I'm Wiped Out!

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http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage & contentId=201640 & trkid=ddnewsI've been there! But God has been faithful through my emotions as I learned to trust the promise, not my feelings. Be blessed as you trust God. Patty "I Trust God, but I'm Wiped Out" By Rick Warren | Thursday, July 23, 2009 | 5:03 PM EDT From PurposeDriven.com <Previous Next> In our Devotionals series, Pastor Rick Warren discusses the Biblepassages that inspire him the most. Today's Devotional is based on thispassage:"I believed, so I said, `I am completely ruined!'" (Psalm 116:10 NCV).Didyou know that admitting your hopelessness to God can be a statement offaith? Trusting God yet feeling despair at the same time, wrote,"I believed, so I said, `I am completely ruined!'" (Psalm 116:10 NCV).Thissounds like a contradiction: I trust God, but I'm wiped out! 'sfrankness actually reveals deep faith: First, he believed in God.Second, he believed God would listen to his prayer. Third, he believedGod would let him say what he felt and still love him.Focus onwho God is—his unchanging nature. Regardless of circumstances and howyou feel, hang on to God's unchanging character. Remind yourself whatyou know to be eternally true about God: He is good, He loves you, Heis with you, He knows what you're going through, He cares, and He has agood plan for your life. Edman said, "Never doubt in the darkwhat God told you in the light."When Job's life fell apart, and God was silent, Job still found reasons to praise God:• He is good and loving (Job 10:12).• He is all-powerful (Job 42:2; 37:5, 23).• He notices every detail of my life (Job 23:10; 31:4).• He is in control (Job 34:13).• He has a plan for my life (Job 23:14).• He will save me (Job 19:25).TrustGod to keep His promises. During times of spiritual dryness you mustpatiently rely on the promises of God, not your emotions, and realizethat He is taking you to a deeper level of maturity. A friendship basedon emotion is shallow indeed.So don't be troubled by trouble.Circumstances cannot change the character of God. God's grace is stillin full force; He is still for you, even when you don't feel it. In theabsence of confirming circumstances, Job held on to God's Word. Hesaid, "I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I havetreasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread" (Job 23:12NIV).This trust in God's Word caused Job to remain faithfuleven though nothing made sense. His faith was strong in the midst ofpain: "God may kill me, but still I will trust Him" (Job 13:15 CEV).You can learn more about how to expand your faith by reading The Purpose Driven Life.Want to read more Devotionals?» View Archive