BROADCASTS.com

b'READ: PSALM 25:16-18; 1 PETER 1:3-13\\n\\n\\n\\nLonely, sad, life isn\\u2019t what I hoped\\n\\n\\n\\nDesperate, scared, I feel alone\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nNo one is for me, I stand by myself\\n\\n\\n\\nMany are against me, I can\\u2019t face them\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nI need mercy, need someone to help\\n\\n\\n\\nI need strength, need to be held\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nI cannot go forward on my own\\n\\n\\n\\nI turn now to cry to You, my God\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nWhen troubles are big, my heart sad\\n\\n\\n\\nI know You notice and You care\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nWhen anxiety is great, fears large\\n\\n\\n\\nI know that You offer me peace\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nGoing forward, I need You with me\\n\\n\\n\\nGive me peace, show me mercy\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nI need You here, my great God\\n\\n\\n\\nDo not leave me to handle all alone \\u2022 Emily Acker\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 Today\\u2019s poem is written in the style of a lament psalm. Lament is the practice of honestly bringing our hurts to God, and it\\u2019s a vital part of the Christian life. God knows our hurts, and because of Jesus\\u2019s death and resurrection, we can freely bring them to Him in prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16). Lamenting reminds us that Jesus cares about our pain, and He\\u2019s going to do something about it\\u2014either now or when He returns to make all things new. Consider taking some time to write your own lament, telling God about the things that have left you feeling hurt, disappointed, frustrated, afraid, or demoralized lately. For more examples of lament psalms, check out Psalms 13, 38, 42, 43, 88, or 130.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 We all go through times when our problems feel overwhelming and God feels far away. But as Christians, we can know that nothing can ever separate us from God\\u2019s love (Romans 8:35-39). We can rest in this sure hope: that because of Jesus\\u2019s death and resurrection, we belong to God and He is always with us. Do you have any favorite Bible passages that remind you of God\\u2019s nearness, love, and power in difficult times?\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 Have you ever felt depressed? Depression causes persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. God created the world good, but when humans went their own way against God, the result was death and decay and sickness\\u2014including depression. But God has not left us alone in our struggles. He has compassion on us, and He came to live among us and, ultimately, to heal the world of all brokenness. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we have the sure hope that Jesus will return to restore His creation\\u2014and, as His forgiven followers, we will get to live with Him forever. Then we will finally be free from sin, death, and every kind of brokenness. As we wait for that glorious day, Jesus is with us. He identifies with us in our struggles, feels our sorrows as His own, and weeps alongside us.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 God does not want us to face depression\\u2014or any other kind of brokenness\\u2014alone. Christians can bring each other hope and comfort in hard times, pointing each other to Jesus. When you are struggling, who can you reach out to? If you know someone who is hurting, how could you come alongside them?\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 If you have been feeling depressed, who is a trusted adult you can talk to, such as a therapist, parent, pastor, or teacher? If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his gre'