Spring is a wonderful time of the year bringing hope and rebirth.
Over the course of my life, I have discovered that what brings hope and joy to some people also brings despair and hopeless feelings to others. The more people they see and talk to that are happy, the lower they sink, wondering why they don’t feel that way. They see problems in their lives and don’t see solutions.
It’s easy to say have more faith and it will get better. The reality is, it doesn’t work that way. What does work is to lean into God. When you get to the point of being completely broken with nowhere to turn you need to turn to God. He is always waiting, listening, and talking to you. The key is whether you listen.
In Isaiah 52:12, it says that God is always before us and has our rear guard. Think about that. God is making a path for us to follow. Do we follow it? He will walk with you every step of the way. He will tell you it’s time to get up and take the first step. However, He won’t grab you and force you to take that step. That is your choice and responsibility. You must get up to follow.
God knows what you have done and what you are going to do. Through Christ, God has provided a path ahead for salvation. Grace and forgiveness are on that path He has made for you. Yes, you can be forgiven no matter what you have done.
The rear guard is even more important. God will not take away the memories of the past. Those will be your guard rails moving toward your happier future. As you follow the path, He will let the memories of failure remind us not to go there again. Yes, you will likely run into those rails again, but they are reminders to get back into your lane.
God does want you to have a great life. He will fill it with peace, comfort, and joy. God selects our path and fills it with all these things, but you have to claim the path you want to follow. I urge you to find a Bible preaching church. One that teaches all of God’s word but remains silent when the Bible is silent. Find a place where you are comfortable and where you feel welcome.
If you feel down on Sunday morning, being in church to sing a joyful worship song should lift your heart and spirit. It should bring you joy right after you take the first step. Please remember you need to come to the Father and ask where your path goes. He is the first step. If you don’t want to walk in on Sunday stop in during the week and ask the pastor what to do.
Let him or her know you want to do something but don’t know how to start.
Al Slavik is the associate/youth pastor at Lakeside Christian Church in Shell Knob and may be reached at lccskyouthmin@gmail.com.
