Tag Archives: help

How To Be Restored When You Feel Badly Wrecked

Posted on by
6

20160711_123801

I recently had the experience of restoring my daughter’s smashed-in rear bumper to its original position after a wreck she was involved in. This was done the old fashion way.

We tied the bumper to heavy chain, wrapped the chain to a big tree, and put the car on drive. After three taps, snaps, and a whiplash the job was done.

If you’re like me, sometimes you feel totally wrecked. You may have been on a collision course with someone at work and you finally met head on. Now you’re left with the emotional aches and pains from the encounter. Or you may have crashed right into the midlife crisis wall (as I did when I hit 30) and you realize that age is inevitably creeping up on you and that your dreams may never come to pass. Ouch! I’ve been there.

Feeling wrecked can be attributed to the result of poor choices, life in a bad relationship, and many other things.

The sheer ugliness of being wrecked within is that only you can feel the damage in your soul/heart. You need restoration.

My buddy Dylan owns Big Nasty Motorshop (photo above). He takes vehicles that are messed up or old and faded and with the skill of a plastic surgeon restores them back to amazing.

Being repaired from the inside out is not easy but doable. Here are some tips I’ve found helpful when I’m feeling badly wrecked that may work for you as well.

Get in touch with a true friend.

There are those you call friends that somehow make you feel worse about life. Stay away from them.

True friends, on the other hand, know everything about you and love you anyway. They make you laugh when your world looks bleak.

Someone said that true friends are those who, when you have made a fool of yourself, don’t think you have done a permanent job. Get in touch with a person like that. An unresolved wrecked feeling can lead into despair. Also, and most importantly,

Go to Jesus.

The Lord’s advice for the wrecked is radical,

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out…? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. (Matthew 11:28 The Message)

Jesus is like a huge Rock with a spiritual chain wrapped around to pull out of you whatever mental part of you that has been temporarily damaged.

The Lord is a Master life-craftsman with the tools and the talent. His heavenly shop should be called Big Gentle Restorations and Renewals. He will lovingly bring your mind back to focus and get you going once again. Go to Him with your dented hopes and dreams. One more thing,

Do something good and positive even if you don’t feel like it.

An negative outcome of feeling wrecked is the tendency to become inactive, of feeling that you can do nothing right.

I’ve had cars that were totaled never to be driven again. A couple of other ones were not drivable and in serious need of repair.

Concerning life and feeling down, remember that,

Inactivity because of negativity results in zero productivity (Tweet that). And we are never more miserable than when we feel like junk and of no value to anyone.

Refuse to slump down on your chair thinking, “What’s the use?” Force yourself into doing something that’s worthwhile.

Feeling badly wrecked may be totally normal but remaining that way is entirely unacceptable. Get restored and move forward.

Do you own anything that has been restored and now looks amazing? What is it? Please leave a comment.

How To Find Ultimate Peace In Your Life Storm

Posted on by
2

 

storm

In the Gulf Coast of Florida furious storms form in a hurry! The deep thunder rolls in the distance, winds pick up in a hurry, waves crash on shore, the lightning show becomes visible, and you look for cover. When this happens there’s an intense desire in me to capture some intense pics but better judgment often prevails and I stay safe indoors until it all passes by.

About an hour and a half from where this picture was taken a seriously bad storm formed in the city of Orlando, Florida, at Pulse Nightclub. And the light show  was not the electrical kind but one coming from the weapons of an assassin.

Terror ensued as people ran for safety but it was not to be for all, 49 died (not counting the gunman) and 53 were wounded. The worse massacre in America history.

All of a sudden and out of nowhere the worst storm of life unleashed on many as family members received the dreaded news that their loved ones were dead. My eyes filled with tears; my heart totally broke for those facing the storm. Then it dawned on me that people I know and love could have been there that night and part of the body count.

I thank the Lord that those I love are safe today but wonder how anyone can overcome the pain that comes from the whirlwind of events from that night at Pulse Nightclub.

I learned a long time ago that when appropriate human words are missing the perfect Word of God can make all the difference in the world to someone facing a furious life-storm.

God’s thoughts in the Bible supernaturally fill the void in our souls that have been left there by heartache and loss. (Tweet that)

Maybe your storm that has nothing to do with someone’s sudden death but you are still hurting and wondering what’s next for you.

My dad’s favorite Bible is one I encourage you to internalize, digest, and make a part of your daily life. Write it down on a sticky and place it somewhere visible to you throughout your day:

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

I may not understand why bad things happen to good people but I understand that there’s a promise here, a promise of God’s loving presence and power when we need Him most. He will lift us when we are fallen and breathe courage in us when the wind’s been taken off our sails and the rug’s been pulled from under our feet.

Gandhi once said:

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it–always.” (Quotes about Victory; http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/victory)

History has also taught us that Jesus Christ is the embodiment of Truth and Love. (John 14:6)

In your storm turn to Him in faith. Know that the Lord is so close to you that if you could you see Him, His shadow would be on you.

God wants to wipe your tears, let Him. Talk to Him. Hang on to Him with every bit of emotional strength you have left.

Orlando our prayers are with you!