OUT OF THE DEPTHS - Everyone faces hardships and overwhelming circumstances, many of which we cannot control. The challenge of faith is this: that even though we find ourselves in deep despair due to circumstances and the doubts that arise in us, we continue facing toward God. No matter our circumstances, we cry out to Him and know that He will answer us. He will not abandon us. When you find yourself in the depths of despair, turn toward God, not toward your circumstances. The God of the universe will hear your cry, and the deepest depths are not too deep for Him. - “Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. … I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning—yes, more than those who watch for the morning” - Have you ever been there? In the depths? Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by life and its circumstances that you felt as if you were in the deepest, darkest pit? The psalmist did. And he cried out to the Lord. This is actually an amazing statement by the psalmist, because when you find yourself in the depths, one of the hardest things to do is cry out to God. You may think that sounds strange. Perhaps you think that the natural cry should be to God. And it should. The problem, however, is that when we find ourselves in the depths, we stand on the edge of despair.

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Out of the Depths

Everyone faces hardships and overwhelming circumstances, many of which we cannot control 

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The challenge of faith is this: that even though we find ourselves in deep despair due to circumstances and the doubts that arise in us, we continue facing toward God. No matter our circumstances, we cry out to Him and know that He will answer us. He will not abandon us. 

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When you find yourself in the depths of despair, turn toward God, not toward your circumstances. The God of the universe will hear your cry, and the deepest depths are not too deep for Him.

BY CBN ISRAEL IN BLOG

“Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. … I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning—yes, more than those who watch for the morning” - (Psalm 130:1-2, 5-6 NKJV).

Have you ever been there?

In the depths?

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by life and its circumstances that you felt as if you were in the deepest, darkest pit?

The psalmist did. And he cried out to the Lord. 

This is actually an amazing statement by the psalmist, because when you find yourself in the depths, one of the hardest things to do is cry out to God.

You may think that sounds strange. Perhaps you think that the natural cry should be to God. And it should.

The problem, however, is that when we find ourselves in the depths, we stand on the edge of despair. 

Circumstances overwhelm us like violent waves of the ocean. At first, we may find the strength to face the challenges and hardships, but eventually, even inside of us, we begin to faint, wear down, and despair. 

Faith is not just believing God in the good times or even the mildly bad times; faith is crying out to God from the deepest depths of despair, when everything outside of us and inside of us feels like things are hopeless.

When we can cry out to God in that moment, pleading with Him to hear our cry, that is the genuine test of our faith. 

Everyone faces hardships and overwhelming circumstances, many of which we cannot control. 

The challenge of faith is this: that even though we find ourselves in deep despair due to circumstances and the doubts that arise in us, we continue facing toward God. 

No matter our circumstances, we cry out to Him and know that He will answer us. He will not abandon us. 

The psalmist didn’t allow his circumstances to consume him, nor did he buy into the thought that his circumstances separated him from God’s being able to hear him.

From the depths, he called out to the Lord because the God of the Bible is near to the cry of His people. 

When you find yourself in the depths of despair, turn toward God, not toward your circumstances.

That doesn’t mean that the hardship, difficulty, or pain will subside.

It does mean that the God of the universe will hear your cry, and the deepest depths are not too deep for Him.

PRAYER

Father, hear our cry. Give ear to our plea today. Amen.

CBN Israel exists to tell the true story of Israel and sustain a movement of Christians who will bless and stand with the Jewish people. Our vision is to change the global conversation about Israel and build bridges of hope and healing between Jews and Christians worldwide.

https://cbnisrael.org/2021/01/18/out-of-the-depths/

 

GOD’S PEACE FOR WHEN YOU FEEL INUNDATED BY LIFE’S DEMANDS - Do you know the way you should turn when you are feeling overwhelmed in life? Don’t search yourself for a hidden reserve of strength. The answer is not in you; it’s in the Lord. Cry to Him — God can lead you to a higher place — out of the suffocating circumstances that are clamoring for your attention, your time, your energy, your heart. Not only can He lead you there, but He will carry your burden for you. No longer do you need to feel overloaded and overrun. Hand it over to God. Tell Him how exhausted you feel. Tonight, turn to Him. Run into the arms of your Father; He is full of mercy, love, and grace. Breathe deeply, child. The Lord is fighting for you. You don’t need to stumble under the weight of exhaustion anymore. You can emerge, energized by the goodness of God. - “When I am overwhelmed, You alone know the way I should turn.” God, I’m worn out, you pray as the hours tick by. You feel too overwhelmed to relax your shoulders and breathe deeply. You may be facing a personal, heartbreaking crisis right now — and don’t know how to deal with the pain. You may feel that at the end of each day you got nothing accomplished. Maybe you committed to something that you now realize was way too big for you to handle, and you feel frazzled and fearful. Whatever the circumstance, you’re now wrestling late into the night with the heavy burden of feeling inundated by life’s demands.

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God’s Peace for When You Feel Inundated by Life’s Demands

Breathe deeply, child. The Lord is fighting for you

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Do you know the way you should turn when you are feeling overwhelmed in life? Don’t search yourself for a hidden reserve of strength. The answer is not in you; it’s in the Lord. Cry to Him.

God can lead you to a higher place — out of the suffocating circumstances that are clamoring for your attention, your time, your energy, your heart. Not only can He lead you there, but He will carry your burden for you. No longer do you need to feel overloaded and overrun. Hand it over to God. 

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Tell Him how exhausted you feel. Tonight, turn to Him. Run into the arms of your Father; He is full of mercy, love, and grace. You don’t need to stumble under the weight of exhaustion anymore. You can emerge, energized by the goodness of God.

Christina Vinson

 

 “When I am overwhelmed, You alone know the way I should turn.” - Psalm 142:3 (NLT).

 

God, I’m worn out, you pray as the hours tick by.

You know your alarm is set to go off in just a few hours, but you haven’t had any sleep. You feel too overwhelmed to relax your shoulders and breathe deeply.

You may be facing a personal, heartbreaking crisis right now — and don’t know how to deal with the pain.

You may feel that at the end of each day you got nothing accomplished, even though you skipped lunch and didn’t sit down until 10 p.m.

Maybe you committed to something that you now realize was way too big for you to handle, and you feel frazzled and fearful.

Whatever the circumstance, you’re now wrestling late into the night with the heavy burden of feeling inundated by life’s demands.

You’re carrying more than you’re able, but you fear if you let go, everything will come toppling down.

Fellow traveler, listen to the words of the psalmist in Psalm 142:3 (NLT). He said,

“When I am overwhelmed, You alone know the way I should turn.”

Do you know the way you should turn when you are feeling overwhelmed in life?

Don’t search yourself for a hidden reserve of strength.

Don’t think, If I just can give a little bit more tomorrow, I’ll feel better.

No, dear friend. The answer is not in you; it’s in the Lord.

Cry to Him — if you don’t have it all figured out, it’s okay God doesn’t ask us to be spic and span when we fall before His throne.

In Psalm 61:2 (NKJV), the psalmist said he cries to the Lord when he is overwhelmed.

“From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

God can lead you to a higher place — out of the suffocating circumstances that are clamoring for your attention, your time, your energy, your heart.

Not only can He lead you there, but He will carry your burden for you. No longer do you need to feel overloaded and overrun.

Hand it over to God. Tell Him how exhausted you feel. He won’t be disappointed in you.

Tonight, turn to Him. Run into the arms of your Father; He is full of mercy, love, and grace.

Breathe deeply, child. The Lord is fighting for you.

You don’t need to stumble under the weight of exhaustion anymore. You can emerge, energized by the goodness of God.

“Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to You. Do not hide Your face from me when I am in distress. Turn Your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.” — Psalm 102:1-2

“We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in You.” — Psalm 39:6-7 NLT

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” — Ephesians 3:20-21

Your Turn

Are you overwhelmed by the demands of life right now?

Just exhausted from the weight of it all?

The Message has a particularly beautiful version of Matthew 11:29-30.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Walk with Jesus today, friends. He can carry your burdens.

Come share your thoughts with us on our blog. We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily

Excerpted with permission from God’s Peace for When You Can’t Sleep by Christina Vinson,

Christina Vinson is a freelance writer and editor based in Nashville, Tennessee. She is the author of several books including God’s Peace When You Can’t Sleep and also regularly contributes to several websites and magazines, covering everything from country music to prison life. In addition to writing, Christina loves reading, baking, traveling with her husband, and drinking lots of coffee.

FaithGateway is brought to you by HarperCollins Christian Publishing and is dedicated to helping you grow and share your faith

https://www.faithgateway.com/gods-peace-lifes-demands/#.YB88N3QzbZ4

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