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 If you recently received bad or somewhat gloomy news, you may find yourself a bit on the down side. Your heart may be broken and your spirit may feel crushed. You may feel a bit distracted with the report, conclusion, or realization. Your face and body may also be responding to your inner turmoil, and perhaps folks are starting to notice. Let's face it. Life is hard and sometimes throws us a curve ball. If this is you at the moment, let me be the first to simply say: "I'm sorry."  There may not be a quick fix, but there are a few things we can do to help ourselves accept what we cannot control. We can learn to move on with resolve and peace. First, grieve a little bit. Confess and admit how you feel. There's nothing wrong with that. (Just don't stay stuck here.) Also, try to limit your Why? questions as God doesn't seem to answer those directly very often in this life.  Then, consider how even God's providential will can work for you in time. Do you trust Him? Do you have faith in Him as your Good Father? Though things did not go as you planned, could God be up to something bigger and better for you and/or others involved? Wait. I know. If you're in a spot where you do believe and trust God but you also have serious reservations, ask Him to help you with your unbelief. That might be the very best place to start when your heart is aching. Accept the reality of the situation and try to learn something new about yourself. Really try to embrace the place you find yourself in. Remember that in your Father's vineyard there is abundance--He will give you all you need. You are not defined by how you perform--your identity as a child of God is what defines. Things may be unfair or unfortunate which is why trusting God even when you don't understand is evidence of a child-like faith. So if you wanted the new car and didn't get it, if you missed the A by .6, if the doctor's report came back positive, or if someone you love lied to you or didn't include you, look around in the vineyard.  Find Jesus and ask Him how to deal with this hurdle that knocked you down. He has probably felt many of the feelings you are having right now, also. He can relate. He was rejected, yelled at, accused, and ultimately crucified as an innocent man. Ask Him what to do with your feelings and how to process them. Finally, seek the Holy Spirit for the enduring and deeply meaningful comfort that chocolate and Netflix cannot provide. What does it mean that we have a Comforter? What does that relationship look like for you? How can you step into this love when you are feeling blue? Well, it is a bit of a mystery to me, but somehow it involves time and prayer and quiet reflection. In other words, we must be intentional about our healing in so much as it depends on us. We can train ourselves to be so rooted in love that our thoughts are quickly lined up with the Truth. Music brings many people comfort, so maybe you need to find a song that encourages your heart and speaks truth to your mind. The more we focus on the Truth, the greater our peace, even in the most difficult of times. Take a walk and enjoy the fresh air. Reach out to help someone else. And perhaps most importantly, look for ways to be grateful. Well, we can't quite afford the house of our dreams, but we do have a lovely apartment filled with healthy children. I didn't get the promotion, but I'm so thankful that my current job provides for my family. I let my best friend down, but I am now better equipped about how to deal with that situation should it come up again.  Please take heart, dear friend. Better days are coming. Why are you in despair, O my soul?
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