What do I do when I am down?
Bless ya,
Mark
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Yahweh’s Yarn in a Year : 1 year Bible reading plan
The Portion for next day is: Leviticus 22-24
To access the complete plan for the year click here.
Journey Deeper Into God's Word 
Reminds me of the famous “Footprints” poem which is still pretty popular in the United States.
http://footprintspoem.ca/
There is a certain amount of argument regarding who originally wrote the poem, but it is a good reminder that sometimes when we feel the most alone, that is when God is doing so much work for us.
I agree with you, Mark.I, too , was down more than 15 years ago.The dark night was seemingly unending! I called it the long dark tunnel ! I remembered I clung on to God’s word desperately.I even wrote a poem as I was on the verge of depression! I would like to share the poem with you.
Lift me up, Lord
Lift me up, Lord
Ease the gloom and boredom of my existence
By knowing the reality of the Living Hope
Help me to remove the stings of sufferings
By having a positive outlook of life
Grant me amid the storms of life
The peace and joy of Your presence.
Lift me up, Lord
For I am weary tired, exhausted and drained.
Help me to know the refreshing, restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of slowing down
To be able to stop and appreciate the beauty of a flower,
To chat with a friend…play a game
To give a smile, and to care for others
Lift me up, Lord
Out of the tunnel of depression
Into the sunshine of your love
Enable me to experience, once again, the joy of living.
Inspire me to sink my roots deep into the soil of faith and love
That I may be able o grow in You
To be truly a living testimony for Your greater glory
To serve You according to Your will.
God was merciful, for I did not go all the way down.After many months
I recovered.God gave me the strength to persevere and to carry on !
God bless you
SKlee
Lee,
You’re poem is beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. I’m myself going through a really DARK TUNNEL and I’m even trying hypnotism to help me in a subconscious level to overcome what my brain is not able to do. Still, I’m trying really hard to put everything on GOD’s hands since I don’t have much energy left in me.
HE’s soooo GOOD! HE’s been carrying me through my ordeal and I know one day, well walk side by side…
In HIM
God will never leave us !! He does walk through the valley with us.I am living proof!!Each time the Enemy has attacked with a vengence and each time the Lord has Been faithful to carry Me through!! It Does not feel good in the midst of the fire in the furnace,but what is left on the other side of the refiners fire is a closer image of Who He is.Hold on to Jesus,when the boat is sinking and all looks dim. I remembered the Song (The anchor Holds) Inspite of the storm, Hold on to Jesus,He will Hold on to you!! Bill
This poem is so, so beautiful, SKlee! I am going through some rough waters right now and your poem “lifted me up”! Praise be to Jesus and many heart-felt thanks to you! Pam
Year’s back when I was still in college I said a prayer…”Lord please teach me what it is to be in the light!” He did!! He placed me in the dark!!!
I pratically grew up in a Christian family.Our mother really taught us the value of loving God and trusting Him with all our might.She taught us how to increase our faith by entrusting everything to Him.
I thought that was it… and it was enough. I was wrong… the up and downs of life, failures, pleasures in life… they all caught up on me. Slowly, my Christian faith got mixed up with all the wordly adventures I had then. I thought I was still alright. I was wrong.
My world turned darker… I was struggling with my faith and conviction.
God really PLACED ME IN THE DARK.
Sooner than I thought, I was deeply troubled. I realized I have gone far enough from my God in my own wordly journey. I travelled through darkness and felt lost… when I wasn’t able to see His hand guiding me in my trying times.
I was then asking God why???
I came to know His answer!!!
He did place me in the DARK … so that i may know and realize what it is to be in the LIGHT!!!
My broken life and broken spirit were made whole again!!!
I saw God in his Highest when I was in the LOWEST ebb of my life.
Thank God for freedom of choice. Being in the dark is a place some of us need to go in order to become the poeple we aspire to be………Thank god for mercy……… When it has been enough in our darkest hour he redeams. Thank God for grace……… He is and always was, he already forgave us, now all that is left is for us to forgive ourselves!
AMEN
When I am down….I won’t be able to do anything except to catch up with sleep!!
Mark, thank you for living the testimony and sharing with all of us around the world. I wish you would post the poem on facebook that we may all share with our friends and families. God bless you!
Thank you everyone for the uplifting words. Lord forgive all my sins, and walk with me in my desperate time.
Thank you Lord my GOD!!!
Very well,,Very soothing!
Thank you,Mark for todays Lesson!
i find myself crying to God to be my strenght and to guide me on the path He would have me walk. like a small child out for a walk with their dad, i cling tightiy with all i have within me to Gods hand and his promises. i know He has me in the darkness for a reason and all i want to do is obey Him.at times He puts us in the dark so we have to walk by faith, or to teach us to be still and know that He is God, and He’s had me in the dark to be able to see others in a differend way. so i thank You God for the darkness and the lessons learned there.
ee, your poem is very good, and it speaks to peoples hearts. A least it spoke to my heart. years ago going through a dark period i wrote a poem called safe place to hide. I was in the darkness for 2 years. but 2 years to the day, i wrote another poem called i sing a new song. the last poem i wrote i felt was too angry and have just this year, 6 years later, started sharing it. it’s called busted bubbles and broken dreams, or the faces of abuse. i’m now praying God will bless me and me out of this writers block i have been in. i want to write poems that express Gods love, mercy and faithfulness towards man and they must of all glorify God.i thank you so very much for sharing your poem with us here. may God bless you with more poems to minister to others with and give Him glory , honor , and praise.
Mark, it is not so easy to bear the burdens of the world. Let God bear them for you in times when you are down!
oh my baby when your praying, leave your burdens on my door, you have Jesus standing at your bed side, to keep you calm and safe away from harm.
Worry not my daughters, worry not my sons, child when life don’t seem worth living come to jesus and let him hold you in his arms………….
You’re doing an outstanding job!
Thanks Mark, that was great as we all deal with times of darkness and we need to remember Gods words that there is a purpose and a time for everything.
I FIND MYSELF STILL IN THE DARKNESS AS MY PTSD IS STILL PLAYING TRICKS ON MY MIND. TODAY I ANSWERED THE DOOR 5 TIMES CAUSE I HEARD SOMEONE KNOCKING, AND EVEN MY CATS WENT OVER TO THE DOOR. I’VE HEARD AT LEAST 5 PEOPLE AT 1 TIME IN MY HOME ONLY TO GO OUT AND FIND NOONE THERE. I SAW OUR HOUSE MATE WALK OUT THE BACK DOOR AND HEARD HIM TRY TO START HIS CAR ONLY TO HAVE MY HUSBAND TELL ME HE WAS UPSTAIRS LAYING ON HIS BED. AND THEN THERE’S THE MUSIC,THAT CREEPY MUSIC. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MUSIC THEY PLAYED IN OLD MOVIES JUST BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENED. I PUT MY RADIO ON CAUSE I KEEP IT ON THE CHRISTIAN STATION, BUT THE MUSIC GOT LOUDER EACH TIME I TURNED MY RADIO UP. AFTER SO LONG I BEGIN TO FEEL LIKE I’M GOING TO LOSE IT, BUT GOD REMINDS ME WHO IS ON MY SIDE. AND I REMEMBER SATAN IS A DEFEATED FOE. HE LOST WHEN JESUS WAS CRUXIFIED, AND ROSE AGAIN ON THE 3RD DAY, AND LATER ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN TO BE SEATED ON THE RIGHT HAND OF HIS FARSO EVEN THOUGH I’M WALKING THROUGH THE DARKNESS, I WALK IN VICTORY BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS DID FOR US. THANK YOU JESUS, MY SAVIOR, MY LORD, AND MY KING.THER GOD.
WHENEVER…
WHENEVER I AM HAUNTED BY MEMORIES FROM MY PAST , AND OLD PAINS AND FEARS CHILL ME LIKE A COLD ARTIC BLAST, WHENEVER I AM FEELING SO COMPLETELY BATTLE WORN, AND INSIDE I AM COMPLETELY TATTERED AND TORN, WHENEVER IT SEEMS AS IF MY WHOLE WORLD IS SHAKEN, I KNOW THAT I AM NEVER LEFT ALONE OR FORSAKEN.WHENEVER MY SOUL CRIES OUT IN GREAT ALARM, MY LORD COMES AND WRAPS ME IN HIS LOVING ARMS.THOUGH DARKNESS AND DEPRESSION MAY FILL MY NIGHT,I KNOW THAT WHEN I SEE THE DAWNS EARLY LIGHT,THAT MY GOD HAS WRITTEN ME A BRAND NEW STORY,AND HE HAS FILLED ME WITH JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY.GOD HAS COMPLETELY RESTORED MY BROKEN SOUL, HE HAS CLEANSED ME, AND HE HAS MADE ME WHOLE. HE HOLDS ME IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND, AND HE HAS PUT ME ON THE SOLID ROCK TO STAND. SO IN SPITE OF ALL THE LIES I HAVE HEARD, I WILL STAND ON THE PROMISES OF HIS WORD. AND GOOD OR BAD, COME WHAT MAY,I WILL PRAISE MY GOD ANYWAY..
LYNN SICARD JAN. 18, 1996
I WROTE THIS POEM DURING A VERY DARK PERIOD IN MY LIFE. I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME. 2 1/2 MONTHS LATER I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD. IT WAS A LONDHARD WALK, BUT I KNOW MY LORD WALKED ALL THE WAY WITH ME, AND LIKE THE POEM FOOT PRINTS, THERE WERE MANY TIMES HE CARRIED ME. THANK YOU LORD FOR YOU LOVE, AND YOUR FAITHFULLNESS TOWARDS ME IN MY TIME OF GREAT NEED. AND LORD I HAVE GREAT NEED OF YOU NOW AS I AM GETTING WORN OUT. I PRAY YOU WILL ONCE AGAIN WALK BY MY SIDE AND BE MY STRENGTH, IN JESUS AMEN
Thank you Mark for a very encouraging message and thank you Lee for the beautiful poem. How wonderful to be able to work in the vintage of God. Blessings to all my brothers and sisters in Christ. May we all be a light in this world and help all those that walk in darkness.
Thank you Grisel, ILYNN and Lydia reyes for your kind and encouraging comments! In the context of Mark’s presentation, I would like to share another of my poems concerning suffering.
Is Suffering a Gift of Grace ?
Those whom You love, O lord
You give the gift of faith
Believing where they cannot prove.
Is suffering a gift of grace too ?
Trials and tribulations
Fiery ordeal and mighty gale
Painful moulding and chiselling
Continual smelting and hammering
Is suffering inevitable for spiritual maturity ?
Are dark tunnels necessary ?
Must suffering be the price of transformation and renewal ?
Can’t You throw away Your rod
And take a gentle path sometimes ?
Is there no other way to walk with thee ?
Is identifying with Christ
Bearing the cross and sharing the suffering
An absolute necessity for growth ?
Must the flesh be completely demolished
Before the Spirit can take over ?
Must You always be the uncomfortable comforter ?
Forgive me for my unworthy thoughts, O Lord
Enable me to humbly submit
To Your purifying work
To allow God to be God
To do what has to be done
To accomplish your purpose
For my will is mine only to make it Yours !
Help me to be able
To assign meanings to the problems of life
To persevere through the pressures and not be drowned.
Be with me through the long dark tunnel
And grant me the peace in the midst of the storm.
Enable me to comprehend fully
That adversity is not a “foe” but a “friend”—-
A blessing in disguise
That while Satan turns on the heat
You are in complete control.
Empower me to turn trials to triumphs
Becoming the victor instead of the victim
Of circumstances and affliction !
I loved your message I have been down for years now,
Incredible! Reaching the masses. Thank you, for your timely message. Never stop that flow of living water. There’s always somebody listening. God bless you Mark.
Diane, I’m going to pray for you. I understand the struggle, but Christ really does care for you and your wellbeing. I wish I could share with you my testimony, but its to long. Please, know God wants better for you. There’s no problem to big for Him. Give Him another chance He cares for you so do I. May the Lord pour an abundance of His peace,joy and comfort out for you and your family. God bless you.
Thank you, Mark, and many blessings to you and yours.
Thank you, GOD is my live for the past 20yrs. i would not have it any other way iam,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,60 years old.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,8th grade said i was going to die wheni was forty ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i got born again in the year i turned 4o even in july my brithday,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,we searve a awesome GOD,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Awesome.