Tell About Him

 Psalm 73:21-28

"Then I realized that my heart was bitter,

    and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant—

    I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.

Yet I still belong to you;

    you hold my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

    leading me to a glorious destiny.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

    I desire you more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

    but God remains the strength of my heart;

    he is mine forever.

Those who desert him will perish,

    for you destroy those who abandon you.

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!

    I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,

    and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do."

First, this scripture... It is me. I couldn't say it any better.

This morning I was ready to google something pertaining to mental health I wanted to learn more about. There is nothing wrong with that. There is nothing wrong with seeking counsel, taking medication, reading a book that can help, doing research or finding a doctor. I'm all for it. And, that being said, I can say with confidence, when it comes to needing the deepest of the deep help for my soul, nothing will ever compare to the love and wisdom of God's word spread throughout the Bible. Nothing this world has to offer, and I mean NOTHING, has satisfied me like Jesus Christ. He is the strength of my heart and guides me with counsel like no other. I have come to a place in my life where I do desire Him more than anything else. I couldn't say that a few years ago, but I feel grateful that I can, today. This morning and for always, I will tell about all the wonderful things that He does.

Written by,

Dee M. Kostelyk

Keep the Faith!

How easy it is to feel like giving up and mistake obedience for insanity or hope for foolishness - to feel perseverance is in vain, or a desert the sign of failure. The world affirms these lies. Friends and family can affirm these lies. Even our brothers and sisters in Christ know not what they say at times.

We want results, yesterday, for the work we put in. Our ability to get up after falling is not bad. Our ability to get up after falling 378 times? Not so good. 

We can maybe forgive that person seven times but c'mon, seventy times seven? What am I? An idiot? The "world" yells that you are indeed, an idiot - maybe even an idiot with a diagnosis in need of a good therapist. Not true.

It's been years and you have literally been praying daily for God to work in a situation that has gotten worse. Clearly, you must be stupid, God isn't listening, or you're not praying the right way. Maybe you are being punished for that thing you did the other day or your situation is too much for God. It could be that His agenda doesn't include you. More untruths.

There are inner demons you have been trying to conquer. Now, it feels those demons are conquering you. Your hands keep sliding downward as you try to crawl out of the pit. A mocking spirit is spitting shame and failure in your face convincing you it's no use trying anymore. Lies.

Holding faith is not easy, especially when things have gone majorly awry. It is undoubtedly hard to walk when you can't see your hand in front of your face. It is painful to be at that place where you yearn for a break, an answer, and a glimmer of anything resembling hope. You can start to question your sanity.

Discouragement, weariness, abandonment, and worthlessness do not discriminate. Do you know how I really, truly know this? Because, even Jesus Christ experienced it. The Bible says that He is well acquainted with our grief and understands our temptations and weaknesses. He felt betrayed and abandoned, and at times wondered what good He was accomplishing. 

I am grateful that Jesus did not give up. What a horror the alternative would be.

Could it be then, that the results are less important than the heart of the laborer and the One to Whom that laborer is committed? That's a hard truth to come by, but is it not a treasure? I think it is. 

Our faith is never in vain.

Do not give up.

Even when your prayer feels preposterous. 

God does not mock you. On the contrary, He holds your faith reverently to His heart.

You are safe to persevere because God is trustworthy.

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1

Written by,

Dee M. Kostelyk