Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not (p. 146). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I remember where I was when I heard the news of those planes hitting those buildings in NYC back on 9/11.   We lived on Long Island for three years and we spent time down where it happened and we listened to people who had stories of how the horrible attack impacted them.  And I know that so many people on that day lost hope.  Their  life would never be the same. Craig says, “Hope is a funny thing. When you truly trust God, you have something to look forward to, a kind of divine anticipation for where he’s taking you. You also have a security you can rest in, the certainty that no matter how bad things seem, he’s still in control and on your side. And you have a desire for change—probably in your circumstances, but more important, in your heart. You want to ...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I ’m  not much at using a negative to get a point across but this is a good one. Craig says, “Sometimes, even when we remember all that God has done for us, it doesn’t change our circumstances. Sometimes we just have to accept that it’s beyond our understanding right now and just keep going. But we must also realize that acceptance is not denying the reality of what we’re experiencing and how we feel about it. It simply means acknowledging the truth of the situation, expressing our feelings, and looking to God for what he’s going to do.” He then says, “Acceptance is not denial. When you accept what God is doing, you don’t simply stuff your feelings down and let your heart die, even as you’re practicing your smile in the mirror and memorizing Bible verses. When you ac...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not (p. 125). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Oh, it is so important to remember what God has done and what he has revealed to us.  It is so important to remember especially in our valleys. Craig says, “He is constantly showing us that he is with us and that he cares. Maybe it was the time when you were hurting so badly and then turned on the radio and heard a song that sounded like it was God’s message especially to you in that moment. Or it could have been something as simple as that day you were reading the Bible and came across a verse and thought, ‘Oh, my goodness! If this verse was ever for anyone, it must be for me.’ Or when you were down and feeling alone, and a friend called and said, ‘Sorry if this seems odd, but God put you on my heart, and I really felt like I should call you.’ He then asks, “What do y...