I am lied to quite often. Not by people (that I'm aware of) but by my own thoughts and feelings. I find this happens the most during times of uncertainty.
Uncertainty is an open door for 2 things:
1. For Satan to fill your head with thoughts and feelings based on lies
2. For God to strengthen your faith.
We are all uncertain about things:
- Maybe you are having a tough time financially and you wonder if you'll ever get back on top of things.
- Maybe you made a mistake and you wonder if you'll ever live it down.
- Maybe you are overwhelmed with school and wonder how on earth you are supposed to balance everything you have going on.
- Maybe you are almost done with school and you wonder if you'll ever find a job and make something of yourself.
- Maybe you're in yet another relationship that is failing and you wonder what the point is any more.
- Maybe you're waiting and hoping for a relationship that may never happen and you wonder if you'll always be alone.
- Maybe you struggle with depression and you wonder how you're supposed to live feeling this way.
- Maybe you just lost interest in life and you wonder if you'll ever be motivated to do anything worth while again.
Whatever your uncertainty is, you're most likely going to be thinking some things about yourself that aren't true.
There is hope! God is in complete control of everything. He doesn't let one thing happen to us that doesn't go through Him first. Sometimes He allows us to go through a period of tension or stretching such as being overwhelmed or down or uncertain. This could be because there are insecurities, fears or hurts deep in us that He wants to heal us of. Maybe He is preparing us for something in our future. Or it could be that He just wants to draw us nearer to Him.
The problem is that Satan uses this potential time of healing or strengthening as an opportunity to take us down. He fills our head with lies. He fills our minds with thoughts that cause us to fear and question our lives. He tells us that what we hope for will never work out, that we're not good enough or have what it takes, that no one could ever love us, that no one takes us seriously, that no matter how hard we try we are doomed. At first we kicked those thoughts to the ground but after a while it was too much.
For me, it's not that I believe those lies, I just have a hard time believing what I know to be true when what I'm feeling says the complete opposite. The best way I've found to overcome these feelings is to worship God directly through them and to replace the lying thought with a truthful one. It is imperative to be spending time in God's word every single day so that our minds can be renewed and strengthened and we can see what God says is true about us. You have two options: you can either feed the lies satan tells you, or you can feed the Spirit God has placed in you. When a lie pops in your head just say "No, I just read in Ephesians that God is able to do immeasurably more than all I hope or imagine, and in Philippians it says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Even though I feel this way, God is still good, so I will be thankful."
Remember:
Feelings are not facts
Pain is inevitable but misery is optional.
Even though things seem impossible now, nothing is impossible for God.
Even though things seem impossible now, nothing is impossible for God.
Happiness is a symptom of circumstances, but joy is a product of perspective.
Sometimes God will allow the circumstances in your life to go dark so He can shine forth His brilliance in your life.
Verses:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11
All glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. - Ephesians 3:20
I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13
And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. - 1 Peter 5:10
My God sent His angel, and He shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me. - Daniel 6:22a
When he(Satan) lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - John 8:44b
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8
