Question: I don’t have enough money to pay my bills, my teenager continues to struggle at school, and just today, my car broke down on me…again!  I just feel like giving up hope that my life is going to get easier anytime soon. Any advice?

Answer:  Sounds like you’ve reached the point of just plain feeling sick and tired of being sick and tired! There are times in our lives when the problems tend to pop up one right after the other.  We may not feel like we even get a chance to exhale before we’re having to tackle yet another anxiety-producing dilemma.  And, if it isn’t the troubles weighing us down in our personal lives, there are also the many horrific stories we hear about happening in the world around us.  Our hearts grow heavy as we learn of the increasing acts of violence and all sorts of evil going on around the world.  We find it especially troublesome to hear these acts even being carried out against innocent children.  After a while, we may just want to throw our hands up in disgust, feeling helpless to be able to stop all the lying, cheating, stealing, abuse, and murder we hear about in the news.

Don’t despair!  Remember that God is not surprised about any of the things going on in our personal lives nor is He surprised about the many evil things going on in the world.  He knows that the hearts of men are “desperately wicked.”  (Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV)  This evil leads to sin, and this sin in us keeps us separated from a Holy God.  The good news is that our loving God has provided us with the way back to Him — through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ!  Jesus took the punishment we deserved on the cross, dying for our sins, and rising again on the third day. When we choose to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, ask Him to forgive our sins, and turn from our sinful ways, we show our faith in God.  God, then gives us His Holy Spirit to guide us each day, giving us wisdom and peace as we navigate our way through even the most challenging situations in life.

Plus, God has given us His Holy Word, the Bible, to read and study in order to learn what He wants us to know about living our lives for Him.  For example, when we find ourselves starting to fret about the troubling things in the world, remember John 16:33.  Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  And, when we become  overwhelmed by the day-to-day challenges in our personal lives and feel like we want to give up trying to do better, remember Galatians 6:9.  Here the Apostle Paul extends these encouraging words.  He said, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

So, the next time you find yourself feeling sick and tired of being sick and tired, stop and pray!  Keep “doing good.” God hears and answers our prayers — in His time and according to His will.  He knows the situations we are dealing with.  He loves us. He is always there for us to lean on, and He is faithful to always carry us through!

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