How to Know Peace and Joy when Life is Devastating

Life is filled with complex relationships, pains, heartbreaks, and sorrows. There are times when the circumstances around us appear impossible.  We don’t know how to survive the storms of work, relationships, politics, finances, illnesses or life itself.  There appears to be no way out as our hearts break, our will is destroyed, anger builds, and the night becomes so dark we see no way out.  The last thing we think is possible would be to find peace, much less joy amid the devastating circumstances of life.  Our mind circles in chaotic turmoil with dark depression proclaiming our own defeat.  Such can be our lives at times.  Human instinct desires to scratch and fight our way out as the devastating box of circumstances closes in around us. Or we resign to exist within a world of quiet desperation, never knowing peace or joy.

There is a way to truly know peace and joy even when life is devastating.  This is something I have spoken of often and wrote in detail about in “Abiding, Steadfast Joy-Never Again Bound in a Life of Desperation”.  My Christian Journey has been through many devastating circumstances. Often impossible mountains to cross!  There were moments when glimmers of joy and peace seemed within arm’s reach; but, once more the crashing waves of life would pull me under.  Well, that was then.  Now, there may be moments in which devastating circumstances would try to pull me under.  Moments in which my focus is pulled away from the truth I had learned along the way.  Or those moments when I take my eyes off God, forsaking to start my day with His word and prayer. However, He reminds me quickly He is my Joy before I am bound again in desperation.

WHEN LIFE IS DEVASTATING

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How to See Everything Through the Eyes of God

As we come to the end of Lord’s prayer, we are reminded to see everything through the eyes of God.  “For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the Glory forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:13).   Whatever happens, we are assured of this.  His Kingdom will reign forever!  This earth will one day be destroyed; yet, He will create a new heaven and a new earth.  Our life on this earth is but a fleeting moment in comparison to eternity.   Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  (I John 3:1-2).

Our hope is not in this world.  The foundation of our hope is in Him.  He reigns sovereign over all.  His Kingdom, His power, and His Glory are certain. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (I Corinthians 15:19).  Yet, this is our assurance, our hope is in Him.  He will accomplish all that He has planned.  I need not fret or worry; because, He is with me.  He is our hope both now and throughout eternity.  But we must not lose focus, we must through faith see everything through the Eyes of God. We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Seeing Everything Through the Eyes of God

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Where Really is Our Help When Evil Surrounds?

We hear the word evil used a lot today.  But what is it really?  Evil is anything that draws us away from God, His Truth and His Word.  Pure evil is the absence of God’s righteousness and goodness. Therefore, anything that separates us from God is evil.  But all too often, we are confused by the flippant use of the term evil.  The word evil is used by many to create division and confusion.  It is used to try to denote that “one group” is good because it calls another group evil.  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20).  There is a spiritual warfare where evil surrounds us.  Yet, the true battleground we must be concerned with is the one within our own hearts.

Jesus said, ‘There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man’ (Mark 7:15,18-23).

When Evil Surrounds

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From the Dark of the Night, for Mercy We Cry

From the Dark of the Night, for Mercy We Cry

 

From the Dark of the Night, for Your Mercy We Cry

As we look to the heavens and scream out, “Lord, Why?”

Why so much evil, such suffering and pain

Won’t You reach down this evil restrain

Before our dear nation doth fall like the rest

When we once had been known, as Christians, the best

 

“Look there around you, Oh, do you not see?

That You all have forgotten to focus on me

So, busy you run from life to and fro

While seeking great treasures and idols below

Have You forgotten the truth and the light?

Without me, there is only darkness of night!

 

When you shut out my presence all you will see

Is the evil remaining in absence of me!

How is it then, that you would forget?

I AM all you need for peace, love, joy and yet

You only seek me when your life is beset

By sorrows so filled with pain and regret

 

Did I not give my all, that you might be set free?

From the evil and pain that you find without me

You struggle through trials so filled with strife

While I stand here to offer you a new life

From the nothingness, darkness you now do see

True being can only be found in me

 

I sent you my Son who died on a cross

To pay for your sins, at such a high cost

Because of my love, I gave you my best

That then within me you your heart could find rest

There can never be Grace without Justice, you see

For evil does reign in the absence of me

 

I cannot deny my righteousness, child

For evil would then unchained run amok, wild

It is an act of my grace, the earth does still spin

Awaiting one more heart for to win

Turn from your sins and seek me, my face

There you will find  perfect love, joy and grace

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link.  There is nothing more important than this; Because, He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to tell me your story or thoughts  comment here

Books Available

If you want to know more about books I have written. Then, please click on this link to discover a world of Book Resources.

Or you can find all my books on Amazon.com, search just by searching Effie Darlene Barba.  Or click this link to be taken there

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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

CREDITS

Photo courtesy of Tyson Dudley on Unsplash

One Cry of The Heart: “Lead Us Not into Temptation”

Lead us not into temptation; but, deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13). This is a cry of our hearts.  Recognizing our frailty and weakness, we long to never face temptation.  Afterall, without God’s helping hand, I know how quickly I will fall.  Yet, throughout this journey, we do face temptation.  It is all too easy for my heart to be fooled.  My heart desires too much and too quickly my heart is deceived by its own desires.  Yet, we know it is not God who tempts us.  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed (James 1:13-14).  So, God is not the tempter; however, He allows us to be tempted to grow our faith in Him.

Jesus faced temptation when the Spirit lead Him into the wilderness.  Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matthew 4:1).  He was victorious over the temptations.  Yet, He was very keenly aware of the struggles facing His followers.  Temptations would face them; because, their hearts were not yet perfected.  In moments of great prosperity and moments of great distress, the heart tends to draw away from God’s Spirit.  In moments of complacency or moments of great pain, we tend to withdraw from the Spirits control of our hearts.  Then, our human nature attempts to take the throne. Temptations rage.  Furthermore, in times of great spiritual victories, Satan desires our defeat. Temptations flood our hearts and minds.  Therefore, this part in the prayer, is a cry of the heart, recognizing that without His sustaining hand, we will fail.

When Temptation Comes

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