Friend, do you need an encouraging word? Are you needing to be reminded that you have a Resource beyond all resources? We do.
Whether you are a parent or a ministry leader or volunteer (or maybe you fill all of those roles at some time or another as we do) you can STAND strong – even when you don’t feel it. Why? …because our strength comes from the Lord. He tells us this in Exodus: “The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” Exodus 15:2 (ESV)
So we encourage you to S.T.A.N.D.
S – SURRENDER
T – TRUST
A – ACT
N – NEVER GIVE UP
D – DETERMINE TO BE GRATEFUL
Do you strive and struggle and push forward to the point of exhaustion sometimes only to come to the end of yourself?
Parent of a child/adult affected by disabilities: if you don’t know by now, you will soon find out that you are not equipped to handle the difficulties that come your way UNLESS…
Ministry folks: if you don’t know by now, you will soon find out that you are not equipped to serve all of the personalities, abilities, disabilities, challenges and overwhelm that come your way UNLESS …
You SURRENDER.
God wants us to surrender, come to Him, ask Him for help. He will be with us, equip us, hold us up, guide us, and shore us up.
Look at Jesus. He surrendered His will to the Father. In the garden before he died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin, we find this truth:
“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You [will].” Matthew 26:39 (NKJV)
We all struggle from time to time. We often have crosses to bear that weigh so much more than we can carry. God invites us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
Once you surrender, TRUST.
Trust God.
He tells us in His Word: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
Isaiah learned to trust Him: “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2 (ESV)
After you SURRENDER and lean in to Him, TRUSTing Him, it is time to take ACTION.
He has called us to be His vessel, His ambassador, His representative.
If you are a parent, here is a good word for you:
“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (NLT)
If you are serving in Ministry, you also want to: “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.” Deut. 6:5-6 (NLT)
And…
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
“Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ But I say, How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” James 2:18 (NLT)
“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:23-25 (NIV)
We SURRENDER. We TRUST. We ACT. Now, sometimes in the day and day out working out that which we have been called to do whether that be as a parent or as someone serving in ministry, we can get discouraged, tired, and weary. But God. The truth of the matter is that we are not without resources because we have the best Resource of all and He is wanting us to lean into Him and all that He has to offer. So let us remind ourselves and each other to NEVER GIVE UP.
“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31 (NLT)
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
So when we have surrendered our wills to His will, when we continually learn to trust Him, when we take the step of obedience and actively serve Him through parenting or in ministry, when we persevere and resolve to never give up – we will know that our God is with us and we will see Him bigger and deeper than the challenge in front of us. The Holy Spirit will be working in us to determine to be grateful.
In spite of the people in our lives who can be difficult, the circumstances that can be overwhelming, and the ungodliness swirling around us, we truly have much to be thankful for.
Don’t you love this old hymn by Johnson Oatman (1897):
1 When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
2 Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. [Refrain]
3 When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. [Refrain]
4 So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. [Refrain]
Baptist Hymnal, 1991
And so, we must DETERMINE TO BE GRATEFUL.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:4-5 (NIV)
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Parents and caregivers and ministry folks serving the disability community, STAND with your shoulders back, your head up, counting on God’s promise that, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)
Much Love,
Tom and Julie Meekins
CONNECT WITH US:
We invite you to connect with Tom, Julie, and Amy through:
Email: champions4parents@gmail.com
Phone: 410-746-9010 (Call or Text)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Champions4Parents
Don’t forget our website: www.Champions4Parents.com
And check out Amy’s book at www.HeartReCHARGE.com
