A thought by Louie Giglio, from his book, Never Too Far (p. 10). Thomas Nelson, Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)
Is that where you are or someone close to you is?
Louie says, "you’re not crazy, and you’re not alone. Your circumstances may be black, but Scripture says that God is light. Trust in him and he will give you a comeback."
He goes on, "Life deals us blows, yes. Circumstances come up that are beyond our control, and obstacles keep us from living the life we dream of. Sometimes we deal blows to ourselves. We make mistakes and wrong decisions and choose paths that are harmful, not helpful.
"But there is hope."
He continues, "Part of the beautiful solution I can offer you is that the solution isn’t about you trying harder. When people read books by preachers or hear talks at church, too often the solution points to something you need to do to change: walk forward or backward, or commit yourself to fifty days of something, or light a candle, or put a stick in the fire. But then no lasting change comes, and you wonder what you did wrong.
"The psalmist described the need for a big comeback: 'O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water' (Psalm 63:1).
"Those are the words of a man in turmoil. Then the psalmist remembered to have faith. He said to God, 'So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you' (vv. 2–3).
"And here comes the song in the night, the comeback. The psalmist said, 'I will bless you as long as I live' (v. 4)."
Louie then says, "If you need a comeback, the solution I’m pointing you to begins with praise. When you lift your hands in praise, you’re acknowledging that someone exists who’s greater than you. You don’t need to have all the answers. Acts 16:31 invites you with one straightforward declaration: 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.'
"That’s what hands lifted in praise to God represent. It’s the way humans respond when they don’t know where else to turn. Someone help me."
Louis says, "The comeback God offers you starts right now. Lift up your hands in response to him reaching down to you. Lift your hands in praise above the darkness; above death and the grave; above cancer, loss, a bad job situation, a strained relationship; above depression or turmoil or stress or whatever has come against you.
"Lift up your hands to believe again and to declare that although God has led you into this valley, his plan is not to leave you in this place but to give you a comeback and lead you all the way through."
So, let's start with praise. Let's believe that He wants to give you a comeback and lead you all the way through. So, will you lift your hands in praise?
Yes, yes!
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