Topic: DOWN IN THE DUMPS – By Dr. Jeff Schreve - From His Heart 25 JANUARY 2023

Topic: DOWN IN THE DUMPS – By Dr. Jeff Schreve – From His Heart 25 JANUARY 2023

DOWN IN THE DUMPS

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence. Psalm 42:5

When I was about six-years-old, I saw a city dump for the very first time. I was blown away by all the piles of trash, debris, and food garbage concentrated in one place. As we got out of the car to look around, my dad told me to watch out for rats. Yikes! I was glad when we left that place. It seemed depressing, even to a six-year-old.

WHERE ARE YOU LIVING THESE DAYS?

Can you imagine having to live at the city dump? Can you imagine spending the night with the garbage and the flies and the rats and the roaches? YUK! No one wants to live at the dump.

But the truth is this: a good number of you reading this e-mail are living in an emotional dump right now. Life has hit you between the eyes. You feel so overwhelmed, misunderstood, used, abused, and forgotten. You are filled with depression, discouragement and dread. You believe things are really terrible in your life, and you feel as if you are never going to experience better days. You have trouble seeing the bright side of anything. Every time you look out on the horizon, all you see is more trash.

TIME TO MOVE OUT

I know a lot about the emotional dump. I have spent more time there than I would like to admit. (In fact, I was just there for a good part of Wednesday morning!) When I get down, sing the blues and have a pity party, the Lord always reminds me of my problem. You see, dump dwellers tend to look out – and just see more trash, more depressing circumstances. What they need to do is LOOK UP and get their eyes on the Lord!

The psalmist in Psalm 42 had a strong talk with his depressed soul. He grabbed his soul by the scruff of the neck and said, “Listen here, soul. I am not going to keep despairing. I am not going to keep looking out. I am going to start looking up and put my hope in God!”

God is the One who can calm the raging storm. God is the One who can turn things around with a word. God is the One who can make a way where there seems to be no way. God is the One who can heal the sick, raise the dead, and make an immediate difference no matter how bleak the circumstances. Put your hope in Him, and praise Him for His presence in your life!

Moving today can be today for you if you will get your eyes off your problems and onto the problem-solver. The song says it best, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

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