Left In the Ditch
September 28, 2015
Isaiah 40:31 – “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not faint.”
In a book called Learned Optimism, the author says that people tend to lose hope as a result of three beliefs they embrace when times of trouble come. They think that what is happening to them is personal, pervasive, and permanent. When we face discouraging things we tend to take it as personal, thinking we are the only person in the world that is hurting this bad. We have a pity party and think, “Why is this happening to me?” I am a good person. Then we begin to think our issues are pervasive. We get to thinking that this one event, this one disappointment will color the rest of our lives and will define who we are, thinking that we will never get over this, never be forgiven, never be whole again. Then we begin to think it is permanent. I’ll never be happy again; I’m going to the in the ditch forever.” It is easy to lose hope in the face of difficult circumstances. But God makes a promise to us that He will not leave us in the ditch. Write these words on your heart from Isaiah 40:31, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not faint.”
In a book called Learned Optimism, the author says that people tend to lose hope as a result of three beliefs they embrace when times of trouble come. They think that what is happening to them is personal, pervasive, and permanent. When we face discouraging things we tend to take it as personal, thinking we are the only person in the world that is hurting this bad. We have a pity party and think, “Why is this happening to me?” I am a good person. Then we begin to think our issues are pervasive. We get to thinking that this one event, this one disappointment will color the rest of our lives and will define who we are, thinking that we will never get over this, never be forgiven, never be whole again. Then we begin to think it is permanent. I’ll never be happy again; I’m going to the in the ditch forever.” It is easy to lose hope in the face of difficult circumstances. But God makes a promise to us that He will not leave us in the ditch. Write these words on your heart from Isaiah 40:31, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not faint.”
– Dr. Tim Thompson, Senior Pastor