Having a hard time this Christmas?

[Ginger]

I realise for a lot of people this time of year is hard for various reasons - lost of a loved one, hard memories or just going through a hard time one way or another. And you are fed up with all the cheery good wishes etc and you are breaking inside or find it really hard/depressed.

So thought this thread could be for you, to feel free 'to sound off' or if you just want someone to listen, or if you want encouragment or just to talk to others having a hard time as well.

I don't want to come out with bible verses that can sound glib to 'cheer you up' (if you want encouragment and help we will with verses) but sometimes we know the verses or aren't ready quite to mull a verse over.

The bible says that there is a season for everything and we are to mourn and comfort those who mourn. So am viewing this as a more "we are here to help and to try and understand thread", somewhere you can come and be yourself without someone offering platitudes (I was depressed myself and there was nothing more annoying when people did that as I wasn't in a place then to hear them) I just wanted someone to be there, and then slowly I got better so I understand.

Maybe different posters will need different things so we will try and be sensitive.

And for those that need something or are ready to hear,hopefully this will give you some encourgment at this time, here is a verse that helped me in my darkest hour -

Psalm 40:2
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.

 

[Carol Lowery]

Thanks Ginger....I needed that. My husband just found out that the plant will be closed for the next 6 weeks, and no income coming in to pay the bills. All we can do is trust in the Lord.

 

[turnorburn]

I'll be praying for you Carol, I know some prayer warriors to join in as well.


turn

 

[handy]

Ouch! Sorry to hear of that Carol. I'm sure that coming at this time a year must be hard. This is a rough time of year for many reasons for a lot of people. I think part of it is because we are so pressured to have the "perfect traditional" Christmas, we tend to forget what Christmas is really about. About God actually loving us enough to become a Baby, endure the hardships of being human, and then dying for us.

This is what is lifting me up this season, which will be the first Christmas without Dad. It seems as though I should be rejoicing in the fact that Dad is no longer suffering and is with the Lord for Christmas this year, but rejoicing isn't really top on the list of how I truly feel about it. Oh, there are times when I think of how wonderful it must be for him, but then, usually around the 23rd of the month (the day he died) I fall apart all over again. Thanks Ginger for the reminder that the Bible does indeed say that there is a time to mourn. Hopefully, the 23rd will come and I can get my crying out (again) and then by the 25th I can enjoy Christmas again.

 

[Ginger]

Thanks Ginger....I needed that. My husband just found out that the plant will be closed for the next 6 weeks, and no income coming in to pay the bills. All we can do is trust in the Lord.

Carol so sorry. that is very hard bad news especially at this time of year. Really will remember you and your family in my prayers as having no income for 6 weeks over Christmas is tough!!

I know how you feel as after 9/11, less than 2 weeks before Christmas the following year we were told my husband lost his job and we would be sent back to the UK (and obviously I couldn't work re visas etc and we had no savings). That was such a blow to us and we didn't know how we would cope but through God's mercies despite my lack of faith some days, He did provide and sometimes in a miraclous way.

I pray through this trying time that you will experience "the peace that passes understanding" as you trust in Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord will provide) Genesis 22:13-14. While I was going through it and felt numb and drained emotionally the image that kept coming to mind was me curled up in God's hand, I couldn't 'hang' on but He didn't need me to for he was holding me.

I hope this doesn't come across as a platitude or glib comment but reading your encouraging Christian posts I know you are a strong Christian and hopefully will see this as encouraging from someone who has gone through it and is now out the other side and hopefully that will be you too soon.

 

[Ginger]

Ouch! Sorry to hear of that Carol. I'm sure that coming at this time a year must be hard. This is a rough time of year for many reasons for a lot of people. I think part of it is because we are so pressured to have the "perfect traditional" Christmas, we tend to forget what Christmas is really about. About God actually loving us enough to become a Baby, endure the hardships of being human, and then dying for us.

This is what is lifting me up this season, which will be the first Christmas without Dad. It seems as though I should be rejoicing in the fact that Dad is no longer suffering and is with the Lord for Christmas this year, but rejoicing isn't really top on the list of how I truly feel about it. Oh, there are times when I think of how wonderful it must be for him, but then, usually around the 23rd of the month (the day he died) I fall apart all over again. Thanks Ginger for the reminder that the Bible does indeed say that there is a time to mourn. Hopefully, the 23rd will come and I can get my crying out (again) and then by the 25th I can enjoy Christmas again.

Handy so sorry for you (not for him as he is in a far better place as you have stated) that your father has passed away. Jesus cried for his friend so not only does He understand but just a reminder (as if we needed it) that it is OK to mourn and have a cry (but we mourn with hope 1thessalonians 4:13-18) and we will remember you on the 23rd and as well as pray maybe even do some online praying here.

Your words are very wise and mature in how you look at Christmas. As you say if we look at Christmas and what it really means then it does give hope and comfort to those who mourn as we celebrate the birth of Jesus who died for our sins so we know we will see our loved ones who loved Jesus again.

But it is hard for you to lose someone who I am sure you looked up to and gave you advice and wisdom and loved very much as you will miss all that greatly till you see him again.

 

[Carol Lowery]

Oh dear Lord, sweet Jesus in heaven.....no wonder why I'm so bless here right now. Praise God for my brethern here for such encouraging prayers and words. I appreciate you lifting me and my family up in prayer and with your Christ love. And I appreciate "Turnorburn" for lifting me up at another ministry we fellowship in with prayer. You all are so great, and all of you have a piece of my heart with your Christ love to just jump in there, and stand in the gap with such powerful prayers.

PRAISE REPORT!!!!!!!!!!!!

My husband come in today and about an hour ago he tells me, well guess what? Of course I was on pins and needles thinking what now. He said I don't know what happen, but they got me working for the next two weeks, plus a week of unused vacation coming. There's a couple of room size machines that need to be moved, and they want them move before the new year. This way production is ready to go when the layoff is over, instead of waiting until the last moment, and no one's in the way when moving them. My husband and another guy are the only one's qualified to move them. It may take a little longer to move them, they're pretty big, and some things need disasembled and reassembled at new location with the machinery. It's a pretty big ordeal to move them, things have to be so precise with this machinery, perfectly level etc. etc. Just to bad they can't put a sound control on them...sounds like a REX walking through the plant...hurts the ears!

But I want to thank you, cause after my husband told me, I came here and seen all of your prayers and encouraging words, and realize why our Lord has bless us and answered prayer so fast. WOW I'm so overwhelmed by all of you. God Bless you all, and thank you, thank you, thank you!!! And most of all THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!! And THANK YOU JESUS FOR MY BRETHERN!!!! I PRAISE YOU LORD FOR PROVIDED OUR MANNA!!!! BLESSING MY HOME!!! BLESSING OUR FINANCES TO PAY THE BILLS!!!! BLESSING ME HERE IN CF!!!! BLESSING ALL OUR LIVES!!!! GLORY, GLORY, GLORY!!!!!! HALLELUYAH!!!

 

[Timothy]

That's great Carol, love hearing how God works things out for people. And it was encouraging to me.

I've been out of work on disability for the past 6 months, due to increasing health problems. They believe I've got Mitochondrial Myopathy and a host of porblems that come with it. Recently my short term disability was denied (its being appealed right now but still up in the air). My boss refused to let me work (not that I could my health is to fragile unfortunately) so I've been unpaid for over a month now. I'm nervous as I could be homeless within a few weeks. My wife and I have been unable to celebrate Christmas or birthdays for years do these health problems and a number of bills. And we are without the support of a church as I can barely leave the house most days, and have only left the house for doctor appointments over the last 6 months. Its trying time for us.

However we are not without our blessings and God's hand has blessed us as needs have come up. God provided money to pay for a large bill that came due as well as provide us enough money to buy food. It was a gift given that trully helped us many times and I'm confident he will carry us through. I've got surgery friday morning to have a muscle biopsy and he has provided a ride for me too and from the hospital, which we did not have (my wife has no drivers license due to being from Montreal, Quebec and not having the money to get her one). This person we do not know and he was very gracious in offering the ride. Its heart warming to see God move people to help when you have no where to Go. Thanks for sharing your struggles, it is an encouragement and helps to reassure me that God's got my needs in hand.

 

[Rosalee]

Please know that I'll be keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers for Gods' blessings. May He be a comfort to those of who mourn and need LOTS of LOVE And Carol- Wow!! Praise God - He is so good!! I'm so happy for you both!! Hugs & God Bless all of you.

Rosalee Decker
This is the Day the Lord has made; let us rejoice & be glad in it

 

[Carol Lowery]

Timothy, you've came to the right place for prayer. I will place your prayer request with a friend of mines ministry too. So with here and my friend you'll have over 65,000 prayer warriors around the world praying for you which will cover you for the next week 24/7 around the clock. So grab ahold of them Timothy and claim it as yours. Say it! It's mine Jesus! and I'm not letting go what you've willed for me Lord! Realize the power of our Lord Jesus Christ that flows through these devoted Children of God as they cover you in prayer. Know it Timothy, and walk in that knowing of the truth our Lord speaks to us in HIS Word. I just found out that my friend also had the prayer warriors praying for me too. This is a wonderful group of brethern here to have your needs met with prayer, and get results from their determenation in faith and trust in our Lord to ask in the name of Jesus and know that what was asked in Jesus name, shall be done.....and that when two or more are in agreement that our Lord is in the mist of us. Their faithfulness in knowing God's promises, and trusting in what HIS Word holds in truth, brings forth the power of our Lord with prayer to bring results in our needs. All it takes is that mustard seed size of faith. Hold tight brother Timothy, you're about to be lifted in prayer by thousands of brethern that know how to make holes in heaven with their heart felt request from The King of Kings. All the glory to Jesus!!


I will be praying.....don't let go of your request Timothy. Peace and Love in the name of Jesus. Merry Christmass!

 

[Ginger]

Carol praise God 3 I love it when God answers pray so quickly for some, not only does it help you but also helps all of us reading this - it encourages us all - so happy for you :D

Timothy will pray for you and if it is God's will that you will experience Jehovah-Ropheka (the Lord our Healer). thank you for your example to us in your continued faith in God through his providing for you not only money but in providing someone to take you to hospital - you are a good witness and encourage us through your words of wisdom and encouraging us ! through this really hard long time you have been having.

I will pray you get your disability pay worked out and somehow you get the support of your church be it through people from it visiting you or they give you sermons taped or you find something online you can download - podcasts. So you can experience fellowship in some small way and not feel as isolated - were you in a small group? maybe you could let them know as I know our group would find it a honour to help someone practically? But I hope you hang out here more to get good online fellowship here
Also pray for you tomorrow morning for your muscle biopsy and that the results will be helpful for your treatment.

Dear God I pray for Timothy your faithful servant that you will give him sufficient grace daily (as you promised) through his illness and the consequences of it, if it is not your will to heal him at this time. If it is I pray that you will heal him so all, the doctors,friends and family can witness your miraclous healing powers and all may know it is only through your power that he was healed. As well as giving Timothy strength back.

I pray that his old church or maybe someone will come from a new church to minister to him and his family so they can experience fellowship again. May Timothy continue daily to grow in you and experience you in new and wonderful ways, thank you God for his witness here and please bless him for that, :amen