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Monday, July 29, 2019

Your Dying Spouse 651 - It's OK To Despair

So often I hear Christians beating themselves up for feeling despair, thinking that their faith is somehow not strong enough.

That's baloney. Jesus despaired, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and later, on the Cross.

"Father, why have You forsaken Me?"

If He's allowed despair, so are you.

You just have to work not to let it win. You can't stop birds flying over your head, but you don't have to let them nest in your hair.

Jesus made the path for you, to despair, and beyond it.

Take His Hand.

He knows the way.

The poem below originally appeared as a comment to the Books and Such Literary Management blog post Quotes To Inspire Your Writing Life, written by Rachel Kent.

I wish that I were in the place
where affirming words could guide my way,
but hope's now lost, with little trace
and I've forgotten how to pray.
In the past they raised my heart,
beloved phrases, held so dear;
but in this loathsome bleeding's start,
someone get me out of here.
And silence, like a cold dark weight
covers all my once-good earth;
in mocking stillness informs the fate
of what I thought God planned from birth.
In freighted echo, Calvary-cry,
"Father, I'm forsaken...WHY?"

Music from For King And Country, with Shoulders.


Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.

Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.

Marley, the canine waif from Afghanistan, whom WE helped save, has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.


Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.











12 comments:

  1. Thinking of you. Wishing it were different. Praying you'll be okay. Glad you are still able to participate here. Still praying, Norma aka Meridian Woman.

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    1. My dear Norma, thank you so very, very much. I am so glad you're here.

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  2. (((((Andrew)))))
    Peace be with you.
    Annie in Texas

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  3. Great truth ....He asked three times " My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will,but as you will. Matthew 26:39
    The He said to them " My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death " Matt 26:38

    Always wondered if people can truly see the humanity of Christ and simultaneously deny our own humanity with flippant platitudes and accusations of faithlessness.. He asked 3 times for the removal of the very act He came to earth to do( salvation). Feeling despair and sorrowful and fearful and overwhelmed and alone in the darkness of whatever your Garden of Gethsemane is in your journey is following in His footsteps. Takes great Faith to have faith in the garden. I am so sorry for every comment of every well meaning ,yet
    I'll-informed Christian has made that has caused you even one ounce more of pain. As I have started to read your writings I am drawn closer to the heart of God. Thank you for expressing all of your humanity so authentically it gives me permission to do the same. Thank you for sharing intimate rooms in your heart and trusting you reader with those rooms. What a gift you have given- there is no greater gift.

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    1. Wow...I so appreciate these wise, and affirming words, more than I can say. And Matt. 26:38...perfect.

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  4. Hi Andrew

    My name is Kerri and I posted the above comment with the Matthew scripture verses. I'm not trying to be mysterious with the unknown name , I just can't figure out how to change it. Apparently technology and punctuation ( never met a comma or semi colon I choose to use) are not my strong suits. Lol

    Kerri. From Michigan

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    1. Kerri, I'm so grateful for this follow-up...it's nice to know a name, and Blogger can be a bit of a pain in letting you post one.

      I'm just darned glad you're here, and super-grateful for your comment.

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  5. Andrew, I'm sorry. I'm praying for you friend. May you know God's presence in the midst of this horrible hard season. You are not alone.

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    1. Jeanne, thank you so much for this. Not being alone makes it possible.

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  6. Praying for you tonight. I thank God for you, Andrew, my brother in Christ. May Christ's light dispel the darkness, may His life renew and set free from every encumbrance. May the peace of God minister to your spirit and divinely touch and heal your physical body, like happened with the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment. May the Light of Life be everything to you. Grace to you, in the loving and enriching embrace of Jesus Christ, your healer, friend and guide, Amen. P.S. God's love is the greatest healer of them all. At least, I see it that way. Blessings abundant, Norma

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    1. My dear Norma, thank you so luch for this lovely, loving prayer...and I agree with you.

      God's love is the greatest healer of all.

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