It is easy to become frustrated and even discouraged when we look at what
others possess and wonder why we don't have the same things in our life.
Whether it be marriage, children, finances or material possessions, it is
easy to look at the lives of others and wonder “why not me?” What we must
realize is that every person is created uniquely by the Hands of Almighty
God and just as each of us differs in our creation, so too are His plans 
different for each of our lives. Each of us have a divine destiny that is
meant to be fulfilled, but if we play the blame game with God and murmur 
and complain about how miserable life is, then our life will never reach 
its divine fulfillment because we will have fallen off our path and wished
for the path of another. Instead of blazing our own trail, we will have 
wished to follow the trail that others have paved which isn't meant for us.

We must realize and recognize our uniqueness and know that God's plan for
our life is perfect on its own. When we surrender our will and ask for 
God's will to be done, divine peace will fill our hearts and we will have
a deep knowing in our spirit that we are on the right path. Be encouraged
to trust God with your life and seek Him in prayer if you find yourself 
questioning His plans. The Lord is able to comfort your heart and give 
you peace that surpasses all understanding. We simply must seek Him and 
ask for the answers to be made clear in our hearts. Then we will know 
that our life is just as blessed as the next person whom we had thought 
had the ideal life.

I hope this message encourages and inspires your heart to trust the Lord 
in every area of your life. Whether you are seeking answers or fighting 
off discouragement, please know that you are greatly loved and created 
uniquely by the Hands of Almighty God.


THE HEART CRY OF A BRUISED SPIRIT...

Many years ago I came to a turning point in my Christian walk. Up until 
then I had been very bitter towards God because I was alone and wanted 
desperately to be married and have someone to share my life with. I was so
angry with God. I couldn't understand how He could claim to be a Loving 
Father and still allow me to go on being alone and miserable especially 
when it was within his power to change my situation over night. How could
He stand by and see me suffer, watch my heart break as I saw my friends 
one by one all marry and start families of their own. It became more than
I could bear. How could He do this to me? Didn't He see how I ached 
inside, how I hurt? My heart was broken, my spirit crushed, I had no hope
for the future.

What I did have however was a distorted view of God. I felt as if He was 
withholding a mate from me because I wanted one so badly. It was as if He
were saying to me, “See, I'll give all of your friends husbands and 
children but not you, you're not worthy, you’re not good enough. You don't
deserve a mate.” I was truly at a crossroads in my walk with the Lord. I 
wasn't sure it was worth it all. I'd tried to serve Him the best I knew 
how and yet He wouldn't even do this one small thing for me. Why? Didn't 
He promise to meet all of my needs; how could He be so cruel?

I remember one night in particular, my loneliness and desperation were 
just too much for me. I couldn't take it anymore. I remember crying out to
the Lord that night, “God why? How could you allow this to happen to me? 
Can't you see how lonely I am? Don't you care about how I’m hurting 
inside? Why are you doing this to me? Why are you refusing me the one 
thing I need to make my life complete? And if you're never going to give 
it to me, then why won't you take away this desire so that I can go on 
with my life? Please God help me!” I remember looking up and shouting to 
Him, “I'm mad at you, God!” When what I really wanted to say to Him was, 
“I hate you God,” but just didn't have the nerve.

I wish I could tell you that the answer to my cry was immediate and that 
the next day I was merrily on my way serving the Lord again, but it didn't
happen that way. The answer was slow, but sure. Still, healing came. God 
is faithful. He overlooked my apparent temper tantrum and saw it for what
it was--the heart cry of a bruised spirit, a spirit that was being eaten 
up by bitterness, resentment and envy. But thank God that His word says, 
“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff
out...” “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite
heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Matthew 12:20; Psalm 51:17)

I came close to turning my back on the one person who cared about me the 
most. I was so desperately longing for a love of my own, someone to care 
for, to cherish, and yet I was so blind not to see that I already had 
someone--in Christ. For no love can ever compare with the love that Jesus
gives. He is the only one who can fill the hunger, the need, the craving 
in our hearts to be loved. Only Jesus.

I imagine that there are other singles who feel the same way that I did 
then, frustrated, angry, bitter and resentful towards God because of their
loneliness, their aloneness. I know that there are a lot of married people
who are lonely too, and that there are things much worse than being 
single. But empty platitudes like that don't help when your heart is 
broken and bleeding because of unfulfilled love. The only thing that will
help is a heart-to-heart encounter with the Living Word of God. That's 
what helped for me. My healing only came after I was willing to confess my
bitterness towards God, admit my feelings of frustration and envy, and 
face the possibility that I may always be single. It was then and only 
then that forgiveness, love and acceptance came, and I was able to look 
beyond my apparent lack, and see my abundance in Christ.

I don't know now what the future does or doesn’t hold for me, marriage or
singleness, but one thing I do know is--I am complete in Christ, my 
satisfaction and happiness lie in Him, and pleasing Him and seeing Him 
glorified in my life are all that matters now.

By Dot McGinnis


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the 
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of 
the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law 
doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the
rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf 
also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath 
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Psalm 28:6-8 “Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my 
supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in
Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my 
song will I praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving 
strength of His anointed.”

Psalm 34:11-15 “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the
fear of the LORD. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days,
that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking
guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes
of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.”

Psalm 103:2-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who 
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness
and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy
youth is renewed like the eagle's.”

All scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.


Today's Selected Poem: ALWAYS WITH ME
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem45.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: PRAISE THE LORD
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony180.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry