Do you sometimes feel disconnected or removed from God? I do on occasion. During these times, it’s easy to entertain wrong thoughts…does God really love me? Has He abandoned me? Of course, I know this is faulty thinking! In my heart I know that God is always close and He loves me more than I can comprehend. Most of the time, faulty thinking happens when I get extremely busy or come under intense pressure to do more with less time. It’s during these times that I neglect personal time with God and rely more on the temporal things that don’t satisfy. The result: my joy departs and is replaced with weariness, discouragement and despair.
Are you weary, feeling empty or hopeless? Perhaps you are asking, “Where is God?” and you may even wonder if He still loves you. Joy and contentment comes through our relationship with God. The more we seek to know Him, the more He pours His presence into our lives and fills us with things that satisfy: love, joy, peace, rest and comfort. Too often, our daily work demands make it harder to develop our God-relationship. When that happens, weariness and despair follow.
In his book entitled Gospel, JD Greear says that everyone will at times struggle with feelings of emptiness, hopelessness and despair. In response to his own struggle, JD wrote out an antidote; a special prayer of promise. He recites it during times of despair and hopelessness. I have memorized it and found it to be very helpful for my life.
“In Christ, there is nothing I can do that would make you love me more, and nothing I have done that makes you love me less.
Your presence and approval is all that I need for everlasting joy.
As you have been to me, so I will be to others. As I pray, I’ll measure your compassion by the cross and your power by the resurrection”.
I often recite this prayer of promise as a reminder that God is always present and that He loves me regardless of my circumstance. I’m reminded that when God sees me, He sees Christ because Christ became my sin and I became His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). I’m reminded that only Jesus satisfies and through Him I have everything I need for everlasting joy. Finally, I’m reminded to show compassion toward others and to impart grace to them as it has been given to me.
Your workplace challenge is to memorize and recite this prayer of promise when you feel weary or discouraged. Use it to renew your strength so that you can make every day count for His Glory.