Grief Bites: Finding Treasure In HardshipsSample

A family member's rebellion has the ability to rip your heart in two...and can even rip an entire family apart. It seems like an endless cycle of tears, anguish, heartache...and prayers. When someone you deeply love and are very concerned for rejects sound advice and wise counsel...and sometimes even despises you or mistreats you for it...it can be continually draining and throw you into deep despair. Especially if it is someone you once enjoyed a very close relationship with--such as your spouse or child. We all want our spouses, children, and families to love God and have the best life possible. And it is always painful when a loved one chooses a path that you know will end in heartache. During those times, it is so important to understand that God loves your precious loved one even more than you do. He wants the best life possible for your loved one too. It is a challenge to live with someone, or be close to someone, who is being so deceived by rebellion, strongholds, and wrong thoughts that are altering who they truly are. Ask God to work mightily in your loved one's heart. Pray without ceasing. Love them unconditionally and use your words to shower them with love while building them up. Ask God to do radical surgery on all the parts of their heart that are broken and hurting. Ask Him to intervene and show your loved one His truths. Ask Him also to reveal what you need to change in your own heart, attitudes, words, and actions. Tough situations can negatively impact us and bring us down too. Ultimately, it is vital to know that God is working in and through a situation. It's difficult, but we can trust God. "Be still and know that I am God" is easier said than done, but as you are still and allow God to work, you are increasing your personal faith in God. I heard a great quote the other day: "God can do more in one moment than we can do in a lifetime"....we should take this to heart and ask Him to take over any trying situation we are experiencing. Love God, love others. When we do this, God is glorified and truly freed up to do His Will without our human interference or sinful attitudes. God can do more than we can imagine. Never forget that.