirit (Romans 8:9). Each year ought to be sweeter and sweeter. The sins and failures in one's life ought to bring that individual closer to the Lord, Whose mercy is great toward them that fear before Him. Psalms 103:13, “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.”
Thankfully, God has shown me how to cope with mental anguish and pain worse than death, or I wouldn't be here right now. I'm not saying it's easy to cope. I'm not saying that I don't get my heart broken anymore. In fact, I live with a brokenheart. My overwhelming mental anguish still happens from time to time. It seems that everything good in my life has come with a significant emotional price tag accompanying it. So that there's always joy and great sorrow mixed together. You cannot have extreme joy until you've had extreme sorrow. You cannot have true peace until you've had true turmoil and tribulation.
I have made the best of life in spite of my miseries, tribulations and sufferings. I have permanent damage to my spinal cord. My neck pain began in 2004. I am thankful to God that I am still functional bodily, but I cope with burning, tingling, puffiness and radiating pain continually. The toothache-like pain in my neck is debilitating, even with the 160 mg. daily of Oxycontin. My medical condition and prescription drugs at times makes me feel like I'm dying inside, which emotionally affects me, causing mood swings. People don't understand nor do they try to understand, because they are selfish and don't care. I have to be very careful, because I don't want to be unkind or get overly upset about something. My bodily afflictions are tough to cope with. In this article I'm going to share what works for me to overcome emotional pain.
I wrote this article for the person who has almost commit suicide but by God's grace didn't. Perhaps you're thinking about doing it, just waiting for the right moment when you'll have the courage to finally do it. Children and the elderly commit many suicides, ironically both due to loneliness and overwhelming emotional pain. I'm writing this article for the person who knows what it feels like to have panic attacks, feeling crushed by desperation and violent turmoil of one's soul. I'm writing to the person who sometimes feel like the walls are crushing in from each side and there's nowhere to go. Certainly many of us can identify with king David in the Old Testament...
Psalms 142:4, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”
If you're looking for someone to care in this
world, you may or may not find them. If you
do find someone who cares, it's almost guaranteed that they will be a
believer in God. Let me say with a broken heart for the souls of others... I CARE!!! Yes I do, which is why I
published this online ministry, and is the reason for this helpful article.
God cares and if you walk with Him you'll start to care too. Show me someone
who doesn't care and I know they do not know God.
How To Overcome Emotional Wounds and Intense Emotional Pain
I'm going to give you several practical helps as well as spiritual.
Pray and Ask God to Help You Deal With Life
James 5:13, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.”
Don't think, just pray. It doesn't matter whether or not you think God cares, or whether He will answer... all that matters is that you obey His command for those who are afflicted to pray. I used to feel like I was wasting my time praying for the same things every day and never seeing any proof or results that my prayers were being answered. In fact, this is one of the major complaints by alleged atheists, that is, that prayer doesn't work. We must not put God on trial like the unsaved heathen world. The world is the enemy of God (James 4:4). When people who are worldly hurt your feelings and mock at you, consider the source. I realized over time that I had it backwards, as most people do. Most people focus on receiving an answer to prayer, but they should instead by focusing on faith in God. Don't pray and then look for the answer; but rather, pray and then trust upon the Lord, looking to God's faithfulness and holiness.
May I remind you that it is not a matter of whether or not we see results from our prayers; but rather, it is a matter of faith in God, that you are willing to obey His Word and do as He commanded. The Bible teaches in Matthew 6:9-15 for us to ask God daily for our bread. Matthew 6:7 discourages long prayers. Contrary to what most people think, praying longer doesn't impress God nor increase the chances of God answering favorably. Prevailing prayer is encouraged for OTHERS. God wants our mind off of ourselves and upon the needs and things of OTHERS (Philippians 2:5-6).
We find this same blessed PROMISE in
Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful [anxiety] for nothing; but in every
thing by prayer and supplication [petition] with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth
all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
There's a peace of God within understanding, and then there's a peace of
God beyond understanding. I love this passage of Scripture. God is still on
His throne and He sees everything that has happened and ever will happen.
God is recording everything. Which leads me to my next helpful point...
Put the Intensely Painful Situation, Emotional Wounds, and Deep Soul Scars into God's Hands for Judgment
God never takes a nap. Nothing ever occurs to God. Nothing escapes the eyes of God. You don't have to pray for God to avenge you, because everyone must give account to God on Judgment Day (Romans 14:10-12). It matters not if you ask God to forgive them, they still must give account to God in eternity. When somebody hurts you, they've sinned against God. All sin is against God, for He is the divine and ultimate Lawgiver (James 4:12).
Please don't misunderstand, I believe that we should have a spirit of love and forgiveness toward others. Albeit, there are times when people won't want our forgiveness. They will be hurtful, hateful and cruel because they don't know God. It's not always easy to love these kind of cold-hearted people, but we ought to ask God to help us love everybody. Even the unsaved love their own. Jesus taught for us to love those who hate us, and to do good to those who despise us, and to pray for those who use us; and in so doing lay up treasures in Heaven. Anyone can love those who love them back. Most people are worldly and hateful toward those who hate them. So when people are hurtful toward you, it is because they are hateful and God will deal with them.
People get upset when they live in the moment, but after the event or incident is over and one's heart is deeply wounded, if you'll think about eternity and realize that none of this today will matter in 100-years, you'll feel better. Those people who laugh at you, persecute you, steal from you, embarrass and harass you, gossip about you and destroy your reputation... we'll all be in eternity in 100-years and God will judge everyone (even for the words that they speak). We will also give account to God, which should cause us to fear God and purpose in our heart to DO RIGHT... though the stars fall... DO RIGHT!!! Proverbs 24:12 says that God even ponders (Hebrew: to stare upon) our thoughts, and will judge accordingly. People will attempt to shift the blame and make excuses of Judgment Day, but God will see through all of that and judge them (Matthew 7:21-23).
If someone has hurt you, rest at ease my friend, God will punish all wickedness. I don't want anyone to be punished. I want to see people get saved and live for God; but the sad truth is that most people are going straight to Hell upon their last dying breath. The truth is that most professed Christians are immature, backslidden and don't have a close walk with God. Luke 8:14 teaches about believers who are CHOKED by the cares, riches and pleasures of this world. Few Christians obey God's Word as Luke 8:15 teaches, bearing fruit and pleasing the Lord with their life (Revelation 4:11). A mature believer lives for OTHERS (Philippians 2:5-6) and the things of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:21).
Oftentimes we become burdened with grief, sadness and anger because of horrible things that people do to us. God doesn't miss a thing; He sees exactly what has been done. Revelation 20:11-15 speaks of books that will be opened when the unsaved are judged at The Great White Throne of Judgment. Although not mentioned, I'm confident that God keeps books concerning the sins of Christians too, because 2nd Corinthians 5:9-11 teaches that every believer must give account to God for the GOOD and the BAD done in the body...
2nd Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
Although our sins are forever forgiven and washed away by Jesus' precious blood (1st John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 7:14), the sins which we have committed since we were saved have to be accounted for. The idea that Christians will be rewarded for the good, but the bad won't be mentioned is unbiblical. 1st Thessalonians 4:6 warns against defrauding thy brother, for the Lord is the avenger of all such. Romans 12:19 tells us not to avenge ourselves, because God promises to avenge all (Greek: to recompense, punish). You can rest assure my friend that God will make good on His PROMISE to set things right and avenge you of those who have hurt you (and vise versa). We ought to fear God, depart from evil, and trust in the Lord with all our heart (Proverb 3:5-7).
Does God avenge someone of hurt feelings? Yes, absolutely, if the person was deliberately unkind, insulting, cruel, et cetera. If you laugh at someone who falls down and they are emotionally hurt, you will give account to God for laughing at the calamity of others. God cares about your feelings. God rebuked Job's friends for condemning him with their hurtful words. Job called them “miserable comforters” (Job 16:1).
Some people think that there are only Ten
Commandments, but there are thousands if you think about it. The Bible
doesn't forbid spitting in your mother-in-law's face, but it's a sin to do
so. It's a sin to hurt other people. It's a sin to be cruel to animals.
Properly killing an animal for food and clothing is acceptable to God, but
torturing and terrorizing an animal is wickedness (Proverbs 12:10). If God
cares about the welfare of an animal, I guarantee you that God cares about
your hurt feelings. One of the most painful things that you can do to
another person is to ignore them. God weighs the hearts of men and will
punish them based on what HE KNOWS (Proverbs 24:12). God knows our
intentions.
Use Your Emotional Pain To Draw Nearer To God
Oftentimes when my heart is crushed and my feelings are devastated, I write articles for the Lord. Sometimes I'll fill a bag with Gospels of John and I'll head out to play my steel guitar somewhere in public for free, giving out Bibles to everyone who stops to listen. The Bible says that to be close to God we should turn our joy into sorrow and our rejoicing into sadness...
James 4:8-9, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
In other words, by walking with God we'll begin to share and carry His burden for lost souls and the wickedness of the world today. The fields are ripe unto harvest, but the laborers are few. God is looking for individuals to serve Him. Groups never accomplish anything for God. It's always an individual that inspires a group to do a work for God. God has a heavy heart, which is why He calls the Soul-Winner's feet “beautiful” in Romans 10:15. Most believers have stinky feet.
While playing my Hawaiian steel guitar, I recently handed four gospels to some female Japanese college students. At first they had a very interested look on their faces when they heard my music; but when I handed them the gospels and they read the title, it was like I smelled bad or something, because their faces turned sour and they couldn't get away from me fast enough. The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay. Some people love receiving the Words of God, and others despise it.
One man made a sizzling sound as he held the Gospel of John, implying that because of his wicked life the Bible was burning in his hands. He and his wife were drinking beer and their kids were sitting beside them. I hate booze. No parent should drink booze. Their children will grow up to drink booze too. I was kind to them and didn't mention their booze. My website is a pulpit. In person I never preach to people about their sinful bad habits. If someone comes up to me and asks for money, and I smell liquor on their breath, then I'll tell them that I won't give them any money because they've been drinking alcohol. I'll give them my food though. It never hurts my feelings when I stand for what's right, or when people ridicule God's Word, because I know that it's God they have a problem with. My point here is that I go our Soul-Winning when I'm depressed. I pass out Bibles and use my music as a tool to reach people for Jesus Christ.
Ecclesiastes 11:5, “As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.”
When your feelings are badly hurt, go pass out some gospel tracts or write an article to upload to an online blog. There's plenty of them. I encourage all Christians to post Christian articles in blogs. Why should the Devil's crowd post all the blogs? Give the Devil a black eye today! If Satan kicks you in the butt, then you kick him in the groin and make it hurt!
Since the Bible says to turn your laughter into tears, and your rejoicing into mourning, you're already on the way to spending some time drawing nearer to God. When I'm miserable, I use it to draw near to God. I honestly believe that God allows bad things to frequently happen to drive me closer to Him, and to write more articles to publish online. My website ministry was born in 2002 out of woeful adversity, inexplicable mental anguish, unbearable overwhelming grief, and burdensome hardships. God took the lemons in my life and made lemonade as only God can do with a broken life.
Samson was a crooked stick my pastor used to say, but God will use any crooked stick that is yielded to Him. Amen! The Old Testament prophet to northern Israel Isaiah said... Here am I Lord, send me! Isaiah 6:8, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” And so say I, “Here am I Lord, please send me to do thy will.”
I cannot tell you how much good I have done in
response to bad things that have happened in my life. The Lord may have
changed your life with an article that I wrote because somebody was cruel to
me or deliberately hurt me in some manner. When I get very sad because of
what somebody mean has done to me, I use it for the Lord. I allow the Holy
Spirit to turn stumbling stones into stepping stones in my life. God wants
to work in our hearts, but He has given to us a freewill to do as we please.
No one has God's permission to sin, but we all have the freedom to choose.
It's scary to have control over our own destiny, but we certainly do have
that power. God has given to us the keys of our own future. I am so glad
that I chose Jesus Christ as a young teenager. I am so glad that I am on the
winning side in Christ Jesus. I am so glad that I've been born-again of the
Spirit of God by the Word of God (1st Peter 1:23).
Overcome Evil With Good
Something hurtful happened to me the other day. I rarely bring my pedal steel guitar to the beach, but decided to bring it this day to the beach. I set it in the grass before the sand. It's about 500 feet from my car to the area where I was going to perform for free. I love sharing my music and letting the kids try to play the guitar. They learn something new. I always bring a bag full of Gospels of John to give away to others. I have a little portable 2-wheel dolly that I store in my car.
I had my $700 Fender Princeton Reverb amplifier and a milk crate with items inside, like my volume pedal and instrument cables. I tried to roll them both on the dolly over some tree roots, but it all fell over on the ground. My $700 amplifier hit the ground pretty hard but seemed ok. I stacked everything back onto the dolly and started to roll again, but it all fell over again and my amp hit the ground hard again. I heard a group of people burst out in laughter the second time everything fell. I looked right at them and they were starring at me. They were a family having a barbeque.
I walked by and told them that they shouldn't laugh when someone falls down. I quoted the Scripture about doing unto others as you'd have them do unto you. I quoted the Scripture which says if you've done it unto the least of these My brethren, then you've done it unto me. I walked away. I forgot something in the car and went back to get it. As I walked by they were laughing at me, mocking me. I forgot something else and went back again, and I heard them laughing at me again, mocking me. I was so mad and trying to keep my composure. I looked at them. I was so mad.
I grabbed my bag of Bibles and walked right up
to their group. I kindly said, “Could I please give you some Gospels of
John?” To my surprise they accepted them, but others wouldn't. So I left 4
laying on their portable table. There were about 20 of them, several adults
and their children. I passed out about 10 Bibles. I said, “I didn't mean to
snap at you before. It's just that nobody likes to be laughed at when they
fall down. I know you weren't trying to be mean by laughing. God bless, have
a good day” and then I kindly left. I diffused the situation. I overcame
evil with good. I don't always do the right thing like that (I wish I did),
but I sure want to do better and better with the Lord's help.
Trust The Lord To Avenge, Knowing That God Sees When People Mistreat Us
I love the following passage of Scripture. King David had commit adultery and murder. One of David's subjects and enemies, ran alongside David casting dirt and stones at him, willing to die he was so angry. One of David's men offers to kill the man. But David said to leave him alone. David reasoned that perhaps God would later bless him, seeing that this man had cursed David...
2nd Samuel 16:11-13, “And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.”
I often think about this passage of Scripture when people are abusive, mean and rotten toward me. I know that God sees their evil toward me. God sees their hatred. God sees their jealousy, God sees their hypocrisy. God sees their wickedness. And so I leave the matter alone, trusting the Lord to avenge me as He promised in Romans 12:19, and believing that perhaps God may bless me in His wondrous mercy, in repayment for the unkindness, cruelty and cursing of my enemies. That is exactly what the Bible teaches here. If we avenge ourselves and try to get back at others, hurt them and attack them, then God won't do anything. In fact, He may be upset with us for avenging ourselves. God commands Christian believers to AVENGE NOT yourselves (Romans 12:19). God wants us to be loving, forgiving and kind toward our enemies, as Christ did His enemies.
The Golden Rule: Do Unto Others As
You Would Have Them Do Unto You
It hurts to be ignored. When you call somebody and they don't call you back, you want to break their pencil...lol. Seriously, you wish you could get them fired or put them in jail. I hate jerks. But I always find comfort in Scriptures such as Ecclesiastes 12:14 which says God will bring EVERY WORK into judgment. In Matthew 12:36 Jesus warned that God will judge men for their very words.
Certainly it's not my place to say what God will or won't do, but I DO KNOW that God does care, and he has set the Golden Rule as the benchmark for judgment Day... Matthew 7:12, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” God is going to judge you on the basis of how you would have wanted people to treat you. Anything that you do to someone else will be judged by your own principles. A man once said to me that we all live by our own book. What that interprets to is that everyone is selfishly and sinfully doing that which is right in their own eyes. Well, I choose to live by God's Book... the holy Bible. I treat others the way I want to be treated. Your book doesn't matter. God's Word is all that matters.
I have a tender-heart and get my feelings hurt easily. I'm not embarrassed to admit that. I've had people in life advise me to grow thicker skin. I've tried but it's not in my nature. I am a kind person. I say “hello” and smile at everyone I meet. Sadly, I've noticed that many people are distrustful of overly friendly people. Isn't that sad? It didn't used to be that way 100-years ago.
I've learned in life that people sense quickly
if a co-worker or person at church is easily offended or hurt. Some people
enjoy making sport of antagonizing others. It is
wickedness to do that to any person. If you know that a person is easily
shaken and you deliberately try to shake their tree, then you are sinning
against that person. What right do you have to exploit their weakness? Some
jerk even wrote a book on how to upset people and get under their skin. In
fact, there are several books available which
teaches how to annoy and irritate people. It is evil. God hates that
type of childishness.
No One is Going to Get Away With Anything
God sees the mean things that people do toward you. God sees their hatred and gossip. God sees their sinful pride and arrogance. God sees their conniving wicked heart. And God sees your sincerity. Hopefully you are sincere as a God-fearing Christian. God will hold people accountable for every work, every thought and every word that comes out of their mouth. No one can escape God's judgment (Romans 12:19; 14:10-12.
(Note that all Scriptures are quoted from the faithfully preserved, translated and inspired Words of God... the King James Bible.)
Judgment Day is coming for everyone... EVERYONE!
Matthew 12:36-37, But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
Ecclesiastes 12:14, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:7 teaches that at physical death the spirit of man returns unto God who gave it. This is also another reason why abortion is murder. God gave those individual spirits life in each precious little baby's body. Hebrews 10:31 warns that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Are you ready to meet your Maker? Hebrews 9:27 teaches that all men have an appointment with death, and then THE JUDGMENT!!! (Hebrews 9:27). If you're not saved in Christ Jesus, like Tiger Woods is not, you'll split Hell wide open the moment that you breath your last dying breath.
Do you know that the Bible never tells us to pray for God to avenge us of those who hurt us? Do you know why? It's because God is going to judge everybody anyway, whether we ask or not. You don't have to ask God to punish those who hurt you, because God is already a step ahead of you. Don't you think God gets angry when people do things that are mean, cruel, unkind, hateful, vindictive and sinful? You can rest assure that He does. 1st Peter 5:7 says to pray, casting our cares upon Him, for “HE CARETH FOR YOU.” Let go, let God.
No one is going to get away with anything. Even if someone said something mean just to ruin your day and hurt your feelings, they have to stand account before God for doing that. If this is not true, then Matthew 12:36 is not true and God would be a liar. Jesus said that men will give account for even the idle (vain and empty) words which they speak, wasted words which could have planted the Seed of the gospel. This is not just my opinion. What if God only gave you one day to live upon the earth... just 24 hours. How would you spend it?
We all have 86,400 seconds in each day. We all have the same temptations in life. 1st Corinthians 10:13, “We all have the same temptations: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” We all feel tired at times and want to quit. The big difference is our individual mindset toward the things of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:21). You either care or you don't as a believer.
However, most people aren't even saved. Noah preached the gospel for 120-years while building the ark, yet only 8-people entered the ark (Noah and his immediate family). No one listened. God had created mankind 1,500 years prior to the flood. I estimate that there must have been around 100,000,000 people alive during Noah's time. They all perished in the flood and went straight to Hades (Hell). Jesus foretold that in the End Times, the wicked world would once again become as it was in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-38), when everyone was selfishly living only to eat, drink, marry and party. That's all people want to do these days. I see 300-400 lbs. gluttonous people, listening to the sexually immoral music of Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, selfishly minded, woefully and willfully ignorant of truth, lacking resolve (firmness of purpose in life), and centering their lives around the demonic manmade religion of the Roman Catholic church.
I am so glad that I am on the winning side in Christ Jesus. I am so glad that I'm not trusting some wicked Catholic priest, who's saturated with sins himself, to absolve my sins. The Bible teaches that there is NO salvation in any other NAME, except the precious NAME of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:10-12). Do you know why the Bible says to believe on Jesus' “name”? It's because you have never met Him and can only believe on His name to have eternal life. Once you get saved, Christ's Spirit will come into your body to live for the rest of your life. Christ's Spirit indwells every believer (Romans 8:9). This is the Holy Spirit of God, Who will never leave not forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). The Holy Spirit is God with us!
People are going to be people, and the Bible warns that the heart of the human soul is desperately wicked and deceitful (deceiving) above all else, who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9). God knows it (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible shows us who and what we really are, like a big mirror into our soul. The Words of God are the answer. When we are traumatized by emotional grief and sadness, sometimes the last thing we want to hear about is a sermon or a Bible Verse; but do you know what, the Scriptures will comfort your soul when you have a couple days to process what has happened.
Truly, time does heal all wounds. The scars never completely heal nor go away, but they become less obvious and eventually fade into the past like everything else. What's so awesome, wonderful and precious is that our shining path as born-again Christians gets brighter and brighter unto that perfect day when we'll finally meet our Lord in glory, be rid of this pain-ridden physical body, and God will remove all sorrow and heal our brokenheart. God will give us true joy that cannot be taken away by the Devil and people. Proverb 4:18, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
As the unsaved world gets older, they have no hope of anything good; but we as Christians have the hope of eternal life in Christ Jesus, and all the promises of God come true. Romans 8:32 says that if God gave up His only begotten Son for us, how much more shall He freely give us all things. Heaven will be such a wonderful place. I want to be with my precious Lord. If you have a brokenheart and someone has deeply hurt you. If you have endured much affliction and emotional pain worse than death, then set your affection (your thoughts, treasures and heart's desires) on Heaven where the risen Lord abides.
Do you know that we are already citizens of Heaven? Yes, it's true. Unless you're ashamed of Jesus and deny Him (because then He'll deny you), you are known in Heaven. If you tell others about Jesus and you're a genuine born-again believer (not just religious and unsaved)... then you are known by the angels and other believers in Heaven. Amen! The Bible teaches for us to think about the things of Jesus Christ instead of our selves and our problems here on earth...
Colossians 3:1-4, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
The Bible Foretold That People Would Become Monsters in the Last Days
The Bible foretold of these “perilous” (difficult and hard to endure) times in which we live today...
2nd Timothy 3:1-7, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
The world is becoming an ugly place to live. It matters not if it's at church, home or work... people are people! As our society as a whole sinks into a moral cesspool of iniquity, so are our homes and churches being afflicted with wickedness. It's horrible. The rest of the world wag their heads in disbelief at what's happening in America today. They can't believe how stupid we are as a culture, to allow our government to steal everything we home, take our homes, rob our retirements, and recklessly run our nation into the ground. America's love for sin has brought destruction upon us...
2nd Chronicles 33:10-13, “And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.”
What will it take to bring us low in humility
America? God is going to give us over to our enemies, to be afflicted and
oppressed, and than shalt thou know that the Lord He is God!!!
Remember That Mankind Has a Wicked Heart and Satan is the god of This World
We are as pilgrims passing through a strange land. If you've lost your home here, know my friend that you have an eternal home in Heaven. Don't you tell me that Hollywood celebrities who live wicked lives of gross sexual immorality will live in bigger mansions than God's faithful servants will. The King James Bible translators had it right in John 14:1-3... Jesus said IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS. Modern corrupt Bibles remove the word mansion. Don't you tell me that a God-hater like Angelina Jolie is going to have a bigger mansion than Samson or Noah. In Heaven, it's the Soul-Winners who are the celebrates. Luke 15:10, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”
So often it is people who ruin our day and hurt our feelings. In fact, emotional pain most often is caused by other people. This is why Jesus promised in John 16:22 that when He returns at the Rapture, “your joy no man taketh from you.”
Back in 1860 there were only 30,000,000 people living in America and they all lived in rural small towns and farms. There were no big cities like there are today, where people are herded as cattle waiting to be slaughtered. Urbanization has destroyed America. Jesus said if you do something inconsiderate, unkind or heartless to any believer, you've done it unto Him (Matthew 25:40,45).
When something happens that is extremely emotionally painful, hurtfully embarrassing, something which causes me to have horrible nightmares... I pray a short pray and ask God to help me cope with the situation, what has happened, the pain, the whole ordeal. Usually I am so disgusted with life and angry, mad at the world, feeling like jumping off a bridge, too tired to cry. Some people don't understand what it's like to cry and cry and cry until you finally get so tired of crying that you become numb. This is NOT a hard-heart, it's a broken heart that feels it cannot be healed. No matter how horrible you may feel, just pray a small prayer and ask God to help you. Tell God that you love Him and want to please Him. Tell God that you are devastated and tired and need His strength to go on. Pour your heart out to God, a little here and a little there, throughout the day as you are reminded of painful things.
2nd Corinthians10:5, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” This is the key to the Christian life, that is, when a thought occurs, immediately force that thought into submission to the Bible. If it's a lust, you stop the thought and refuse to think that way because you love God and want to please Him. If it's a painful thought or worry, then bring that thought into submission to Philippians 4:6-7. Romans 7:23 says that the LAW OF SIN wars against our mind. Ephesians 6:13 says that Christians battle against spiritual wickedness in high places, and spiritual dark powers.
Christians are soldiers in a spiritual battle, constantly warring against the flesh, world and Satan. Of these three the flesh is our biggest enemy, simply because the flesh is with us all the time. One of the reasons that the Bible teaches fasting is to gain control over the flesh, subduing the body into submission. Many Americans are fat slobs, recklessly spending into debt, addicted to cigarettes, addicted to gossiping, have no control over their TV habits, and are accidents waiting to happen. Americans are shameful and disgraceful. American women hardly wear clothes anymore, promoting sexual immorality and abortion. The statistics proves what I preach. Immodest dress is a sin (1st Timothy2:9).
The Bible teaches in 1st Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing, which simply means to constantly keep in communication with God. I speak to God all throughout the day everywhere I go. I pray about things as they come to mind. It all adds up, little here and a little there. You can spend great amounts of time in prayer simply by praying continually. God wants our mind stayed on Him. Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
God is your friend if you fear Him and are trying to please Him as a born-again Christian. Psalms 103:11, “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” Jesus said we are His friends if we do whatsoever He has commanded us (John 15:14; 14:15). If you are the world's friend, then you are not God's friend (James 4:4). Many people attempt to straddle-the-fence between both sides, which God hates (Revelation 3:15-16). My website is NOT neutral. Everyone knows exactly where I stand on every issue. I speak my mind. I don't like making enemies, but they are really God's enemies, because I am only speaking THE TRUTH.
I've had numerous people e-mail and tell me that my website ministry is the most comprehensive collection of truth on the internet. That makes me happy to hear. All I've ever wanted to do is get the truth out, preach to help OTHERS, share the gospel of Jesus Christ, uplift the precious and inspired King James Bible, and do a faithful and humble work for God.
2nd Timothy 3:12 says that Christians who love the Lord will be persecuted for their stand for Christ. People will condemn you, walk away from you, separate themselves from you, ridicule you, despise you and make you wish you had never got up that morning. Luke 6:23 says great will our reward be in Heaven.
Luke 6:22-23, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”
Whew! My labors are not in vain in the Lord... the Lord's going to reward us even for the persecution and all the horrible things that people do to us for serving Christ. Amen! It's all a part of serving Jesus Christ. Those apostate believers who try to straddle-the-fence by proclaiming the love of God without ever taking a stand against public wickedness are not pleasing to God. They are befriending the world, trying to please God and the sinful world at the same time. You cannot serve God and mammon, you will cling to the one and hate the other. The Bible teaches for believers to set their affection on heaven where the Lord bodily reigns in power on the right-hand of the Father...
Colossians 3:1-4, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:1-2 are such precious Scriptures, and this is the first thing to help you cope with pain... memorize some key Scriptures that will burn your heart for God and remind you that better things await the child of God in eternity. We are already, presently, a citizen of Heaven. It is completely a matter of faith my friend.
2nd Corinthians 1:8-10, “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.”
Ecclesiastes 12:7 teaches that at physical death the spirit of man returns unto God who gave it. This is also another reason why abortion is murder. God gave those individual spirits life in each precious little baby's body. Hebrews 10:31 warns that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Are you ready to meet your Maker? Hebrews 9:27 teaches that all men have an appointment with death, and then THE JUDGMENT!!! (Hebrews 9:27). If you're not saved in Christ Jesus, like Tiger Woods is not, you'll split Hell wide open the moment that you breath your last dying breath.
Oh listen my friend, Jesus paid it all. Eternal life costs us nothing. It is sad and tragic that most people in this world reject the Messiah and are hellbound in their sins. The Bible tells us why most people reject God's free offer of salvation, that is, because of the love of sin (John 3:20).
“Lordship Salvation” is a false gospel which teaches that a person cannot be saved unless they are willing to stop living in sin, and that the person must forsake the world, must surrender all to Christ, must make a commitment to God to serve Him, and must amend their old sinful habits. This is a false gospel of doom. There is no salvation unless you come to God through faith in His only begotten Son, Jesus, the Christ, apart from all self-righteous works (John 20:31; Acts 4:10-12; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:5-6; Genesis 15:6; Isaiah 45:22). Eternal life is a free gift, paid for with Jesus' precious blood (1st Peter 1:23). A gift is freely offered, freely given and freely received.
A caring heart only comes from God...
2nd Corinthians 8:16, “But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.”
God put a caring heart into Titus. God can give you a caring heart if you don't have one. Ask God to give you a caring heart. As my pastor used to say, “It's more important to be a friend than it is to have a friend.” caring is more important than being cared for. If someone cares about you, you are blessed by God. David had no one who cared for him...
Psalms 142:4, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”
The world is dying for someone to care. God cares (as we read in 1st Peter 5:7). We should all encourage each other, care for each other and do right to each other. Be careful with your words, for your words can deeply hurt someone or help them...
Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
