Breathing Room for My Soul

 

Psalm 62:5-6 (MSG)
“God, the one and only— I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, an impregnable castle: I’m set for life.”

Significant relationships is an area where most of us have the greatest challenges. We yearn in our hearts to find someone that is compatible; someone that loves God and is committed to love us in the same way that we will love them. Our desire for security and validation pushes us to put our best foot forward when we're dating someone new. We try hard not to allow them to see our baggage and they do the same, but the truth is that we all have it; some more than others. Eventually, the walls will come down and a person's real self is revealed. If it's uglier than we could have imagined, the reality that we've committed ourselves to this person can make us feel trapped.

If we've made an ample emotional investment in a dating relationship, most of us will overlook certain things and try to make it work, but sometimes this isn't the answer. If we've left God out of the equation from the very beginning, and we're not following His Word in our relationships, the reservoir for real and lasting love is depleted before the relationship begins. 1John 4:8(AMP) tells us, “The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]” The love of God has to be in a person's heart and on that person's mind in order for them to be a conduit of His love. Sometimes we date individuals that are simply not interested in pursuing and giving God’s love in a way that pleases Him and fulfills us.

God's love working in us will cause us to govern our lives by things like patience, generosity, kindness, honesty, peace, and joy. If there isn't gratitude for God and His love, and if this isn’t the motivation for all that we do, there will be no breathing room for our souls. We can't expand and increase in a way that brings light into all the situations and relationships of our lives.

1Peter 1:13-16(MSG) says, “So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.””

Our heads are in the game when our hearts are ever expanding with love and honor for our Creator. We are required and equipped to demonstrate our gratitude for what He has accomplished for us through Jesus Christ. The way that we do this is to be obedient to His Word. We can't slip back to those old ways of trying to leave God out of our relationships. Everything we hope for comes from Him, as Psalm 62:5-6 tells us. 

Significant relationships can add to our lives and increase them in wonderful ways, but every person we date doesn't have the capacity to partner in this. Rather than giving us room to grow, they can stifle us, and God doesn't want this. He's the One with the plan for our existences, and He knows the person that is a gift to our journey forward and upward through Christ. So, let's not takes risks with something as important as joining our lives to another. God knows our flaws and strengths, and if we place our faith in Him, He will connect us with the person that will help us grow stronger in His love and grace. Surrender this area of your life to Him, because only He can give comfort to our aching hearts and breathing room for our souls.■

Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (MSG) are taken from The Message. Copyright ©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

 “Breathing Room for My Soul”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2024. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Be Strong in Your Faith

 

1 Peter 5:9 (NLT)
“Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.”

Divorce can be one of the most painful ordeals that any of us can experience. When children are involved, it's even more challenging. Some of us are still in shock even after a year or so has passed. We find ourselves just going through the motions on life, responding to it on autopilot. Sometimes the reality of no longer being married hits us like a freight train. For others, it's a slower process of coming to terms with the emotions. Even when abuse is involved, and we're finally free, the readjustment emotionally and mentally may cause us to lose confidence in our identity, decisions, and ability to live a happy life.

The Word of God teaches us that we should pray for our brothers and sisters all over the world, and 1Peter 5:9 reminds us that they are going through some of the same difficulties many of us are experiencing. This encouragement is not meant to minimize the pain and heartbreak we might be enduring. Jesus Christ said in John 16:33(NLT), "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." Our Heavenly Father knows that life can be difficult for us, and He wants to help us. He wants us to know that just as He has helped our other sisters and brothers in Christ as they have suffered tribulation and come through it, He will help us as well.

It is God's Will for the gift of being and having a spouse to be a blessing. It's a role that is meant to be unifying, and to provide support and love, but sometimes people do not value the gift of marriage as it should be. Colossians 3:12(NLT) says, "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." The world would be a very different place if God's commandment in this verse was obeyed by everyone, but many people do not obey it. They are not kind, humble, gentle, tenderhearted and patient. Often, they are just the opposite.

It is also the case that sometimes we don't find out about the dark side of some individuals until after we've married them. While dating and getting to know one another, all of us try to present our best qualities, but when the things that lurk beneath the surface appear, sometimes the darkness is shocking. We didn't see it coming, but God knows everything. He knew that this person had issues that would impede our lives. This is one of the reasons that we must seek God first on all things. Jesus Christ tells us this in Matthew 6:33(NLT), where he said, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

In the aftermath of a difficult situation, we must never lose sight of God's willingness and ability to come to our rescue. We can't make decisions without God's help. We need Him to lead, guide, and direct us, not just in the process of making the decisions, but also about living with those decisions. We need His guidance and help to maintain the blessings we've received.

Romans 8:29(NLT) says, "For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." We are God's children and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. This is our identity, and it is a glorious one. The Christian life doesn't exempt us from the hardships of life. Through our powerful Lord and Savior, we don't remain in troubles and tribulations, we go through them and come out on the victorious side. We must stand firm and remain strong in our faith in this as we move from victory to victory through Jesus Christ.■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Be Strong in Your Faith”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2024. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.