I'm going to apologize in advance for the length of this post! There was just so much I needed to include!
I don’t know about you,
but it seems that in about the middle of January every year, I get into
somewhat of a funk. The winter has barely started, but it’s about that time
when you just get sick of the cold weather, and my mom starts looking at
Real-Estate down south. The school year is only half way over, but it feels
like it is the only thing that I’ve ever known! The only break to we have to
look forward to is summer, and that is still light-years away. Stresses of
homework, grades, life, and drama seem to pile up in a giant weight on your
shoulders. All those things that God had told you at Camp aren’t really in the
forefront of your mind anymore. All you are able to do are clumsily scramble
through life, taking it all one day at a time ‘till school lets out.
Well, what if I told you
that in 3 simple steps, you too can combat the Mid-Winter Blues! Yes, that’s
right! So sit back while I lead you through them! (I feel like I’m in an
infomercial! Haha)
1. Give
Thanks
It’s in these crazy times that we need to
remember to give thanks to God for all he’s done. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says
this “Give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Yup, kids, in ALL circumstances! How many of y’all know that by all, God means
ALL! The good, the bad, the ugly, and the hideous! Think about it. God
sacrificed HIS SON for us. And it wasn’t a walk in the park for Jesus either!
No sir! But he loved us so much that he hung on a tree and suffocated to death
while the people that he was saving taunted him and threw lots for his
clothing. Now, Jesus was not helpless. He had the power of God! He had the
authority to call down bolts of lightning, smite all the people, and jump down
from the cross. But he didn’t. Do you know why? Because that wouldn’t save YOU.
He took YOUR punishment and suffered greatly with it so that you could live in
heaven instead of the eternal fire of Hell. Wow. And that’s just one of the billions
of incredible things that God has done for you! When you focus on the things
God has done for you, all those problems you are facing seem to be a little
less daunting…which brings me to step two!
2. Look
to God
STORY TIME!!! Now, I’m going to have y'all read a story about two guys who looked to God in their darkness. Go to blueletterbible.org and look up Acts 16:16-34(This bible study would be incredibly long if I included it!) Paul and Silas looked to God when all hope seemed lost. They were in
a PRISON FOR PETE’S SAKE!!! And God brought them out! And helped others in the
process! And, by golly, they are not the only ones who were brought out of pain
and suffering when they looked to God! God’s done it before, he can do it
again!
3. Press
on!
Okay, now that you’ve been encouraged, it’s time to
belly up and press on alongside the creator of the universe! James 1:12 says “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast
under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life,
which God has promised to those who love him.” So in the words of
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we
are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
