Corona Devo 3065

I found out that one of my friends is having a hard time.  She didn't say how, or why, or about what, but she was vulnerable-enough with me to share that she was "not in the best place for a while". 

For a simple phrase ("not in the best place for a while"), I have a feeling (and my own experiences) that the shadows and struggles attached to that phrase (and situation-in-life) can run deep and for too long.   

"But", she added, "through the grace of God" she is "out of the valley".

Our conversation ended, but the heaviness in my heart for her lingered.  It's still there, actually.  

Dark times in our lives (and hearts and minds) are hard to climb out of.  When we are stuck in the bindings of it...relief and hope can seem impossible.  

My friend got it right, though: through the grace of God, we can get out of the valley.

Are we there today?  Buried?  Frozen.  Detached.  Desperate?  Questioning?  Hopeless?

Through the grace of God, we can get out of the valley.

First of all--what are we saying to ourselves?  What's running through our minds?  

Lies?  Or God's truth?

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.  ~Proverbs 18:21   

Remember that the Bible is truth.  We often fall to telling ourselves falsehoods when we are feeling weak, and the devil capitalizes on that.  Jesus appropriately said (of the devil): for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). 

If we are low today...don't believe the lies.  Believe the Truth.

And God's Truth says that: He chose us.  We might be feeling worthless or far-away, or forgotten.  But feelings lie.  God loves us, and He chose us.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love (5)he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—(6) to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  ~Ephesians 1:4-6  

~~~

If we are struggling today...don't believe the lies.  Believe the Truth.

And God's Truth says that we are His.  Our heart might feel abandoned by people around us, but the Bible teaches us that we are children of God and He has adopted us.  We are His heirs, and we are in the family of the Lord.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. (15) The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (16) The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (17) Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ...  ~Romans 8:14-19  

~~~ 

If we are feeling isolated today...don't believe the lies.  Believe the Truth.

And God's Truth says that nothing/no one/no sin...NOTHING will be able to separate us from the love of God.  Nothing that we have done or didn't-do will separate us from God's love.  Believe the Truth today.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (39) neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  ~Romans 8:38-40  

~~~ 

If we are lonely today...don't believe the lies.  Believe the Truth.

And God's Truth says that He values us more than we know or understand.

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.  ~Isaiah 43:4    

~~~ 

If we are trapped in thinking that we're not worthy (Either--that we are not good enough for God, or that we weren't meant for His mercy)...think again today, and don't believe the lies.  Believe the Truth.

And God's Truth says that:

  • For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. (14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  ~Psalm 139:13-14  
  • Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  ~2 Corinthians 5:17 

 ~~~

If we are wrestling with the idea of having meaning today...don't believe the lies.  Believe the Truth.

And God's Truth says that we have meaning because God has meaning.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  ~Genesis 1:27  

~~~

If we are struggling to find purpose today...don't believe the lies.  Believe the Truth.

And God's Truth says that we have work to do today because we are His and He has plans for us.

  • For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  ~Ephesians 2:10 
  • You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last...  ~John 15:16    

~~~

We can be vulnerable-enough to admit if we are having a hard time today, or if we are "not in the best place". 

But, through the grace and Word of God, we can get out of the valley today.

Don't believe the lies.  Believe the Truth.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  ~Psalm 91:4

Blessings,

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