Always. Photo: Unsplash
Where I live in Colorado there’s an extraordinary park with gigantic natural red rocks called Garden of the Gods.
Some areas are not open to the public because they need repair, and a sign posted there reads, “Area Under Reclamation.” In other words, “Don’t walk here; we’re fixing this section.”
Just as the land needs ecological restoration, the landscape of our hearts needs spiritual restoration—and often emotional and physical changes as well.
That’s because “the landscape of our lives” may need repair. Life can get messy and chaotic. We make poor choices. Or, others hurt us.
Maybe the landscape of your life appears perfectly manicured on the outside, but on the inside you feel like you’re barely surviving.
Maybe it’s time for a change.
The good news is that both landscapes and lives be transformed. Restoration is possible, but often we lose sight of how it happens.
We lose sight of hope.
Focused solely on our circumstances our view becomes myopic; we see only part of the picture.
For instance, if you took a photograph of a desert landscape, all you’d see would be what the camera can capture. It’s your perspective from one viewpoint: some sand, cactus and a bit of tumbleweed blowing in the distance.
But what you couldn’t see beyond the edges of your snapshot was an oasis just ahead, or the desert’s end.
There’s more to the landscape, and more to your life.
Beyond how you feel at this moment, beyond your discouragement or desperation, there is more.
There is hope ahead.
You can have hope in hard times—in all times—when you know more fully the One in whom we put our hope, Jesus Christ, our Wild Hope.
He is “wild” in the sense that He is passionate and powerful—adoring and authoritative—yet often unpredictable.
Isaiah 55:8 reminds us, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.” While His ways are often surprising, He acts out of ultimate love.
Hope that is wild is extravagant hope; it is beyond your wildest dreams.
Extravagant hope is when you have only pennies left to your name and God provides the resources you need to pay your bills the very next day.
Extravagant hope is when the doctors tell you that you have less than 1% chance of ever getting pregnant and you finally have a healthy, baby girl.
Hope allows you to overcome fear and discover a life you never could have thought possible.
Hope is not crossing your fingers and making a wish, it’s folding in your hands and saying a prayer. It’s expecting God to answer, even when you have no idea when it will come.
Even when you haven’t a clue as to how things will ever change, you can have hope for the future and for this very moment because:
• God is sovereign. He is in control and you can trust Him even when you do not understand.
• God is loving. He accepts you unconditionally, despite your circumstances or poor choices. He’s chosen you; He’s just waiting for you to choose Him back.
• God is wise. He knows what He’s doing and His wisdom and ways are far beyond our comprehension.
• God keeps His promises. He is trustworthy to do what He says He will do, and that strengthens your faith.
• God is faithful. He is totally reliable and utterly dependable.
God will provide. He is good. He is loving and faithful. He is with you.
It’s one thing to know about God’s love for you. It’s an entirely different–and wonderful–thing to experience it.
Some people are unsure of what love really looks like or feels like, especially if they’ve lacked good role models while growing up.
Unknowingly, they compare the attributes of God the Father with their earthly father (or others who have not loved them well).
Others struggle to receive God’s love because they feel guilty or unworthy.
Here’s some good news: despite your failures or perceived imperfections, God cares about you. He accepts you.
No matter who you are or what you’ve done, God’s amazing unconditional love and forgiveness reaches everyone. You just need to make the choice to reach back.
And when you do, you’ll discover the love of God changes everything.
Years ago, I had a very distorted image of God’s character. I pictured Him as a high-powered executive in a tall swivel chair with His back toward me.
It thought that I could only enter His presence when I had something really important to say, and I had to speak quickly or He’d get mad. It was a fear-based approach.
Then, I learned the truth.
I discovered that He is loving and forgiving, compassionate and kind, merciful and just, wise and wonderful, and so much more.
My eyes and my heart began to open. God is not only loving, He IS love.
God cares about every aspect of your life. You can come to Him any time, and He is always there.
How do we know God loves us? He shows us and He tells us in His Word, the Bible.
God loved us first. The apostle John said, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
In this profound and sacrificial act of sending His Son Jesus to earth to pay the price for our wrongdoings, God demonstrated ultimate love. There is none greater.
God shows His love in myriad ways:
in the spectacular beauty of creation,
through His living Word, the Bible,
and through answered prayer.
He helps us. He heals us. He guides and directs our steps.
He opens doors, and gives us favor. He daily meets our needs.
God loves you. He created you. In fact, you were God’s idea!
He gave you the gift of life, lovingly crafting you in your mother’s womb with your unique character, intellect, personality, and features.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 139: 13-14)
After all God has done for us, the most natural response is to love Him back. To worship Him, obey Him, serve Him, spend time with Him—and enjoy Him!
When we begin to grasp God’s love, we can continue to grow in that head knowledge and heart experience.
Grow in God’s Love
How do you grow in God’s love? By being “rooted and grounded” in it.
Similar to a plant or tree having deep roots so it can grow tall and bear fruit. Ephesians 3:17-19 gives us a beautiful picture of growing in God’s love:
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be
filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Being rooted in God’s love means that when the winds of change and challenges blow, you won’t topple over emotionally like a tree with shallow roots. You will stand strong in life’s storms.
Growth happens as you read God’s Living Word, the Bible. As you do, you get to know God better—who He is, what He’s done, and what is yet to come.
In addition to reading the words, think on them, absorb the truth, and let God’s Words seep into your heart and life.
In time, “fruit” will appear in your life, just like growth comes to fruit trees with deep roots. Your crop will be the Fruit of the Spirit: “…love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
When you are rooted and grounded in God’s love, you know that:
Even when you make mistakes, God loves you. His love is unconditional and forgiving.
Even when you feel unacceptable, God accepts you.
Even when no one will listen to you, God always longs to hear what’s on your heart.
Even when others walk out on you, God is totally committed to you. He will never leave.
God not only loves you. He likes you! In fact, you were His idea.
Our Creator crafted you in your mother’s womb into a human being with a mind to think and reason, with your unique physical makeup, emotions, personality, and more.
Knowing and experiencing God’s love gives us the capacity to love others to a greater extent.
Because when you know God loves you, you’re growing in that love, sharing it with others, and then you begin to live a life of love.
My prayer is that God will continue to reveal His great love to you as you seek to put Him first.
When you do, you may just be surprised by how you’re more empowered to love yourself and love others.
***
Jackie M. Johnson is an author and blogger who writes inspiring content on growing a better life, the power of prayer, and encouragement for singles. Her books include the breakup recovery guide, When Love Ends and the Ice Cream Carton Is Empty, Power Prayers for Women, and Praying with Power When Life Gets Tough.
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
Years ago, I packed up my little red Honda and drove 1,000 miles across America’s heartland to start a new job in a new city.
I found a house to share with roommates, unpacked, and embarked on life in an unfamiliar place.
I loved the incredible view of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and the friendly people. Yet, I ached for the comfort of people who had known me for years—or decades.
I missed my heart friends.
When I moved west, I left behind family, deeply-rooted friendships, and a church family I loved.
Granted, the move was my choice and I was happy about it. I was following God’s call. But, at the same time, my emotions were a swirling mixture of excitement, anticipation, and isolation.
My heart felt as barren as the miles of endless prairie on the Eastern Plains.
For the first time in my life, I was incredibly lonely.
Of course, you don’t have to move across the country by yourself to feel lonely.
You can be walking on a bustling city street or sitting at a crowded party and still feel disconnected from other people.
Many singles feel the sting of loneliness even more during the season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s because they long for a significant other or they can’t get home for the holidays. Or, sadly, they are disconnected from their family.
“Longing” is a word that comes to mind when I think about the feeling of loneliness.
You want something you don’t have; you yearn for connection.
Sometimes it’s the connection of a specific person you desire; at other times you just want someone to talk to.
Either way, you feel miserable.
Here’s the thing: We were created for companionship and crafted for relationships.
The desire within us to connect is healthy and good. We need connection and community.
In fact, my pastor once said that if God can separate you from authentic community then you’re easy prey for the enemy because you’re isolated and alone.
Resist the temptation to think that having a boyfriend or girlfriend will fill the holes in your heart, or that marriage is the answer to feeling alone.
Instead, set your course on the true and lasting satisfaction of putting God first—and letting God bring you His best as you seek to serve Him.
When I’m feeling lonely, here are some things I try to remember:
I may feel alone, but I’m not. Jesus said, “I am with you always…” (Matthew 28:20). He promised that He would never leave me. It’s good to know the One who loves me most is always there.
When I remember that I am promised God’s presence I find comfort and renewed hope.
The God who made the universe, who knows all things, who has all power and authority wants to be with me. That is mind-blowing good news. What a gift!
Ask God for more of His presence in your life. As your first connection, He is your best connection.
I need to be intentional about building community. Of course, solitude can be replenishing and we all need time to ourselves, but I strive to find balance between being alone and spending time with other people.
No matter how busy or bored we are, we all need live human contact—not just virtual community and online friends. I ask myself, what is one thing, even a small thing, I can do to connect with positive, life-giving people?
I need to find and fulfill my purpose. When I feel lonely, I try to remember the bigger picture in that God has a purpose for each of us. He didn’t create you and me for no reason.
So I try to get alone with God and ask Him what He’s calling me to do in this season of my life.
What has He uniquely crafted me to do and to be so I can make a difference—and be a light? There’ much to be done—people to serve and a world to be transformed. Even if it’s only my corner of the world.
At times, feeling lonely can be a catalyst—the nudge I need to move forward in a new direction.
How about you? What will you do next? Even one small step will lead you away from loneliness and into hopefulness.
Here’s to renewed connections and greater joy.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, listen to my cry
for help; be not deaf to my weeping.
Psalm 39:12
A few years ago Julia lost her mother and 10-year old daughter, and broke her pelvis, in a tragic car accident. Sadly, Julia was unable to able to attend her daughter’s funeral because she was in the hospital recovering from her injuries.
Julia is still recovering from the awful day that changed her life forever. Every day she gets up, gets dressed and seeks to brighten the day for others.
Hope is reawakening, like the first fragile crocuses bursting from snowy ground in springtime.
There many different types of losses in life, and just as many ways that people handle loss and grief.
Loss touches our lives in many ways, whether it’s through divorce, death, or the death of a dream.
A woman learns she can never bear children.
A business owner discovers his partner has deceived him, now he’s financially wiped out.
Foreclosure on your dream home, financial setbacks, or a disabling illness or injury can be life-shattering.
Disaster changes the landscape of your life. You stand amidst the rubble and wreckage, and you wonder how you will ever cope with such losses.
Nehemiah’s story
Bouncing back from tragedy takes time—a lot of time. It also takes comfort, support and an abundance of prayer.
Nehemiah found help and hope in the rubble of tragedy.
Though he lived centuries ago, his life lessons still apply to us today.
A Jewish man in a foreign land, Nehemiah worked for royalty as the cup-bearer to the king of Persia. When he heard news that the city of Jerusalem lay in ruins and its walls had been burned and broken, he was greatly distressed and saddened.
His heart broke for his people. In ancient times, city walls were essential for security and protection against the danger of all kinds of enemies.
Nehemiah prayed to God for the right words to say his boss, a very powerful king. He prayed and fasted, and prayed again. He praised God, asked for forgiveness, and presented his request to the king.
The humble servant finally found favor.
The king not only gave Nehemiah his permission, he also gave him a guarantee of safe passage with special papers and officers to accompany him.
Once in Jerusalem, Nehemiah enlisted help. But most of the volunteer workers were not skilled as wall builders. They set about rebuilding and worked heartily.
Then, worn out and frustrated, the builders’ focus became more on the rubble around them and not the progress they had made.
Nehemiah 4:10 reads, “Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, ‘The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall’” (italics mine).
Have you ever felt like everything is crumbling around you, and the pieces of your problems lay at your feet like the wreckage from a collapsed building?
It’s too much. You can’t do this. You are simply overwhelmed.
Nehemiah was constantly in prayer.
He and his volunteer wall builders regrouped, working hard for a cause they believed in. When opposition came from officials, they prayed—and posted guards to keep safe.
When news from impending enemy attacks came, they prayed—and guarded the city as they kept on working.
Finally, the wall was rebuilt and the city repopulated. They praised God for all He had done for them.
After all that had transpired, they celebrated, as Nehemiah said to the people, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
Rebuilding from loss
God is all about redeeming loss and pain, and healing wounds of all kinds. He is the Master at rebuilding, whether it’s rubble in the streets of Jerusalem or the wreckage in your heart.
We may try to deal with tragedy and the ensuing emotions that follow—sadness, anger, resentment, or guilt—in unhealthy ways.
Sometimes we don’t know what to do, so we do nothing and hope that one day the pain will simply go away.
Navigating the strange and stormy waters of grief is hard. But not impossible. Everyone’s healing journey will be different. Yours may take longer than mine. God may use different methods to lead you from sorrow to joy.
How do you find your way forward through the grieving process?
No matter what type of loss you have incurred, comfort and support are the first steps.
- It can come from the warm embrace of a close friend, a listening ear, or kind words. We need our friends to help us remember what we already know, or to say nothing and simply be there with us in the midst of the pain.
- Many people find soul support as they journal their prayers or their feelings.
- Healing also comes through rest, or a change of scenery. The beauty of nature, God’s creation, is restorative.
- Knowing God is with you, and that He is your comforter, brings peace as the words of Matthew 5:4 affirm, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
- Healing also comes as you release heart anguish through your tears. Cling to God’s promises, hold on to hope, and surrender your pain to Him in prayer.
- Instead of holding it all inside, it can be helpful to talk about what happened with caring friends, family members or a Christian counselor who can help process the pain.
Grief unprocessed, ignored or denied, festers. Processing the pain brings release and relief.
Worship and the Word
When you are feeling hopeless the most powerful thing you can do is worship. Despair cannot journey where praise and worship reside.
You may be too grief-stricken to know what to say. But you can put on worship music, or even just sit with your eyes closed and ask God to heal your heart as you rest, focusing on His amazing love and gentle comfort. Psalm 92:1-2 tells us,
It is good to praise the LORD
and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night.
As we give God our praises, He gives us His presence.
Focusing on His character and what He has done for you lift you to a new place. God is great, and He is worthy of our praises. Like rain soaks the desert and brings forth cactus blossoms, worship and prayer bring renewal to a withering heart.
In addition to worship, spending time reading God’s Word brings comfort and hope. Maybe you already read the Bible, maybe you don’t. Now is the time to discover more of the treasure that is the Word of God. It’s your spiritual food, nourishment every day; essential in times of need.
Open the Bible, there’s hope inside.
A Different Kind of Strength
In 2011, a tsunami caused by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake devastated northeastern Japan.
It caused widespread destruction and extensive damage to coastal cities. But the powerful force didn’t stop there; it continued inland flooding and destroying homes, schools and farmland for miles.
The landscape is now a sea of debris—and a once thriving community is a veritable wasteland.
Recently, I watched a TV program about the disaster and one survivor said, “There’s a different kind of strength you find after you’ve survived something terrible.”
Tragedies can undo us; they can also make us stronger.
Life may be challenging for you right now; you wonder how things will ever change. Take heart.
Even in your darkest times, the hope of Christ shines brighter.
When you are weak, He is your strong comfort. When you are exhausted, He is your strength—firm and secure.
The Light of the World shines as your beacon—a lighthouse in the midst of the storm to guide you to safe harbor. And better days ahead.
May our strong and Mighty God bring peace and comfort to you.
If you’re single—never married, widowed, or divorced—you’ll love my new blog, LIVING SINGLE TODAY (Click on the link and scroll down to read the posts.)
With topics on dating, relationships, and living the faith life, this blog is packed with hope, encouragement, and good ideas for living wisely and well as a single person in the 21st century.
Here are just a few blog posts for SINGLE and SINGLE AGAIN readers I’ve created so far. Click on each title to read the post.
- Dating: Becoming the Right Person
- 5 Lies Singles Believe—and What to Do Differently
- Uncovering the Truth About Forgiveness
- Feeling Isolated? 6 Great Ways Singles Can Get Connected
- Powerful Hope for Hard Times
- How to Find the Comfort You Need After a Loss
We also feature great guest posts, like these:
Looking for Love? It’s Not Too Late by Wendy Griffith from CBN News
Dealing with Grief in Your Widowhood Journey by Dr. Bart Brock
As a single person myself, I understand how hard it can be at times–and how wonderful it can be–to be single.
So, check out my new LIVING SINGLE TODAY blog for singles of all ages.
And be sure to tell a friend!
Jackie