Hope



Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

 Hope  

ByCheryl Laurenza 

Mark 5:4 , 15  " ...No one was strong enough to subdue him ...When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind."

Have you ever been in a place where you felt like this? Where there seemed to be no solution, no help to be found, your situation was dire because no one had what it took to change the circumstances or those involved including you?

I think we've all been in that place, are there now, or might be heading into it.  At these times we often feel alone, afraid, anxious and powerless.  Add the self-inflicted sense of false guilt because Christians shouldn't feel this way or the harsh, legalistic shaming from others that tells us,"You need to have more faith," or perhaps worse, just neglect and a sense of rejection, and you have a recipe for hopelessness.  The Enemy seems to like to use these tactics of our own inner critic, others, and top it off with the resulting isolation from the body, or the pack, so to speak.  Have you ever watched the nature shows where you see the lion or the wolves hunting?  Have you noticed that they seem to target those animals that have become separated from the herd?  Folks, we are sitting ducks when we isolate.  It leaves room for all the above.  Remember scripture tells us, "Yet we are not unaware of his schemes."  Yet when we hurt, we forget and cannot see, and that's when we really need one another.

Here is the key.  Looking back at Mark 5, the man possessed had no hope, as he could not be helped, bound, or even caught so someone could try to help.  He was out in a desolate, lonely place ....separated.  But Jesus....The words jumped off the page at me today that there was one who just so happened to land in that place where he was.  Do you think that was an accident?  Jesus could and did subdue and bind the Enemy.  He also in that process restored the man to life, broke his isolation and exile, and told him to tell others how much God had done for him.  Wow!!  

So what in life is overwhelming you, keeping you apart?  Have you become hopeless of change or restoration?  Run to Him.  He has the power, grace, and mercy to not only overcome the Enemy but to heal, restore, and lead you to healthy life-giving relationships in the body.  

Recommended reading: 

Safe People                        Cloud & Townsend

Safest Place on Earth.      Dr. Larry Crabb

He Loves Me                     Wayne Jacobsen

Cheryl Laurenza, MA, LPC, NCC

CPCS, ACS

The Refuge Counseling Center, LLC

3211 South Cherokee Lane

Suite 640

Woodstock, GA 30188

P: 678 693 2281

F: 888 971 3910

Cheryl@refugecounselingcenter.org

www.refugecounselingcenter.org

Chris Tomlin - Whom Shall I Fear [God of Angel Armies] [Official Lyric Video] from chris-tomlin on GodTube.