Tag: relationships

God Cares When We Hurt

Published on by Thesearchforhappilyeverafter

How are you?

If you asked me that these past several months I might have replied with the typical “fine,” but it wouldn’t have been true. I have struggled with anxiety, depression, losing my job, and getting my heart broken. All this in a matter of months. I was not fine.

How have I made it?

I have had to constantly remind myself (and surround myself with others who remind me) that God cares. The Bible says that God is “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3) He is with us when we hurt or when we’re rejected or when we’re lonely.

But, you might ask, “Why does he let me suffer if He’s compassionate?”

The next verse says, “who comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” He is going to use you to comfort someone else. This experience is not in vain. Look around for someone who is hurting more or lonelier than you! There is so much evidence that if you help other people it helps you feel better!

He also allows it to happen because He wants you to lean on Him. God is a kind and loving Father, and He wants us to go to Him with our pain. He wants to be our safe, hiding place. Verse 9 of the same chapter says, “…but this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God…” Sometimes we start to get too self-reliant and run ahead of God, so He allows hardship to happen so we will turn back to Him. But He is always there with open arms, ready to listen and hold us close.

You are not alone. Your creator loves you and is waiting for you to run to Him so He can heal your broken heart!

As for me, I have found so much joy and healing as I have leaned on Him the past few months! He has been so kind and brought me through it all. I am finding the good that comes from my trials. I hope you find the same!

(Scripture taken from 1 Corinthians 1:3-4,9)

Love Beats Fear

Published on by Thesearchforhappilyeverafter

In bed the other night my husband and I got into a discussion. Ok, it was an argument. One of those arguments that ends with you both turning to face the opposite sides of the bed, fuming.

I was crushed, and it took me awhile to fall asleep. I couldn’t get our argument out of my mind, and I was sad that we felt so disconnected.

As I laid there, I talked to God about my disappointment, and He reminded me of 1 John 4:18:

“Perfect love casts out fear.”

Suddenly I realized that we were just responding to each other in fear. Fear led to our argument, and fear made us too stubborn to let the other one have the last word.

But God. God is Love. And perfect love casts out fear. That night the Lord reminded me that I have Him, and since I have Him I have love, the most powerful force in the world.

I simply have to choose love, not fear.

According to the Bible, Love is patient, kind, unselfish, forgiving, mature, giving, faithful, truth-loving, good, trusting, and humble (I Corinthians 13).

Also, the Bible tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:16); therefore, whatever is a characteristic of God is also a characteristic of love. God is light and there is no darkness in Him (1 John 1:5). God was willing to humble Himself to save us (Philippians 2). He tells us Ge is the good shepherd, and a good shepherd will leave the 99 other sheep to find the one lost sheep (Matthew 18).

Therefore, we know that these are characteristics of love. Love humbles itself. It risks rejection. It tries again and again. It cares more to serve than to be served. It does not fear what could go wrong.

Love simply gives and trusts God with the result. So my job isn’t to fear. It’s to trust and give love, even to those who don’t deserve it.

And, yes, sometimes I feel like my husband doesn’t deserve it. (I’m sure he feels the same way about me at times.) But love means I ignore fear and I give anyway.

I’d like to end with a link to of one of my favorite songs by Cory Asbury: “Reckless Love”…

What I’ve Learned While Driving Uber

Published on by Thesearchforhappilyeverafter

So I started driving for Uber on the weekends just to bring in some extra cash. I was a little nervous, being a woman. I didn’t know if it would be safe.

People told me, “Just deliver food.” But I didn’t want to; I wanted to carry people. I thought I’d just try it out.

I’m glad I did.

I have learned a lot. I’ve learned that this country is not as divided as they say. People are still people. Political parties and “Institutional” divisions have not destroyed Americans.

You see, the critics want us to focus on the “them.” They want us to see divisions in our heads. To expect to be treated badly. To see “that group” as our enemies. They want us always seeing differences between us and other groups.

But when people get into my car they are not a group, a race, a political party. They are an individual. A unique human being, created by God. Beautiful in their uniqueness. Not just one in a crowd. Not just a member of an ethnic group or a skin color.

None of that matters in my car.

We see each other as people. We talk like friends. My riders and I laugh and share stories and act like what we are: people made in the image of God, brought together for a short car trip but connecting as human beings.

I wish we could all see each other that way every day. Free of tensions and stereotypes and fears. I pray daily for God to help me see each person I encounter through His eyes. He’s working on me and answering that prayer.

So, next time you ride Uber, especially if it’s my car, take the time to enjoy the miracle of a person driving or sitting beside you or in the cars around you. We are all worth getting to know.