Robin Gilbert Luftig's Blog, page 37

Dealing with Sadness … Again

[image error]It’s easy to become weary when we focus on our sadness. Jesus warned us about these times in John 16:33, “… Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows …”

Taking these words to heart, what could happen if we shifted our focus? If we have seasons of sadness, then, that means we must also have seasons when we aren’t sad. What would happen if we realized we’ve been restored—even if it’s just for a short period of time.

Did you come from a broken home?

Have you gone through a painful divorce?

Has life seemed so dark that suicide was a viable option?

These can be outrageously sad times. But there’s more to John 16:33, “…But take heart, because I have overcome the world”.

There’s life after darkness! Our Heavenly Father is the source of restoration. When we give our hurts to the Ultimate Healer, it’s amazing how our view can change. Know that sadness awaits us all. Our lives are typically in one of three holding patterns:

We are in the middle of a dark situation,
We just came through a difficult time and are standing in emotional sunshine, or
We are about to be blind-sided by an experience that can potentially rock our world.

Consider this:

If you came from a broken home, you can help others work through pain experienced in their home life.

If you felt the pain of divorce and have opened your life and let in Jesus’ love, you may have a wealth of knowledge to share with those traversing the ocean of unforgiveness.

If you know what it’s like to experience God’s mercy after contemplating suicide, you know better than anyone else what the sweet taste of grace is like.

Allow God’s words to comfort and empower you. Let Hebrews 13:5’s word, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”, resonate in your heart. And know the message from 2 Corinthians 1:4, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” is meant for you as well.

Sadness will visit us, but we don’t have to allow it to live with us.

Never Give Up!

[image error]Trust Truth. It never changes.

How Do You Handle Dark Places?

 

[image error]Depression. If we’re honest, most of us experience it—those dark places that try to claim us. If you’ve lived any length of time, you know the view from your exciting mountaintop will inevitably be replaced by a stint in a depressing valley.

That’s the ebb and flow of life. We try to control it, but sometimes the best we can do is focus on moving through the darkness so we can climb that hill again for a glimpse of nirvana.

It’s happened through the years. King David dealt with depression. In some of his psalms, he shares the most beautiful songs of heartache and fear and loss. Even Mother Teresa dealt with the heartache of depression. She wrote of her depression in her journals—of not being lovable enough for God.

It give me hope to see I stand in good company when it comes to depression. I face it more than I’d like to admit. When I find myself entering that emotional valley, I know I have to do a few things:

Acknowledge its presence – trying to hide from depression will only make it last longer. I’ve learned to accept it as a real issue.
Spend time in prayer – prayer and meditation (me talking to God and then listening to Him) conditions my heart and lays the foundation for healing.
Share my findings with my husband – the worst thing in the world would be if my husband thought he was the cause for my “moodiness”. When I get depressed, I tend to sleep more and talk less. When this starts happening I need to let him know that he isn’t the problem. When I’m open with him, he knows I trust him. It’s easier for him, then, to offer me the space I need and he knows I will come out of this place as soon as I can.
Talk with a trusted friend – I am fortunate enough to have a trusted friend of the same sex that I can express my deepest and darkest secrets.  I know I can share at a level of honesty where I know I’ll never be judged nor this person will ever hold my words against me. If you don’t have a friend like this, look now. Don’t wait until you’re in your valley to find someone to trust. Your judgment might not be as good as you need.
Trust in Knowledge instead of Feelings – this is the time when focusing on Truth is paramount. I pick truths that I know I can trust. They need to be rock-solid. They’re the bet-my-life-on truths. The sun comes up in the eastern sky. That kind of truth. I find these truths in scripture. Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” or 1 Peter 1:6, “… though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” These are two of my favorites.  Use these or find your own.

Depression—dark places—finds us all sooner or later. It’s up to us to find our way back out. Drop me a note at robin@robinluftig.com if you feel like there’s no light at the end of your tunnel. I promise you, there is.

 

Turn Your Back on Valentine’s Day, If You Dare

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Valentine’s Day is this week. Fellas are in the grocery store, standing in front of the card section looking lost and bewildered. Or you may see them at the jewelry store in the mall—because that’s where TV commercials tell them to go.

And ladies get caught in the same traps. We watch gushy movies that tell us what perfect mates do to show love. We see those commercials, too. They tell us we’re to expect a box of chocolates and some sort of bauble. That’s when we’ll know he loves us.

I bought into that story too and was disappointed more times than not. Either the trinket wasn’t exactly right or the chocolate wasn’t dark enough. It wasn’t as I expected. It wasn’t like the commercial or the gushy movie.

Let’s face it. Even though Valentine’s Day comes wrapped in red hearts and flowers, it’s a holiday that sets everyone up for failure.

UGH!

Am I a pessimist? I don’t think so. I think most men want to make their honeys happy on February 14th. In fact, I think they want them happy all year round.

I think that way because it’s my experience.

My husband brings me breakfast in bed every day because he wants to honor me. He doesn’t get upset with me when I hog the remote. He’ll sit with me and watches sappy love stories and give me tissues when I need to wipe tears away. He tells me that I’m beautiful when I know I’ve gained weight and he never misses making over my latest haircut, even when it may look less than stellar. But what I find most loving and sexy, is this man loves God first and me second.

By loving God first and loving me the way Scripture tells him to, he makes every day Valentine’s Day.

Knock yourself out if you must celebrate Valentine’s Day. Buy your cards and eat in crowded restaurants. You’ll get no judgment from me. But know that I’ll be curled up on the couch with my husband, catching up on DVR’d TV shows, munching on popcorn and thanking God that I’ve been blessed with a man who understands my heart.

If you’ve been blessed, please enjoy your sweetie in the manner that suits you best.

How Writers Can Survive the War Against Social Media

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The war against Social Media is strong. And I understand where all this energy comes from.

I read hatred oozing from posts daily. Many people I know are leery to share an opinion because by doing so it automatically paints a target on their account for the venom to be aimed at them.

Yet writers are encouraged to build a platform and use Social Media. So what’s an author to do?

Edie Melson’s latest post hits it out of the park with a fresh perspective on how writers can survive this battle.

There is hope. Social Media does not have to be a dank, dark, place of ugliness. It’s our responsibility to share good and stay focused. Thanks, Edie

When We Seek Healing, We Will Find It

[image error]It takes courage and strength to seek healing to the point of sharing the dark corners of our lives; the ones we most desperately try to hide. But that’s what Sheila Walsh does in her latest book, In the Middle of the Mess: Strength for This Beautiful, Broken Life (Thomas Nelson).

People are rarely who we think. And reading the transparent and vulnerable words from the co-host of Life Today with James and Betty Robinson offers a perfect example. As soon as I read the Introduction, I knew this book would be life-changing.

And I was not wrong.

While she has shared many pieces of her story of personal struggles and her father’s suicide during her years of ministry, this is the first time she shares her own thoughts of suicide and the tools she uses in coping with her own mental illness.

Ann Voskamp, New York Times bestselling author of The Broken Way and One Thousand Gifts wrote:

“This book will not only change your life—it may just literally save your life. It is one rare, luminous, astonishing brave book, saying what too many of us in the shadows have been desperate for someone to speak out loud for years. Sheila Walsh is not only a brazenly vulnerable, fearless warrior, she speaks unwavering truth that shatters the dark into a freeing light. It’s a long time since I’ve read such a book, and I weep for joy that someone finally wrote a literal lifeline. This woman is my hero.”

For those suffering, it can be scary to reach out, hoping that healing can be within your grasp. But Sheila shows that as a lie from Satan and how that lie kept her emotionally crippled for years.

Reading how Sheila had to re-learn what God’s love really was gave words to thoughts I’ve had for years. While Christian leaders may covertly instruct followers to never show doubt and weakness, Sheila broke that bondage and focused on God more than what others expected. I offered a big sign of relief when I read how Sheila refused to let Satan rob her of her God-given purpose. This gave me a rejuvenated hope—and permission—to want more for my life was well.

If you deal with past shame and have a hunger for a more satisfying relationship with God, I highly recommend this book. After you read it, please let me know what you think.

Appreciating Millennials in God’s Economy

[image error]Once again, Brandon Adams shared some compelling views on Millennials in today’s church. Check out this thought-provoking post.

When God Shreds a Millennial

Speak Wisdom to Your Children

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Know that there are options and answers to raising your children.

Striving to Worship Like Job

[image error]The book of Job offers an amazing story! Here’s a man who had everything—great family, properties, wealth and position—and Satan took it all away. But there’s so much more. It isn’t so much the perils that my focus landed on, but on Job’s determination to stay focused and always praise God.

He praised God when he lost his good health. That’s where I pulled up and parked.

Everything I am and everything I own was given to me by God—and that includes my health. In April of 2011, God walked with me through some of the darkest days I will ever experience. I didn’t know if I would live, die, or maintain an existence somewhere in-between.

I had a taste of Job’s experience.  Happily, I did survive, but as time passes, my aches become a bit more pronounced. Yet everything I am or will ever be is a gift far greater than I deserve.

When Job learned he had lost everything, he did the most amazing thing. Job 1:20-22 reads, “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”

My hope is that I can always see past my aches and pains and disappointments. Truly, the Lord is worthy of worship.

It’s Never Too Late

As we usher in the new year, watch the movies, eat lots of goodies and kiss your sweetie at midnight. But don’t forget the Creator.

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Happy New Year!