Leary Gates » despair

Helping a Friend in Despair

Leary Gates — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 02:29:30 +0000

We all hit potholes in the road of life; those times when, in our exasperation, we cry out to God, “Why?” Why are you doing this to me? At its core lies a question of faith—is God for us or against us? Harboring hurt and disappointment lands one in the sinkhole of despair. It’s a dark and lonely place. Those that find themselves there desperately need a friend. Or better—a brother or sister—to walk beside them. But how can we help a friend who’s landed in the sinkhole of despair?

This 40-minute presentation suggests some practical ways we can help those who are in despair. Even as importantly, it examines three temptations we need to avoid when we set out help others, lest we add even more discouragement to their sinkhole. This presentation was originally part of the “Steering Through the Potholes” series at IronWorks.

Notes:	Presentation notes
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Thought for the Day – Robert Orben on New Beginnings

Leary Gates — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 11:30:40 +0000

Spring is God’s way of saying, ‘One more time!’”- Robert Orben

Living in Minnesota, spring is my favorite time of year. Usually it comes too late, after a long cold winter, and surrenders too quickly to a hot summer. But I love the two weeks of Minnesota spring. From the chirping birds returning from wherever they go, to the honking geese on our lake, to the budding new foliage on the trees, all of nature seems to suddenly come alive singing the chorus of spring—all that was seemingly dead is now revived. Something about this season revives me as well. I begin to feel more optimistic about resurrecting the dead things in my own life: ridding myself of winter weight, tackling ignored household projects, getting out again for extended bike rides, and, inwardly, melting the frost of repeated disappointments. Orben’s observation is correct. Spring is God’s way of saying, “One more time!” One more time to shed the weight of winter despair. One more time to push growth through a hardened earth. One more time to remind ourselves that His love and mercy is, in fact, new every morning (Lam 3:22-23).

Your thoughts? What things might God want to resurrect in your life?

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Thought for the Day – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 on Difficulties

Leary Gates — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:47:44 +0000

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)

When you hear someone complain about their situation, have you ever found yourself tempted to say, “You think you’ve got it bad…”? One person’s devastating trial can be another’s inconvenient paper cut. Yet, few of us can top the trials the apostle Paul endured during his lifetime. On more than one occasion he was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, persecuted, robbed, and left naked, cold and hungry (2 Cor 11:24-27). That’s enough to drive anyone to despair. Yet, even in the midst of all this pressure, he was not crushed. Even though he was as perplexed as we often are, he didn’t despair. Like him, we may not know all the “whys,” but we can know the “Who”—and that’s enough to get us through any challenge.

Your thoughts? How have you seen God get you through your challenges?

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