Tuesday, August 27, 2013

When "happily ever after" is fading fast

Matthew Chapter 7 verses 24-27



There is a song that goes along with this scripture that I teach the young children in our congregation. We teach them if they put their trust in God that they can overcome whatever comes their way. Sometimes we want to think that bad thing will never happen to us because we are believers in Jesus Christ. We want to believe that it is a fairy tale world that ends "happily ever after". Sometimes I want to kick the guy who penned the words happily ever after. It makes a nice ending for fairy tales, but I live in a real world with real people and no fairy godmother to make it all better, but I do believe in Jesus Christ and I have a hope for a brighter future. So I continue to build upon those things that I know to be true.


Sometimes we build upon the rock,and we have a bright hope for a brighter future, and other times the clouds are very dark and life can really beat us down. The scripture teaches us that if we build upon a sure foundation that when the wind blows and the storm comes we can stand firm upon that rock; but what happens when the storms of life are so severe that our house and the rock are both underwater? It seems that no one ever told you that your house on the rock could become and underwater adventure. 

Indoor flood pool. Photo from Facebook
Photo from Facebook

It is at these times my mostly positive attitude kicks in. It drives my husband nuts. He wants to sit and sulk and I am making jokes about it like, "Wow we have in indoor swimming pool" and so on. I am one that would rather laugh than cry in the midst of affliction, but sometimes you gotta cry.

But on the serious side, now what? What do you do when life seems to have taken you so far back that you are losing hope? It is at these times that I remember a poem that I learned as an early teenager

Don't Quit!
Author: Anonymous

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're traveling seems all uphill;
When the funds are low and the debts are high--
When you want to smile, but you have to cry,
When care is pressing you down a bit:
Rest if you must, but don't you quit!

Life is strange with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won--had he stuck it out!
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow!

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tints of the clouds of doubt;
And you can never tell how close you are--
It may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit:
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit!


Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Confucius


When life tries to get you down, dig deep find your courage and keep on going for the sun will rise in the morning.
Photo courtesy of Microsoft images


Now it is your turn. What do you do in times of trial? Where do you find hope? Please share in the comments below so that others can be encouraged to find new hope and skills to help them through the rough parts of their journey. 


Some helpful links
wise man sheet music pdf
wise man mp3 accompaniment track

more photos from Philippines monsoon season


3 comments:

  1. Thank you for your post...you are absolutely right, "happily ever after" is a phrase that should not be used while in this world. It should be reserved for Heaven! That's where our happily ever after will be. Being a Christian doesn't mean we won't have trouble...it means that when we do, He is there for us, to sustain us. It also means that we are to remember that this is NOT our home. It's almost as if we are just in a long camping trip, living in a tent. Our permanent residence is at the end of the road. Remembering these things help me renew hope when it seems to fade. I struggle with fear, so when i feel it creeping up in my stomach (that's where I usually feel it first) I pray Scripture and remember, He IS enough. Thanks again for your post! Blessings!

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