Misplaced trust.
Disappointment, disillusionment.
Faith, not works.
We can find ourselves feeling devastated, deeply disappointed and disillusioned, when we have worked very hard, investing much time, effort, and expense, hoping for a certain outcome, only to have our hopes dashed.
Negative emotions are unpleasant, but they can be helpful as an indicator of something needing attention, just like a warning light on the dashboard.
Where is our trust, our confidence? In a person, a method, our hard work and performance?
“Stop trying so hard.”
Stop trying so hard at what?
“Everything!”
The Complete Green Letters, page 16:
“Norman Douty writes, ‘If I am to be like Him, then God in His grace must do it, and the sooner I come to recognize it the sooner I will be delivered from another form of bondage. Throw down every endeavor and say, I cannot do it, the more I try the farther I get from His likeness. What shall I do? Ah, the Holy Spirit says, You cannot do it; just withdraw; come out of it. You have been in the arena, you have been endeavoring, you are a failure, come out and sit down, and as you sit there behold Him. Don’t try to be like Him, just look at Him. Just be occupied with Him. Forget about trying to be like Him. Instead of letting that fill your mind and heart, let Him fill it. Just behold Him, look upon Him through the Word …’”
Gal. 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
R.I.P – Rest in Peace
Phil. 1:6 “ … being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Phil. 2:13 “ … for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.”
Heb. 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Heb. 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
Psalm 63: 1-3 “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you, my whole being longs for you in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”
Candi Runyon
BYNA Prayer Director
