Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Check out this Spoken Word to the pop culture – an open letter to Lady Gaga and Pop sensations. It’s powerful!  The lyrics are below the video.

Dear Pop Culture; Dear Pop Sensation,

I’m writing to you because your lies are so pervasive in this American generation. Because listening to your lies was once my brain’s fixation. But for years now, I have had the realization, that your lyrics are an utter fabrication. That you sing with the serpent’s tongue over this nation, like lullabies in a dream-world destination – contorting and distorting people’s imagination.

And with your controlling manipulation, we take in the sound waves that come to our radio stations. When you call us a superstar, we call it inspiration. When you sing tolerance, we feel liberation. When you dance and flaunt your body in a provocative presentation, we accept it as entertainment without hesitation.  You take the human body in all it’s beauty and creation, and present it like scum with unreserved humiliation – to a world obsessed with over-sexualization.

You say free-fall into temptation and act as if there’s no harm in the sex-game fixation. You say get drunk in a party and stir up the flirtation, enjoy the lit-up party scene saturation.  Be who you are and express your orientation. The world is about you and your instinct gratification. You sing I’m on the edge of glory with your own glorification? You fire up the feeling of victimization so that rebellion and revenge feel like the only justification, and you so conveniently offer every emotional accommodation.

While we sit back and allow your perverted narration over our lives, and let you control our destination, your lyrics are like cancer, in need of radiation.  I have watched as the youth cry out and worship you in adoration, with a crazy, obsessive, unhealthy fascination. They look to you for confirmation and validation. Because in reality, they’re yearning for a serious revelation from the depths of despair, depression and frustration. But they are jumping and taking rest on a sandy foundation, because what you have to offer, is nothing with any legitimate explanation about how the world works, or true love clarification. What they need is an internal evaluation.

Because truly they search for a God who offers a heart-transformation. And while  you can do nothing about their messed-up situation, my redeemer, named Jesus, offers redemption.  So listen to me, this is a hurt-people-hurt people duplication.  And you are only feeding them your puked-up desperation twisted into lyrics  and rhymes in a Hollywood location.

Here is my battle cry in declaration. With God on my side, I will stand against the desensitization. I’ll stand in the gap and let irritation be my motivation. And though from your standing looks good from your calculations, my God uses different equations. He says, we’re all lost and in need of salvation. He’s the author of true love and there’s no other replication.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come” ~ Proverbs 31:25.

Related posts:

Women of a different status.

What’s the big deal with low self-esteem?

I’m a perfectionist.  I’m tempted to now say, “you probably can’t tell from my blog though, it’s far from perfect!”, but that just demonstrates my perfectionist streak.

A few years back, I read that perfectionism is a sin and at the time I thought what?! No! It just means I have high standards and want to achieve the very best –nothing wrong with that.

But I’ve come to realize that my perfectionist tendencies are indeed debilitating and caging rather than useful and beneficial.  I’ve also come to understand that it’s less about achieving my best, but more about personal insecurities and needing to feel validated in some way.  It’s about trying to meet the expectations of others, rather than being content and confident in myself.

For example, I can sometimes spend months lamenting over what I said 5 months ago because it was incorrect in some way – whether factually, scripturally etc.

I used to agonize and have sleepless nights over my university coursework, because I believed it was just not the standard I expected of myself, it wasn’t PERFECT!

When I cook a meal for guests, I spoil it by continually apologizing…It’s too salty, too boring, too oily, not spicy enough, too tomatoey…

These may seem like little things, but they perpetually nag at the back of my mind.  As Edwin Bliss said: “The pursuit of excellence is gratifying and healthy. The pursuit of perfection is frustrating, neurotic, and a terrible waste of time.”   I certainly do feel neurotic with these “perfectionist” voices continually pecking at me.

But I am learning to let go of perfectionism.  What’s important is being in line with God’s will and not defining or seeking success according to other people’s notions.  I’m learning to be firm, secure and vocal about my convictions rather than consumed by worry about what so-and-so will say or think, or by focusing on what I’m not good at.

God created each one of us uniquely and with particular gifts, capabilities and personalities, all for a particular purpose.  I may not have great social skills – spend an hour alone in a room with me, you may want to tear your hair out for lack of conversation – but I’m blessed with other talents according to His will and for His plan.  You may sometimes put yourself down for not being good at something, for ‘failing’ at something in your life, perhaps for not knowing what you are good at, you may worry what your purpose is in life.  But get this:

“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:15-16).

God placed something special within you (and me).  Something to bring glory to Him.  It may not be what you (or I) want or expect, but His will for our lives is perfect.

Step away from the world and its expectations for a little while and go into the Secret Place of His presence: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

You may like: Graffiti Bridge to Life

Enough: Or, why we should all be laughing hysterically in the magazine aisle

Admittedly, the title of this post seems a bit self-indulgent…and perhaps seemingly a little bizarre, because at 24 years of age I’m presently not actually a great deal older. But in the intervening years, I’ve learned a heap of stuff and God has worked His wonders in my life immensely.  In the journey of life, I’ve also benefitted enormously from those who cared to tell me their experiences to build me up.  And so I write the core things that I would tell my anguished, 18 year-old, struggling-with-an-eating-disorder self, in the hope that someone reading this (who is going through the same) may feel encouraged, or look to the future with greater hope.

• Stop killing yourself.  There are some pretty awesome things waiting there for you in your future: your husband, your daughter, a university degree, abundant joy, lots of travelling and meeting so many interesting people.  You wouldn’t want to miss out on all that.
• Having said some of the great things that are coming your way, don’t for a minute place all your hope in any earthly relationship/activity, or think that anybody else/anything can make you make you happy, or make you complete.  It is only God and His presence that satisfies, fulfils and brings a deep joy.  Your mama, your spouse, your children, your education, your friends, your career, money, acceptance etc. cannot please you always.  After all is said and done, you will lay your head on the pillow at night and will still be left with an emptiness within that gnaws at you.  It’s only the Holy Spirit’s presence and your walk with God that can fill that.  Seek God.  Read His Word.  Pray always.  Just be quiet and wait for Him to move. You’ll find everything you need there, I promise.
• Honour your parents, even when they don’t deserve it or you don’t understand why they are behaving in a certain way.  Your best interest is usually at the forefront of their minds.  Also don’t forget that for them, seeing you emaciated, unhealthy and on the verge of a self-inflicted death is upsetting and hurtful; so be patient when they get angry.  Honouring your parents will also teach you the kind of humility that Jesus lived out himself.
• The approval of society is, in fact, not worth an iota.  Acceptance from men and women is temporary and changes with the wind.  Don’t compromise the unique beauty in you to please somebody else.  There’s something special about you that nobody else has, so don’t lose it in a bid to please society. EMBRACE what makes you different (inside and out).
• You don’t actually have to ‘fit in’.  You don’t.  And why would you want to? It’s kind of boring to act, think, be, and dress like everyone else.  So hold your head up high, be bold and confident.
• Affirm yourself daily and constantly.  Whenever you’ve a bad hair day or feeling pretty bad about yourself, choose to reject evil thoughts about yourself.  Instead of saying “I look ugly today”, immediately rebuke those thoughts which tear you down and appreciate God’s glorious handwork in you, build yourself up: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made. My body is amazing and beautiful for it was the Lord who crafted it. Thank you God, for making my eyes/hair/mouth/belly/thighs/legs…so beautiful!”
• Happiness is a choice.  You don’t need to let anyone take away the joy that is rightfully yours through their actions or words.  Do you want to be happy? Joy is there! You just have to be ready to take it, to choose it, to live it out.
• True love is not a feeling; it’s a lifelong commitment and a choice to stick with someone through thick and thin (whether a family member, a friend, or a spouse).  True love is selfless, kind, and does not rejoice in evil.  Express this kind of love always, with God’s help.  It will be pleasing to God and it will make your relationships healthier and stronger.  It will make you happier, too.
• Treat others how you want to be treated.  Even if someone disrespects or offends you, clothe yourself nevertheless with dignity and respect.  And don’t lose your faith in humanity; there are some people out there who are selfless even to the point of death.  Or selfless enough to drop everything for you, just to help you at your hour of need.
• Look at the children around you; you can usually learn a lot more from them than you can from any adult.  They embrace life and live it to the full.  They run, laugh, eat, and are merry.  They look at themselves in the mirror and smile, even revel in their reflection.  Don’t let life’s circumstances make you jaded.  Learn from the little children!
• You should not tolerate being defined, treated, demeaned, judged, or limited according to your appearance.  For anybody that is more interested in dissecting your body, your clothes, your make-up, and your hairstyle rather than simply hanging out with you and enjoying your company, you may want to re-think whether you want them in your life.
• Don’t let comparison steal your joy (okay, I stole this from an unknown source, but it rings true).
• You’re amazing and beautiful, Rebekah. Inside and out.

Now to you guys, are there any nuggets of encouragement or life lessons that you would tell your younger self if you could? What has this journey taught you that you would pass onto your children/younger ones?  Drop a comment if you feel led to do so.

Peace unto you always, beautiful people.

P.S. You can find us on Twitter at: @Psalm_139_14   and our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/FearfullyWonderfully

“Women’s bodies are not our own but society’s”

~ Naomi Wolf.

Boy, I know the meaning and full depth of this quote.  All our lives, since birth into this world, society think it owns our bodies.  Society thinks it has a licence to dictate who fits its standard of beauty and who doesn’t; who qualifies to “fit in” according to their looks, and who doesn’t.  As we grow up, the pressure mounts (for both males and females) to look a certain way and to stay youthful and enduringly beautiful (whatever beautiful means anyway).  We’re encouraged to use whatever “add-ons” necessary (whether fake hair, fake tan, cosmetics, anti-acne cream, hair dye, bleaching lotions, jewellery, designer clothes, the list goes on…) in order to go one step further, to look that little bit more “attractive” or to achieve what fits the fashion bill at the time.

A few years back, appearance was a major obsession of mine – to an emotionally unhealthy degree.  I wouldn’t leave the house without having using all sorts of lotions and beauty products, which would result in a face full of piled-on make-up and excessively straightened hair.  I believed my popularity, self-worth and acceptance from others were all shaped by how I looked, so I took the appropriate steps to maintain some sort of feminine ideal.

However, for the past year or so I’ve been on an “au natural” campaign which involves using no lotions at all, no beauty products, no make-up, no hair styling, no clothes shopping, no visits to the hairdresser…NADA.  It’s not something I manage to keep up every single day in all honesty, but overall I think I’ve become pretty successful in it and I have just a little way to go until I can let go of old habits and obsessive behaviours.   And actually, by not being held down by consumerism and all things superficial, by asking God to pour out His love on me, by asking Him to show me how beautiful I am to Him, I feel liberated.  Finally.

But it doesn’t stop people from commenting on what they think I should change: “but the way you dress isn’t sexy”, “why don’t you do your hair like this?”, “you need to do x, y and z otherwise your husband will start looking elsewhere…”  This post isn’t meant to be a lament or life story, but to encourage anyone who thinks their success or place in life is measured by their outer appearance.   To lift up anyone who constantly compares themselves to a magazine index of beauty or to the pictures of models airbrushed to the hilt or even to their own peers.  For anyone who is being held back in achieving their dreams because of crippling low self-esteem.

Don’t let the evil and lies of this world hold you back or take your joy.  Don’t beat yourself up about how everyone else sees you because God has told us through Psalm 139 that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  His ways are also higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.  That person rejected by society because of how he/she looks is still beautiful in the eyes of God the Creator and a glorious reflection of His handiwork.

But God doesn’t actually look at appearance, He looks at our hearts.  What is more important is the impact we are making in this world. In Chronicles 4, Jabez stood out amongst a LONG list of unmemorable names because he was more honourable than his brothers, because he prayed for God to be close to Him and because he cried out to God to enlarge his influence. The imprint we make on this world through our actions and how we impact the lives of others is something that will endure forever, but there’s nobody in this life that can hang onto the beauty of their outer appearance; we are living in a perishing world and every one of us is getting old.  What the LORD really requires of us is “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). 

Don’t allow low self-esteem or insecurity stop you from making your impact on the world or stop you from living a joy-filled, abundant life.  When people reject or put you down, ask God to renew, fill and satisfy you with His love. Ask Him to help you reject the lies that the world/people feed you and to give you strength and wisdom to walk according to His truth.

For anyone struggling in this area, I furthermore encourage you to read the poem I posted a couple of posts ago called “His image, His likeness” by Ayo Oduniyi. Try browsing the categories at the top of the page. Also, fill out the contact form and be in touch.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30). 

Today I have the privilege of being able to share this inspirational poem beautifully written by my brother in the Lord, Ayo Oduniyi.

His Image, His likeness

Dedicated to everyone who has tried everything to look good, but never feels or thinks their good enough.
For those whom the word ugly has become their second name.
To those who need a word that will transform their lives.

LORD, I repent, for not seeing me as you see me,
For rejecting this image, that’s made in your image,
For testifying that ugly is what I see, handsome is far from me,
That you couldn’t see me and desirably smile,
For everytime I confess this,
In thought or word,
I confess that God didn’t make anything of worth, and He himself is worthless.

For I believed the lie from early,
That I don’t have this or that,
That nobody would see and desire this,
That all that I am, echoes what the olders say,
“Damn your ugly”.

Yes, there’s a gap tooth,
Ok you may be light skin,
But you wear glasses,
Neither do you have the latest garms,
Courtesy of coco butter & dax you have waves,
Please remind me, when have you last been stopped?
My mind structured to feel if I don’t tick societys boxview of beauty,
I don’t match up to it,
But YOU said I’m altogether beautiful my darling, and there’s no flaw in you.
You said I’m made in your image, and your the essence of perfection,
There I’m perfectly made, made in the image of the perfect one.
His likeness, therefore I’m handsome, therefore I’m beautiful.

Take my mind, crucify my flesh, allow me by grace, to look in the mirror and say,
“Yes I am beautiful because He is the beautiful one,
And I am made in His image”,
May your word mould me, not the TV
May I meditate on it, and not be a slave to the latest magazine.

Bring me my identity that isn’t found in the vain of just being ‘beautiful’ according to what I see,
But that Christ, hope of glory, is shining in me.
Let it be that who I am is beautiful, that it radiates through time,
Even though my beauty (outer) may fade.
My Inner beauty, character, righteousness,
Shall endure forever.

God you see me and rejoice, because you see a reflection of yourself, perfect beauty because you are the beautiful one.

Heal me from every lie, restore every loss, cleanse my eyes, that I may truly see, that true beauty shines from within, for all to see.

He says to me: “My beloved, you are altogether beautiful, and there is no flaw in you.”

Brother A. 2012 © All Rights Reserved.

Please share this post on your facebook and twitter to spread our brother’s poem for the glory of God.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson wasn’t wrong in the above quote.  Society constantly sends out the message that being yourself just isn’t good enough.   It teaches us to continually compare ourselves with one another.  Even to compete.  Turn the pages of any secular magazine, browse the internet, walk along any high street, and there’s probably something there that will tell you how to fight the signs of ageing, how to stay slim and sexy, how to achieve someone else’s ‘look’, or more crudely a list which tells you who is hot and who is not.  Hey, quite a few corporations make big money through making you believe that the God-ordained, natural “you” just isn’t good enough to get along in this world!

Child of the Most High God, you are a wonderful work of the Creator of all things.  The One who brought the universe and all of creation into being also made you, and He made you fearfully and wonderfully.  “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:14).  You were not destined to constantly demean yourself (or to allow anyone else to demean you).  Nope. It wasn’t part of His great, good and wonderful plan for you to live in a perpetual cycle of self-hatred, insecurity or comparison to others.  It wasn’t His intention for you to be judged and treated in a certain way on account of your outer self.  The Almighty uniquely and wonderfully knit you together in your mother’s womb! He crafted all of your features because that’s how He wanted you to be.  He doesn’t want you any other way.  He made you and saw that you were good...A marvellous work…One that glorifies His unfathomable handiwork.

Don’t feel alone, because the Lord your God has been with you since the beginning and He is still with you.  Don’t feel unaccepted, because He takes great delight in you.  Be comforted because He will calm all your storms and quiet the voice of insecurity with His love.  Be strengthened because your Father in Heaven rejoices over you with singing.  (“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” Zephaniah 3:17). 

Precious handiwork of the eternal Creator, apple of the Lord’s eye, you are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Don’t let anyone or anything convince you otherwise.

(I’ve posted this video before, but I don’t think we can tire of hearing the truth).

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

There’s a man from my hometown who gave his life to Jesus some years back.  Before that, he was an alcoholic and drug addict and very much renowned for those amongst the townspeople.  Even though his life is reformed and the power of God is manifest through him, the labels of “alcoholic” and “druggie” are still very much ingrained in some people’s minds and continue to affect how they see him.  However, like so many who have been transformed by Christ, this man’s life is a living testimony of God’s healing power.  The life of this man, who people used to sneer at, is now bringing glory to God.

There are people who will only see your past, your mistakes or your shame and will accordingly place limitations on what they think you can achieve and what they believe you are capable of…That’s the man who’s been in prison……he’s the drunkard…nothing good will ever come of him/her…a leopard never changes its spots.  We can even place limitations on OURSELVES by thinking that because we’re not as knowledgeable as someone else, or because we come from a certain background/have done certain things, that we’re not as useful or important as that other person/people.

God sees you differently to how the world sees you.  He sees beyond the limitations you put on yourself.  He can take someone from the pit of shame and hopelessness and bring glory to His name through that person.  The apostle Paul said: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15).  Paul was actively involved in persecuting the early Christian Church (Acts 8:3; Acts 9:1-2) but was converted to Christianity whilst on his way to persecute the Lord’s disciples.  Because of Paul’s reputation, the Church was initially afraid of him and couldn’t believe he was a disciple.  The man who set out to destroy the Church became God’s chosen instrument to carry His name to the people (Acts 9:15).  It was evident to all that Paul was a changed man: “At once he (Paul) began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.  All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who caused havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?’” (Acts 9:20-21).

There are lots of examples of God using people who don’t seem necessarily special, wise or learned to the rest of society (e.g. Moses, David, Noah, Rahab), but were chosen by God to fulfil His plan and bring Him glory.  Jesus valued, respected and reached out to those that society didn’t esteem, or even those considered lowly or despised (for example women, tax collectors, prostitutes).  So don’t allow the limitations of other people to weigh you down.  Don’t let others define what you can achieve or do.  Though the world may look down on you, remember: “God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:29). 

Wherever you’re coming from, God can use you as His instrument.

“For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke 19:10.

“No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power” (Jeremiah 10:6). 

Today I heard a pastor recall the story of a German soldier who had witnessed and participated in many atrocities in the Second World War.  This soldier came home to his family at the end of the war traumatised and filled with bitterness.  Out of his anger, the soldier habitually beat his son black and blue and deprived him of the love that every child needs.  As his son grew up, he gradually came to depend on alcohol as a means to fill the emptiness in his life that had emanated from his loveless childhood.  His problem with alcohol eventually took his life, leaving his wife without a husband and his children without a father.  Though Hitler’s murderous reign ended over sixty years ago, the fallout from his regime is still causing destruction in people’s lives and families even today.  Even though he was only in power for twelve years, his actions and decisions have negatively impacted generation after generation.

However, the impact of Jesus Christ is greater than that of any other who has walked this earth.  He saves and redeems lives.  He builds up rather than tears down.  He gives hope to the hopeless and shines His light in the darkness.  He brings the lost from the pit of despair.  Perhaps the actions and decisions of someone else have caused you great pain, sown the seeds of bitterness within you, or pushed you to find solace in one addiction or the other.  The Lord cares about that (“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle” Psalm 56:8), but He doesn’t want you to remain a captive of your situation.  Jesus invites us to take all our burdens, cares and worries to Him and He will give us rest:  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  Nobody in this life escapes trials or tough times, but the God of all comfort is there to carry us through.  He is greater than the evil in the world and the problems we face: “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

Every day I am reminded that my priorities are wrong and that I keep putting my hope in things that will never bring me continual joy or peace.  The Lord keeps pulling me back to Him and showing me that he is the true source of eternal joy and the One who fulfils all my needs.  That he is the Author and Finisher of my faith. The I Am that I Am.  The Beginning and the End.  Who was, and is, and is to come.  The Creator of the ends of the earth.  The Living Hope.  “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2).  There is none like the Lord.  None that satisfies or loves us as much as He does.

If you’ve not experienced the sweet love of the Lord or are looking to know more about the Bible, take a look at a few of the recommended links (ucb.co.uk is quite useful).

And for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or lost, take a listen to this calming song.

Peace!

God I look to you

I won’t be overwhelmed

Give me vision to see things like you do

God I look to you

You’re where my help comes from

Give me wisdom

You know just what to do

I will love You Lord my strength
And I will love you Lord my shield
And I will love You Lord my rock
Forever all my days I will love you God

Hallelujah our God reigns
Hallelujah our God reigns
Hallelujah our God reigns
Forever all my days Hallelujah

Firstly, I would like to issue a ‘health warning’ with today’s featured campaign.  Any of the material on Beauty Redefined’s website can be potentially triggering.   It has emotive and opinionated content, so approach this site with caution if you feel vulnerable.  However, this website is also rich and highly informative and can be of great encouragement to both women and men.

BEAUTY REDEFINED

http://www.beautyredefined.net/how-girls-and-women-can-take-back-beauty/

Beauty Redefined is all about rethinking our ideas of “beautiful” and healthy that we’ve likely learned from for-profit media that thrives off female insecurity.  Beauty Redefined states that the media is consistently linked to body hatred, disordered eating and an unhealthy focus on appearance.   Profit-driven media, hand in hand with the multi-billion-dollar beauty and weight loss industries, rely on us believing a lie. The lie tells us beauty comes in one form that anyone can attain with enough money, time and effort. It tells us that women who don’t fit the ideal are doomed to be undesirable and unhappy. Beauty Redefined is dedicated to taking back “beauty” for girls and women everywhere.

Beauty redefined offers some really good tips for rejecting media lies and enhancing self-esteem, for example:

• Go on a media fast
• Run from normalized pornography
• Take media into your own hands (Post links or start discussions on blogs and social networking sites to continuously spark conversation about dangerous ideals)
• Be an advocate (campaign against objectification etc.)
• Be a positive example (encourage others and don’t degrade yourself).

http://www.beautyredefined.net/how-girls-and-women-can-take-back-beauty/

So, if you feel ready, be encouraged by this website and gets some tips and awareness about your self-worth and what you can do to take back beauty for girls and women.

Peace!

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing” (Psalm 16:1-2).

An addiction, obsession or dependency on a particular ‘thing’ (whether it be alcohol, drugs, sex, food, size 0 figure etc.) can be provoked by numerous and diverse factors, such as stressful circumstances or a dissatisfaction with life.  What starts out as a one-off incident or emotion can snowball into a life-threatening addiction.  Though each individual experience is unique, many addictions begin because of hopelessness or depression, as a means of release from life and circumstances, or to avoid the root of the problem.

There is nothing in the world that will ever satisfy or give us hope and safety as God does.  A high-flying career may give you recognition and the income for a great standard of living, but it doesn’t guarantee immunity from feeling depression and emptiness.  A nice house and classy car could make you the envy of your neighbours and friends, but you will only continue wanting more possessions unless you know the ultimate meaning of your life.

Even when surrounded by our closest friends and family, we can still feel gnawing loneliness because in all sincerity, their love and company is not enough to satisfy our deepest needs.  The greatest blessings in life cannot compete with the sweet presence of God, which is why the Psalmist said: “Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing” (Psalm 16:1-2).  The times when I feel the greatest anguish are those when I feel God is silent, because God’s presence is the ultimate joy and without His love and direction, I’m lost.

Finding release or temporary satisfaction through certain substances or activities won’t remove a problem or negative feeling.  They become addictions and dependencies which only become like a living nightmare as you lose your grip of control and war rages in your mind.  No matter what trial or temptation you are facing, God’s presence is a refuge in which you can find rest and joy: “In your presence is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

Though life doesn’t go according to your plan…though people hurt, reject, disappoint or don’t love you as much as you want to be loved…though you’ve just relapsed…don’t fear and don’t be dismayed.  God desires to carry and comfort you when you are weak, hopeless, angry or lonely: “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31). 

Here’s a lovely piece called Footprints which beautifully expresses God’s comfort and care:

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.  Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.  In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.  Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints.  This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.  So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always.  But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you.”

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:3-4).