Encouraged

I recently got back from a trip to northern Idaho to see my parents and their new farm adventure, but mostly to speak the truth in a loving way. It was a good trip and I have a better understanding of their needs and what to pray for. After coming home, I also saw that someone I care for and have placed time, counsel, and countless amounts of pray for continue to make poor choices and shut God out. I came home feeling a bit deflated as I desperately want God to move in a variety of people's lives who I care so much for. I started to feel like it really doesn't matter what I say or do, I'm not making much difference in these individuals lives, and that lie started to make me feel somewhat depressed. Do you ever have those days where you feel like why bother? Why try to help those who clearly need it but aren't exactly willing to accept the help you give? All I can say is thank God for the truth of His word, it always comes to me at the exact moment I need it! The verse that jump started me out of the pit I was heading towards was Isaiah 55:10-11, " As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." What a perfect reminder that first of all, it is not up to me to change people or fix their circumstances it is up to God. Second of all, God's word never goes out wasted, so while I may not see the results I'm hoping right away, God can still use His words to work through someones life at the exact right moment for them down the road. Isn't it just like satan to get us to believe that we are ineffective or that God's word isn't enough to fix the hurts in our lives and those around us. There are several people I wish God would simply take away their hurts and magically fix all their problems but then again, He rarely works that way. I think God is far more interested in our hearts and fixing us from the inside out, so the trials and circumstances of life are used for a good purpose. If God solved all of our troubles right away, what would be the incentive to change? I'll continue to pray for those I'm worried about and leave them at the Lord's feet, He is the only one I know truly capable of healing, fixing, and making whole. And I'm no longer deflated because I know that the things I've said or the time I've spent wasn't wasted, God will use it even if I never see how He worked it all out.