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You Say versus God Says

“For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”

Psalm 103:14

We’re so human, and that leaves us thinking and saying things that reflect our human nature instead of the nature of God. We get scared, we have our limits, we get weary, and we get frustrated. Sometimes things seem impossible, we feel down on ourselves, or we simply feel we can’t go on. It’s easy to get caught up in what we think and feel – and in what the world around us is saying.

If we only focus on what we think and feel, we end up in despair, but God gave us his Word so we can dig in and find out what He has to say. And when we listen to what God says – the God that is all-powerful, full of mercy, the I AM – it brings an entirely new perspective to our life. And what God says brings encouragement, comfort, and hope.

Let’s look closer at some of the common things we think and say as humans, and at what God has to say about it. It’s going to encourage you and lift up your heart today.

You Say versus God Says

1 – You Say: “It looks impossible”

God Says: “And he said, the things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

How many times have you looked at a situation and thought it was impossible? I know I have. I’ve been on my knees countless times telling God I couldn’t see a way and that everything just looked impossible. We get so hung up on things we feel are impossible. But “impossible” isn’t a word that exists in God’s vocabulary.

In the book of Luke, God reminds us that all those things that are impossible with men are possible with God. And that thing that’s got you discouraged, when you can’t see how it will ever work out, it’s possible with God.

2 – You Say: “I’m not smart enough or wise enough”

God Says: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Finding it difficult to figure things out in your life? Maybe you’re feeling like you’re just not smart enough or wise enough. I know I feel this way a lot, especially when I’m trying to make big decisions in my life. As a widow, it’s just my son and me, and I know my choices have a significant impact on both of us. I can’t afford to mess up, and so often I just don’t feel like I have the wisdom to make the right choices. And I don’t on my own.

But God tells us that we don’t have to lean on our own understanding or wisdom. When we trust in him and acknowledge him in all our ways, he’s going to direct our paths. He’s going to give the wisdom we need – we just have to let go, trust him, and follow where he leads us.

3 – You Say: “I’m growing tired”

God Says: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)

I cannot count the times in the last four years that I’ve simply prayed, “Jesus, I’m so tired.” Sometimes that’s been physical tiredness, others it was mental fatigue, and yet other times, it was a deep, emotional exhaustion that was wearing me down. In Matthew, it becomes clear that Jesus knows that we as humans get tired. We labor hard, many of us carry on under heavy burdens, and after a while, we just get worn-out.

But the promise Jesus gave to us is that he will give us rest. When we serve him and follow after him, we’ll find rest for our souls. And when you find yourself feeling so tired, remember that God is offering you his rest.

4 – You Say: “I’m not able to go on”

God Says: “And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.” (Psalm 91:15)

Have you ever felt like things were so difficult that you just couldn’t go on? I have. I’ve wondered how in the world I could put one foot in front of the other to take the next step in my life. There’ve been times I’ve felt like I just couldn’t do it anymore. Maybe you’re struggling with illness, you’ve gone through a terrible loss, or you’re dealing with something else that has you down. When you’re ready to throw in the towel and quit, remember what God says.

In 2 Corinthians, God says, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” No matter what we’re facing, no matter how bad it looks, and no matter how tired we are, God says his grace is sufficient. His strength is there for us when we are weak. We’re not strong enough. We don’t have the ability to keep going in the face of adversity. But God does. It doesn’t matter what comes your way, his grace is going to be sufficient, and you can hold on to that promise when you feel like you just can’t keep going.

5 – You Say: “No one could love me”

God Says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Whether you’re a long-time believer or someone who still hasn’t given their life to Jesus, at some point, you’ve probably said or thought, “No one could ever love me.” Or maybe you thought, “Jesus could never love me.” But you’re wrong!

In one of the most stunning verses in the Bible, Jesus declares that God loved the world so much that he gave his only son. He gave his everything to save you. God loved us so much that he had to come back for us, spanning time and space to do what seemed impossible – God made flesh – Jesus. And then, Jesus gave his life for us, loving us so much that he was willing to die. As one of my favorite Christian authors and speakers, Ann Voskamp, often says, Jesus is the one who “loved us to death.”

And not only does God love us enough that he gave us his son, who died for us, but nothing has the power to separate us from that amazing love. Nothing! Not death, not life, not angels, not any creature, nothing in your past, and nothing in your future. There’s no power strong enough to keep you from the love of God. It’s awe-inspiring to think about. When you feel unlovable, look at what God says to you. He says you’re loved, and nothing, NOTHING can change that.

6 – You Say: “I’m worthless”

God Says: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

If you’re feeling worthless, you need to know that God feels otherwise. Maybe you don’t like the way you look, or you’re frustrated with a mistake you made, or you feel like you’re not talented enough. When you say you’re worthless, God is saying that you are a masterpiece.

In Ephesians, it says we are his workmanship, which also means handiwork or masterpiece. You are a masterpiece created by God. How incredible is it that the Bible says this about us? People travel the world to see paintings and sculptures by famous artists. They’ll pay incredible amounts of money for these pieces just because they’re made by a well-known artist. Remember this – the artist who created you is better than any artist in history. And you – you are his masterpiece.

7 – You Say: “I’m not brave enough”

God Says: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

Sometimes I don’t feel courageous. When I’ve gone through the toughest times that life has thrown at me, I haven’t felt brave at all. I wanted to hide from my problems. I didn’t feel like a soldier; I felt more like a coward. But when you feel like you’re not brave enough to face what’s coming your way, God says, “we are more than conquerors.”

How? Through the power of God who loves us. He’s the one fighting our battles for us. And when you feel like you’re not brave, remember that it’s God who has all the power, and through him, we can conquer anything.

8 – You Say: “I cannot forgive myself for what I’ve done”

God Says: “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)

Even if you know you’ve been saved by grace and your sins have been washed away by the amazing power of Jesus, sometimes those sins can come back to haunt you. While Jesus has forgiven us, it’s often hard for us to forgive ourselves for what we’ve done. There are some things in my life for which I’ve spent so much time beating myself up. I know Jesus has forgiven those things, but I’ve struggled with forgiving myself.

But God, he loves us with an “everlasting love,” and when we confess our sins to him, he forgives those sins. Beyond forgiveness, the Bible says there’s no more condemnation. That means that we have no more reason to feel guilty. And when we feel like we cannot forgive ourselves for past sins, we must remember that God has forgiven us, we are no longer condemned, and we no longer need to carry that burden of guilt. There is incredible freedom in simply relaxing into the promise of God’s forgiveness and letting go of things that are in the past, freeing ourselves from that heavy burden of guilt.

9 – You Say: “I just can’t do it”

God Says: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

There’s a saying in my family – one that my parents started and my brother and I have adopted – “Burgess’ don’t say can’t.” But sometimes it’s easy to feel like you can’t do it. Maybe you’re a single mom that feels like you just can’t keep going trying to provide for your children. Perhaps you’re dealing with cancer or another illness, and you feel like you can’t keep fighting. Whatever your story is, no matter why you feel like you can’t do it, with Jesus, you can!

Philippians tells us, “I can do all things through Christ.” He’s the one who gives us the strength. On our own, we can’t do it. But with him, we can do anything. When you feel like you can’t, remember what God says. He promises that you can with his strength. Claim his strength, and turn an “I can’t” into an “I can!”

10 – You Say: “How will I manage?”

God Says: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

When the bank account is low, the refrigerator is bare, or the bills are piling up, we’re often left wondering how we’ll manage. I can’t count the number of times in my life when I had no idea how things were going to work or how I’d manage. But God did.

We’re reminded, “God shall supply all your need.” And he’s going to do it according to his riches in glory. That’s an incredible promise from God. He has all the riches, he’s taking care of us, and he’s going to supply. When we’re worried about how we’re going to manage, how the bills are going to get paid, or how those medical bills are going to be covered, God says he’s going to supply.

11 – You Say: “I’m frustrated and worried”

God Says: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7)

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Worry – it’s one of my biggest problems. That phrase, “be careful for nothing,” basically means don’t worry about anything. But it’s so easy to worry. No matter how many times God has come through for us, we still often find ourselves feeling frustrated and worried.

What does God have to say about this? He says to cast those cares on him because he cares for you. The God of the universe, the I AM, the all-powerful one cares for you and for me. And God tells us what to do instead of being frustrated and worried. He goes on to say that while we shouldn’t worry, we should come to him in prayer and supplication, and with thanksgiving, letting him know our requests. God doesn’t want us to worry. Instead, he wants us to bring those worries and burdens to him, asking for his help.

12 – You Say: “I’m scared”

God Says: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1:7)

When my husband passed away, I was left alone with a son who has special needs, and I hadn’t been able to work for weeks because I was taking care of my husband or in the hospital with him, I was scared. I felt so alone, I needed to move (I had no family where I was living), and I was facing a huge trip to Florida from California alone.

A couple of years later I’d find myself in a hospital ICU in Pennsylvania barely hanging on. I came so close to dying, and I was scared. I remember praying in ICU, and all I could say was, “Jesus.” I was so afraid I was going to die and leave my son behind.

But Jesus was there. When I say, “I’m scared,” God tells us that he hasn’t given us the spirit of fear. But instead of power, love, and a sound mind. We don’t have to live in fear, even in the darkest moments, because God is there giving us a spirit of power. And in I John 4:18, we’re reminded that perfect love casts out fear. God’s incredible love can overcome that fear we’re feeling. No matter how scary it feels right now, God’s love is more powerful.

13 – You Say: “My faith isn’t big enough”

God Says: “…for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20)

I often feel like my faith isn’t big enough. It’s hard to be okay with the unknown. It’s tough to say to God, “I know you’re in control and you’re going to take care of this,” when you’re dealing with uncertainty. Sometimes we just would like answers or maybe even a list of things we should do. But being still and simply clinging to faith, that’s hard.

The truth is, while we all have this picture in our head of ‘great faith,’ most of us don’t have the calm heart that goes bravely marching on through a storm. But God knows how human we are, and he doesn’t expect our faith to be perfect or polished. He doesn’t expect us to have great faith overnight. Faith is like a muscle, you have to keep using it.

What God says about faith is that even if it’s as a “grain of mustard seed,” nothing is going to be impossible. Now a mustard seed is pretty tiny. It’s not like a big avocado seed that lays chunky and heavy in your hand. No, a mustard seed would probably float away if you blew on it, never to be found again. But God says that even if we have faith that is that small, we have what’s needed to say to a mountain, “Move,” and it will be moved.

It’s not about the size of our faith, it’s about simply having faith in the first place. And even if it starts out as a tiny little seed, God says that’s okay.

14 – You Say: “I feel like I’m alone”

God Says: “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” “Hebrews 13:5b)

Loneliness. It’s the greatest epidemic in our society today. Never has the world been so connected, yet people so lonely. Even when you’re following Jesus, it’s easy to feel alone. When your heart is aching and the night grows dark, maybe you’ve whispered, “I feel so alone.”

God has an answer for that. He says in Hebrews that he’ll never leave us. He’ll never forsake us. And it doesn’t matter if everyone else in the world walks out, we can always count on God being there for us. He doesn’t walk out. He’ll never quit on you. When that loneliness creeps in, reach out to Jesus. He’s promised that he’ll always be right there.

Conclusion

God knows how human we are, and he remembers that we are but dust. He knows the things that we say to ourselves when times are hard. God understands that at times we doubt him, we doubt his love, we doubt ourselves, and we doubt our faith. But he’s given us something so powerful – HIS word. Through the Bible, we find out what God says, and if we turn to that instead of listening to what our mind is saying or what the world is saying, we’ll find comfort, peace, and hope. For as the Bible says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Ps 119:105)

Rosalie Chapman

Wednesday 21st of December 2022

I love this! When I feel like this I can go to what GOD said!