Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Are You at Your Wits' End?

"These see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.  For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses."
Psalm 107:24-27
(KJV)

Does the above passage of Scripture resonate with you today?  Like waves of the sea, do you mount up to the heaven one day, only to find yourself falling back down into the depths of despair the next?  Is your soul melted because of the trouble that surrounds you?  Do you reel to and fro and stagger like a drunk man?  Are you at your wits' end?

When I was growing up, Mom, Dad, and I heard a song called "Wits' End Corner," and it came to my mind today.  I was SO wishing to hear it and searched for it on youtube, and praise the dear Lord, I found it!  I hope you can take the time to listen to this dear, old song sung so beautifully and harmoniously.


If you find yourself at your wits' end today, I want to encourage you that you are in good company.  

The prophet, Jeremiah said, "Cursed be the day wherein I was born.  Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?"  Jeremiah 20:14,18

The prophet, Elijah "went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, 'It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.'"  I Kings 19:4

King David said, "I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.  My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me."  Psalm 38:6,10

Job said, "Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?  My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul."  Job 3:11, Job 10:1

Jonah said, "Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.  I do well to be angry, even unto death."  Jonah 4:3,9

The Apostle Paul said, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed."
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

"But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;  by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."  2 Corinthians 6:4-5,8-10

"For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
2 Corinthians 1:8

Most importantly,
our dear Lord, Jesus was "despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not."  Isaiah 53:3

He said, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death." And He said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee; take away this cup from Me: nevertheless not what I will, but what Thou wilt.'"  Mark 14:34,36

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is to say, 'My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?'"  Matthew 27:46

We could go on and on and tell of not only Biblical people, but God's people throughout history who have reached the point of being at their "wits' end."

Are you there today?

If you are, may I encourage you?

Jeremiah, Elijah, King David, Job, Jonah, and Paul persevered, and they overcame!
They are now a part of that "great cloud of witnesses" who proved it can be done!

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."  Hebrews 12:1

Our dear Lord, Jesus overcame!
He rose above all, including death, hell, and the grave, and He is now seated in glory!

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2

You can overcome, too, my friend.
I don't know the individual circumstances of life that may have driven you to "Wits' End Corner," but I can tell you this.  "Wits' End Corner" is where God hangs out - just like the song says.  He is there.  Right in the midst of your current situation, and He has everything you need to enable you to keep pressing on.  To walk forward, even though you don't know where you will find the strength to take the next step.  He will empower you to keep fighting the good fight so that one day, you will join the ranks of those who have already laid hold on eternal life.

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."  I Timothy 6:12

As I stood next to the bed of my dear, dying mother, she looked up into my eyes, struggling to talk to me.  I gently pulled back the BiPap that was pressed so tightly to her face and bent low to listen with all my might to what she was trying to tell me.  I knew it would be of eternal significance, and oh, I SO did not want to miss it!  I SO wanted to understand.  She was trying so hard, and finally Kevin helped me decipher the three beyond-precious words she was trying so hard to convey—words that often return to my mind and sustain me.

"Keep.  Pressing.  On."

These are the words I pass on to you today, weary heart.  I know the battle has been long.  I know the struggle is real.  Keep.  Pressing.  On.  Don't give up.  God is there with you - hanging out beside you on "Wits' End Corner."  This time of severe trial and testing will produce precious fruits of righteousness, and you will one day look back on today and better understand the process.

I think you may enjoy our new book and might possibly find encouragement in reading about the many lessons God has taught my family and me over the past few years.
Order HERE
Here is a trailer I put together until Zach is able to find time to make a better, more professional one for us.


You can order our book HEREIf you are unable to afford to buy our book and would like to have your own copy, please email us, and we will mail you a copy free of charge.  Our main goal is to glorify JESUS and be a blessing and encouragement through the telling of our story.

In closing, PLEASE pray for our dear friend and fellow blogger, Betsy, who lost her brother to Covid-19.  Our hearts go out to her and to all who have lost loved ones during this sad, difficult time.  May God have mercy and heal every hurting heart.

17 comments:

  1. Thank you for this post. I needed to find this today

    God bless you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Effie, your comment meant the world to me. Thank you so much for your kind words. God bless you and meet your every need!

      Delete
  2. Thank you, this was very encouraging and just what I needed today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad, Lorraine. Thank you SO much for your sweet visit and kind words.

      Delete
  3. Such needed encouragement in these days, Cheryl. Yes, like so many who went before us who were at their wit's end, I will keep pressing on as your dear, sweet mother encouraged you to do.
    All blessings to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Martha. I am so grateful for your sweet comment and encouragement. Many blessings to you and yours, also.

      Delete
  4. Your mother's words brought tears to my eyes dear Cheryl. I'm sure you have taken them to heart. Grace and peace to you and your family as you enjoy this day with one another.

    Hugs from Shirley

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, bless your heart, Shirley. I cry when I think about it, too. Mom was so, so precious, and oh, my, how I miss her and her precious prayers and words of encouragement. Those words were some of the last she ever spoke to me. When I feel like giving up, I hear her saying that, and it gives me courage to keep pressing on to where she and Dad are. Many hugs back to you.

      Delete
  5. How wonderful that your mother left you such a legacy and those precious last words. I'm sure they are an encouragement to you. I was just thinking this morning that no matter how we are feeling and no matter how faithful we are or how doubt-filled we are, God is always faithful. He never changes. What a wonderful promise and blessing to us. We can always count on Him.
    I'm sorry about your friend's brother. xo Deborah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, they surely are such an encouragement to me each time the Lord brings her words back to my mind. YES! God is always faithful. May the Lord richly bless you, sweet friend. Much love and many blessings to you!

      Delete
  6. Beautiful words that your beloved mother left you, and those are the words as Christians we must do. We can’t give up, no matter the circumstances we must press on. Thank you for always bringing me to God’s word and His faithfulness. May God richly bless you and your family and may He use your book for His honory and glory!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen, and amen, my friend! I am so very grateful for your kind words and encouragement and your prayers for this book. You are such a blessing to me. Many blessings to you and your family, also!

      Delete
  7. You're right dear Cheryl, dear sweet Betsy and all who loved her precious brother have been heavy on my heart as have all sufferung ones over there.. and here and especially in poor nations everywhere, where medical supplies are so difficult.
    Praying God is gracious to save such dear lost ones before they breath their last breath... surely in that day some we thought would be there will not, and as surely too there will to be those who are.
    Keep pressing on.. how utterly precious. Eternal words.. and that song us truly wonderful as were all your scriptures.
    Thanks for sharing, and may God bless and keep you and all whom you love safe and well.
    Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz. X

    {Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was so precious to hear my dear Mom say those words. I can still see her lying there, so pitiful, so intent on making sure I heard what she was trying to say. I miss her so much and cling to the things she used to say to me. Thank you for your kind words to me. I appreciate them so much. God bless you, too, dear Sis.

      Delete
  8. You’re so right, Cheryl, we’ve all been to our “wits end”, in some time or other in our lives. It’s good to know that we are in such good company of others that have been there, too, even Jesus.
    How wonderful that your dear beloved mother left you with those words, barely able to whisper from her precious lips to Keep Pressing On. You’ve followed her words of wisdom and have done just that. Thank you for the meaningful post. God bless you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, we surely are in good company when we reach those desperate places! Oh, Kitty! Thank you for your kind words. I am doing my utmost to keep my promise to Mom to keep pressing on - sometimes it has been beyond difficult to do that, but all by God's grace, I am still trying. God bless you and your family, too.

      Delete
  9. Oh dear friend! Thank you so much for this extremely timely post for me here today. I am also going to share it with my daughter who is definitely at her wit's end.

    I never thought about it before how all of these saints of the Bible were at their wits end at one time and even our Lord and Savior, so to speak. What encouragement is found here that they all came out the other side to the joy set before them and we will too whether it be deliverance here on earth or in Glory, there is a greater joy waiting for us.

    Thank you for ALWAYS pointing us to Jesus, the sustainer and giver of life.

    Sending you much love and gratitude,

    ReplyDelete