5 Things to Do When You're Feeling Doubtful and Discouraged

Somewhere along the way in Western Church history, Christians went from being a passionate people who expressed their fluctuating emotions to God, to a pious people who kept their emotions in check and handled their problems on their own.

King David, who expressed his hurt, happiness, anger and frustrations so beautifully in the book of Psalms, would not be welcomed in some Christian circles today. At some churches, anyone who admits to having doubts or are discouraged due to their circumstances are frowned upon by other Christians, who as of yet, are not having the same problems. 

God can use our discouragement to do a Divine work in us

The truth is Christians who love God will have moments of discouragement and doubt and will question God about why certain things are happening to them. Just take a look at Jesus Christ, the Son of God. When Jesus was dying on the cross, He cried out, My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? (Matthew 27:45).  Was Jesus discouraged? Yes. His death was agonizingly slow and painful. Did Father God actually forsake Him? No. But the Father knew that He could not intervene in the Divine and supernatural process that reconciled sinful humanity back to Himself. 

We must face the fact that there will be times on our Christian journey where we won't understand what is going on in our lives and will sink into doubt and discouragement. When we get discouraged, we often believe that our circumstances are more powerful than God's ability to change them. 

It's Time For You To Speak To Yourself

By Rick Renner

...If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. - Luke 17:6

When Jesus taught His disciples about the evil effects of bitterness, unforgiveness and offense, He also told them how to uproot and remove offenses and unforgiveness from the heart. Praise God that Jesus didn't just identify the problem and then leave us to figure out our deliverance by ourselves! He took it one step further and gave us the secret weapon for jerking those roots clear out of the ground and sending them to a place where they will never again produce their wicked fruit in us.

Jesus said, "...If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you" (Luke 17:6). Notice Jesus said, "...Ye might say unto this sycamine tree..." In order to get rid of these destructive devices, you have to rise up and take authority over them!

Jesus specifically said that you must literally speak to the sycamine tree. The word, "say" used in Luke 17: 6 is the Greek word, "lego," which means to speak, but the tense that is used depicts a strong, stern, serious, deeply felt kind of speaking. In other words, this isn't a person who mutters thoughtless nonsense; this is a person who has made an inward resolution and now speaks authoritatively and with great conviction.

Take Courage, There's Hope In Jesus Christ

During the 2012 Christmas season, we sang songs of peace and hope, such as "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night." As we sang those songs, "all is calm, all is bright," did not describe the condition of our nation. 

Nearly two weeks before Christmas, a 20-year-old man fatally shot his mother at home, and then shot 20 children, ages 6 and 7, and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, before turning the gun on himself. In late October, a hurricane-turned-superstorm affected 24 states and left a path of death and destruction. Some survivors of Hurricane Sandy are still grieving over the death of their loved ones and dealing with loss of their property. In June, a gunman killed 12 people, injured 59, and then killed himself at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado.  

Not only did these events leave our country in mourning, it left grieving family members and close friends wondering how will they ever move on with their lives. You may have had personal disappointments and heartaches that were not made public, but still left you feeling fearful and hopeless.

Guidance is a Promise From God

By Susan Ferguson 

You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory, Psalm 73:23-24 NIV.

Whether we are getting married, buying a house, seeking service for the Lord, or making career decisions, we need God's guidance to help us make the right decisions. God is eager to lead us, and He wants us to make wise decisions. Throughout our lives, He extends His guiding hand to give us counsel and direction.

Some Christians have difficulty seeking direction and knowing God's will. Some of us believe only the "super spiritual" Christians can know His will. Guidance is a priceless promise available to all His children. He loves us equally and unconditionally. His watchful eye can guide us through our earthly pilgrimage to help fulfill His purpose for our lives.

Merry Christmas from Pastors Steve and Pattie Reeves

Don't Let Unforgiveness Ruin Your Holiday Spirit

By Pastor Patricia Reeves

The holidays are here and you do not want to be in turmoil due to unforgiveness of a family member or friend. Let your Thanksgiving and Christmas be full of JOY and HAPPINESS. Don't have a cloud over your home or spirit because you're holding on to grudges or past hurts. 

Unforgiveness has been a leading cause of illness and death, more than attacks from a gun or knife. Unforgiveness can cause illness in your body without warning or an explanation.  In the medical world, tumors are said to be a cause of stress and worry and in the spiritual realm, we call it unforgiveness.