FaiTHought: Where to Turn When Things Seem Out of Control
Hi there! I hope you don’t mind that today’s post is going to be different from most. I’m finding it difficult to carry on with my vintage business as if nothing in the world has changed. Maybe you can relate to that? When things seem out of control it can be difficult to focus on work or on completing daily tasks.
I’ve spoken with many people over the past couple of weeks; each has had a different response to the pandemic. Some are lonely, others overwhelmed; some are afraid, others depressed; some are anxious about finances in general, others about losing their jobs; some are blithely unaware, others feel numb.
During Crises
Often during crises like these, 9/11 or the 2008 recession offer good examples, people turn to God to find help coping with how they’re feeling. In some respects the meaningless “fluff” of life is stripped away and we are confronted with our own mortality or with the possibility of life-as-we-know-it changing forever.
It takes us to a place (if we’ll allow it) where we have quieted the distractions and the “noise” enough so that we can ask some bigger questions, do some self-examination, and reach out to a God who we are unsure about or don’t know very well.
If you find yourself in this place, you are not alone. I’ve been there too, in heartbreaking situations where I could see no possibility of a positive or “happy” outcome; I turned to God and he was there. I saw him all around me in beauty, in loved ones, in songs, and in strangers. I felt him in my heart and heard him in quiet whispers.
Turn to Him, He’s There
If you turn to God, if you reach out to him and ask him to reveal himself as real, I can assure he will. Scripture says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Now is the time–while you’re questioning or feeling needy or anxious–to turn to him and ask, “Are you there, God? Are you real? Do you love me? Would you show me you’re real? Would you speak to me somehow and let me know you’re there?”
Sincerely looking for God places you in a perfect position because God promises to respond. The psalmist confirms this: “For you Lord have never forsaken those who seek you,” (Psalm 9:10). And James affirms this truth in the New Testament when he says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you,” (4:8).
Are you there God? Are you real? Do you love me?
I don’t know about you, but to me those are some incredibly powerful words. The Universe Maker has declared repeatedly that he is not a far-off God, but is instead a near God, and beyond that, he comes near to any person in the world who asks questions, who turns toward him with a seeking heart. Is that you?
You will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart, Jeremiah 29:13
John the disciple had an intimate friendship with Jesus, and in his gospel he repeatedly calls himself the “one whom Jesus loved.” Some people might think that was kind of arrogant.
I’d like to suggest that any one of us can say the same, that is, each of us can say with assurance. “I am the one who Jesus loved.” Or to put it into present tense, “I am the one who Jesus loves.” Try it. Say it out loud, like you mean it. Because it’s as true as it gets.
Searching for God Knows What
I’m a big fan of Don Miller’s books, including Blue Like Jazz and Searching for God Knows What. In the latter, he describes what God’s love can do for us:
Imagine a being with a mind as great as God’s, with feet like trees, and a voice like rushing wind, telling you that you are his cherished creation…God’s love, God’s voice and presence would instill our souls with such affirmation we would need nothing more (pp 46-47).
It would literally make all the difference in the world. Knowing who we are and whose we are is literally a game-changer. Finally someone gets us. Finally we can stop carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders because someone bigger and better is already doing that. Finally we are at peace with God, so we can have peace in ourselves. Finally the world makes sense.
Some Suggestions
If you’ve identified yourself as a God-Seeker, you may be asking, “So what should I do now?” Here are a couple of ideas to think about:
- Consider reading these FaiTHoughts: Does God Really Love You? and Yeshua Means God Saves.
- Contact a believing friend and tell him/her where you’re at. Ask him/her your questions.
- Contact me via this contact form. I’d LOVE to talk with you about your faith journey.
- Print out one or two of the new printable Scripture in the Member Library (join HERE) and hang them up around the house as reminders.
- Make this vintage-style clipboard to display one of the scriptures:
Thanks for sticking with me on this post. I’ll also be posting plenty of vintage content, maybe even later this week, but I felt I wanted to talk about how some people might be feeling and how the pandemic has affected them. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
God bless you and keep you safe!
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Thank you Diana….my strength and hope come from Him! Prayers for you and your family. We are well here. I am spending a lot of time with my sewing machine up in my studio 🙂 quilting but also making masks.
God bless you Terry and your mask-making! Glad to hear you are well, and we are also 🙂
Such comforting words, Diana! Whatever happens in this life, our relationship with God is all that truly matters. He is my light and my salvation!
I’m so glad you found it comforting, Janna 🙂 🙂
Comforting and encouraging … He is all we need, our portion, more than enough!! Thank you!
I agree Holly! Thanks for taking the time to leave such a kind comment 🙂
Diana your message was very inspiring. I was blessed by your encouraging words. During this crisis we all have to reflect on the Lord Jesus Christ who promised us never to leave us or forsake us. It’s a time to return and began to seek his face with prayer. May the Lord continue to inspire you with encouraging messages to bless your Adirondacks family bringing hope to the hopeless. Your sister in the Lord Susan
Thank you for the kind encouragement Susan–it means so much! Stay safe friend-
Hi Diana, Thanks so much for your uplifting blog today. So many people are finding prayer is a great help in this time. I use it all the time for myself to get by in life. Thankfully my church is now online as are many, many churches because of great technology! People I have not heard from for awhile are checking on me as I live alone (80 yrs old) and I am also trying to call people to stay in touch. I live in WI.
My neighbors next to me have a home they built some years ago to retire to. They live near Chicago. I just heard yesterday that she is in the hospital on a ventilator and her husband is also sick. I am feeling very sad. Praying for them.
It has been raining and gloomy for days here. Today the sun is out and I think I will get in my car and go for a ride. Thank you again for your blog and your website. I love it.
I just finished the chalk drawing “He Is The Resurrection And The Life” for my daughter but am unable to give it to her. I may just ride to her house and hand it through the door and we can talk through the window on our cell phones! God Bless!
Prayer is such a comfort, isn’t it Karla? I’m saying a prayer right now for your friends in Chicago, that they would know God is near and that they would be healed–head to toe.
Congrats on finishing the chalkboard–you worked so hard on it! I hope you found your inner artist and have confidence to make any project 🙂 I like your delivery idea–let me know how she liked it!
Thank you Diana, I am a believer and seek and speak to God many times a day and night. And then I have to listen for answers and direction, which comes to me in various ways.
The Lord is truly my Savior, and I am grateful each day for the many undeserved blessings he puts in my life, and that I am following a path that pleases him and was always intended for me. It took me some time to find that path, but as you reminded us, when we are ready, God is happy to envelope us in His love and guide us to peace.
I believe my creative spirit is a gift from God, and I am so happy that many of the talented women that I follow on blogs and websites, unabashedly speak of their faith. I’m almost certain they realize their gifts and successes are a result of being on that right path with Him.
I’m glad the post blessed you Marylou! It is wonderful how many creative believing people there are in the online space–such a treat. Stay safe!
Thank you for a beautiful post.
You’re welcome, Judith–God bless you during these uncertain times 🙂
I always enjoy your FaiTHoughts. My Baptist minister (with the shaved head, barbwire tats with a cross on his forearm, motorcycle, Beard-a-ments in his beard at Christmas, pierced ear (in Biblical times, when you finished your period of endentured service, if you were content to work for the same master, they leaned you up against a doorjam and pierced your ear.)–He is content to work for the Master. Anyway, he gives us a big grin and says, “Jesus loves you, but I’m his favorite!” Ya just gotta love him! We;re all His favorite!
Your pastor sounds like a gem–I look forward to meeting him one day 🙂 You are absolutely right, Kathy, we are ALL his favorite!! <3 <3
Thank You for such wonderful thoughts and for all the other comments I just read. This should brighten anyone’s day!