I have talked with many friends and acquaintances this week that have hinted (or proclaimed) that they are tired, frustrated and ready to give up. Maybe it’s just the change of seasons and the annual it’s-so-depressing-because-it-starts-to-get-dark-around-5pm feeling. Maybe it’s just sincere, actual fatigue.
I won’t preach to you (because it’s not the answer, I know, I’ve been there before) but I do want to encourage you to be faithful. Being faithful is the only positive, eternal solution that will work.
If you are in a difficult place, here’s the good news:
1. Realizing where you are (be it good or bad) is a good thing. Most people don’t pay attention to where they are in life and totally miss the point. Being able to assess your situation is healthy. Life is an experience; the good and tough parts prove that you are really living.
2. Time keeps moving. You may be in a state of frustration but you need to know that whatever-it-is will eventually end. We are eternal beings, citizens of heaven (see Philippians 3:20) and these are temporary problems. Do everything you can to figure these things out. WARNING: this takes work! But if you are really as miserable as you say you are, isn’t it worth the effort to bring about positive change?
3. All progress is good progress. You won’t figure out all your problems today but you can move closer to the solution. If you get bad grades in your math class, study. If you struggle with your job, work on your resume. If you want to be a missionary, get your passport ready and learn a foreign language. All these things are progress and all progress is good.
The problem I usually have when I’m frustrated is that I’m tempted to go into self-destruct mode. I don’t want answers. I don’t want to calm down. I don’t want to look back and acknowledge that every time I’ve been in need, God has been faithful. I want to be offended and hurt and useless. And when I’m in this state I’m tempted to not allow God to draw near to me, because I’m not drawing near to Him (James 4:8) and things only get worse.
I’ve selected a few passages of scripture that should help and encourage you. Allow them to be living and active and “let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.”
Isaiah 40:31
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:8-9
8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 8:15-17
15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
Hebrews 10:19-25
19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Youth Department