New Encouragement

New Encouragement

I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6

Renee had hoped the afternoon’s bone-jarring aerobics session would shake the old memories from her mind. But even the strenuous activity and her understanding that “hurting people hurt people” couldn’t lessen her struggle against those emotional ropes tying her to an awful past.

Two days later, on Sunday morning, she idly flipped past radio stations, searching for something soothing. She stopped just as the deep voice of a local pastor said, “The family you came from is important, but not as important as the family you will leave behind.”

Stunned, Renee barely heard the rest of his sermon. She certainly didn’t want to pass on to any future children the baggage she had carried throughout her own youth. After continuing to ponder that thought for the next two days, she finally called the church. Soon she was sitting in the pastor’s office and stammering out her reason for being there.

“I’m tired of carrying all this junk around,” she said. “I’m tired of feeling worthless. I’m tired of not getting anywhere in life. I’m tired of not feeling really loved.” Then she shrugged and added, “But, hey, I don’t like myself, so how can I blame anybody else for not liking me?”

The pastor nodded. “Are you familiar with the Alcoholics Anonymous phrase ‘sick and tired of being sick and tired’? That’s just what you’ve described. And that’s good, because it means you’re ready for a change.”

Renee nodded. “‘Sick and tired of being sick and tired’? That’s me, all right. So what do I do?”

“Begin by asking God to help you to have a positive approach to life rather than a negative one.” —SANDRA

Lord, I have so much for which I can and should be thankful. Help me to concentrate on those things instead of on my failures and disappointments. Like Renee, I’m “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Often I feel as if I have no one but you to lean on. So please show me how to move past this gloomy self-absorption into your bright future.

Many refuse to develop a positive attitude. The reason is simple: They plan to fail.

—ERWIN W. LUTZER, PASTOR AND AUTHOR