Rock Bottom
"My story is a story about a God who loved me beyond all my decisions."
- Jeremiah
Jeremiah shares his story about how God who loved him beyond all that he had done and who heard him while in his deepest sin. How God not only wanted to give him a Special Assignment, but wanted Jeremiah to know Him.
Remember that in life, circumstances can bring many sorrows, hurts and even abuse. But God’s love is larger and stronger. Our rebellion can bring pain for us and others, but God is always waiting with open arms and forgiveness.
In all that we face in life, God can bring good things into our life despite the messes we’ve created, if we will let Him.
Some Practical Tips From Jeremiah:
Choose who you spend time with
Stay away from old friends; their influence will rub off on you. Surround yourself with new friends who are living for Christ; they will also influence you.
Find a Bible-believing church and get involved
Spend intentional time with God, try 555:
5 minutes talking to God.
5 minutes of listening to God.
5 minutes reading the Bible.
Remember: no matter how many times you fall, the Lord is always there. It’s not about how many times you fall, but how many times you get up!
Words to Live By:
“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked” Proverbs 24:16 (NIV).
“ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV).
Dr. Ron’s Perspective:
It is often said by mental health professionals that the past is the best predictor of future behavior. Childhood and teenage life experiences do shape our personalities and our view of the world and ourselves. Family dysfunction, abuse, neglect, and broken relationships can lead to a pattern of struggle and heartache. Hopelessness and despair can eventually set in and become a way of living. Childhood hurts can negatively affect a person’s self-esteem and self-worth, but a difficult childhood does not have to keep one from feeling happy and discovering their purpose in life. The past does not have to define your character. We must make a choice to either let the past be a roadblock to success or use “life’s hard knocks” to grow us and enable us to help other hurting people. Identify a person or a group of people that could benefit from your wisdom and experiences. Reach out to them and show understanding and compassion. This step alone will go a long way in helping you feel better about yourself.
Grace Notes by Philip Yancey
“Does God guide? Yes I believe. Most times God guides in subtle ways, by feeding ideas into our minds, speaking through a nagging sensation of dissatisfaction, inspiring us to choose better than we otherwise would have done, bring to the surface hidden dangers of temptation, and perhaps by rearranging certain circumstances…God’s guidance will supply real help, but in ways that will not overwhelm my freedom” (36).
