JUNE 2
"So do not give up your hope which will be greatly rewarded. For, having done what was right in God's eyes, you have need of waiting before his word has effect for you." - Hebrews 10:35-36 (BBE)
All of us have times when we feel helpless and hopeless. While these feelings can be caused by many factors, hopelessness and loss of confidence seem especially prevalent in difficult times but can occur anytime even on a beautiful June day. This is not an uncommon feeling for anyone in challenging seasons of life but especially possible if and when we are trying to change our personal situation, community, city, country, or world for the good. It’s easy to get burned out in these stressful times of rapid change, greed, apathy, and moral confusion. However, remember no matter how discouraged you become, "nothing is impossible with God".
It also helps keep our balance if we remember these 5 truths:
1. Hope can co-exist with other feelings including Grief, Fear, Disappointment, and Sadness.
2. You still have great power no matter how impossible or predetermined situations seem.
3. There is a difference between our efforts being worthless and our actions not accomplishing what we hoped. Success does not always equal approval.
4. Change is rarely straightforward. It usually occurs rather slowly. You can feel hopeless one day and then have a breakthrough the next day. Along the road to winning there can be a lot of losing before good results are seen.
5. Hope is a basis, not a substitute, for action. Total victory is not the goal. If you’re losing hope, pray before giving up.
Remember, God will never fail nor forsake you! When you feel pressured to give up hope and turn your back on what Christ is calling you to do, remember the benefits of standing firm and continuing to live and work for justice, truth, and good. Patient endurance is evidence you are committed to Jesus enough to work hard today for God's greatest good. Persevere. God will bless you!
Prayer:
Lord,
Thank you for giving me Hope and Strength. Help me to persevere even if I become discouraged and tired.
Amen
Meditation For The Day:
God transforms hopelessness into hope!
Rev. Dr. Mary B Johnson - Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal (Seasonal Devotionals)
Paperback – February 21, 2017
Used with permission of the family of the late Rev. Dr. Mary B. Johnson.
Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson, D.Min., (1942-2018)
Mary was Ordained in 1975.
She served both as a Parish Pastor and in multiple Specialized Ministry Settings.
She worked on the Clinical Staff of New England Memorial Hospital and Middleton Pastoral
Counseling Center in Massachusetts and was a Director of Green Pastures Counseling Centers in N.H.
She was a state Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor,
Nationally Board-Certified Counselor (N.C.C.), and Nationally Certified Pastoral Counselor (AAPC)
and held certification as a Clinical Member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (A.C.P.E.).
She received a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Psychology and Clinical Studies
from Andover Newton in Newton, MA.
Dr. Johnson also founded Good News Specialized Ministries, Inc.
This unique ministry provided education and Clinical Christian Counseling to thousands of people over the decades and trained numerous Clinical Counselors and Counseling Ministers while offering weekly non-denominational worship services to the community for more than 20 years.
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I had the honor and privilege of working with Pastor Arnie Johnson
when I served as the pastor for the Richmond Community United Methodist Church in Richmond, NH from 2019 - 2022.
I personally have been deeply touched by Mary's writings. Her family has graciously allowed me to share them with you. - Pastor Sharon Sargent
"I always considered my ministry at Richmond as a shared ministry. Mary had the expertise that helped me function as well as I did. I received critiques on the way home after the services. I finally realized that I may have “arrived” when one day she was pleased with my performance with no critique! That took several years! So, I would love it if you would use the picture of the two of us and mention Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson as my spouse and partner in ministry, and she continued to be until the day she died, four days before the end of my appointment at Richmond." - Pastor Arnie Johnson
Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson is the author of eight other published books including:
"Activating The Power Of Pastoral Care: A Team Approach";
"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter Renewal"(Vol.1-4);
"Flying Free: Transforming Grief and Loss into Renewal";
Following The Angel Trail: In The Steps Of Jesus";
"Love In Action: The Healing Heritage Of The Counseling Ministry Of The Church";
"Visions Of Hope: Voices Of Americana";
"Healing Streams: Journeys Of Healing".
She has also been published in the AAPC professional Journal "Journeys" and in the Keene Sentinel.