Message from the Pastor
Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed? As an adult . . . have you ever felt like running away from home . . . just packing your suitcase and disappearing for awhile . . . all because life's challenges had become a bit too much? I know that I have personally felt that way on several occasions.
I have talked to many people and done a great deal of reading. The urge to "run away" or "get away from it all" is a fairly common human response to life's difficulties. Even some of the key people in the Bible felt that way at times. Moses, Jonah and Peter - really did run away.
Where can we turn for assistance when life feels overwhelming? Where can we find the help that we need when the world seems to be more than we can handle?
I believe there are at least three key sources for help.
1. We can turn to family members and friends. We do not need to face the challenges of life alone. Many of us have family members, friends and neighbors who can help us. The problem is that we are often too afraid or too stubborn to ask them for help. Please . . . reach out and contact them.
2. Churches can help. Churches have experience with helping people in times of difficulty and joy. We, also, have connections to other groups and agencies that can try to provide help. My number is (309) 255-6702. Call me if life gets overwhelming. .
3. God, Jesus - and prayer - can help. God and Jesus promise to always be with us - and to comfort us and help us. Jesus - who rose from the grave and defeated death - is far more powerful than any problems that we will ever encounter. A prayer can be as simple as "God help Me!" I invite you to reach out to God and Jesus.
Pastor Jon Prain
[email protected]
I have talked to many people and done a great deal of reading. The urge to "run away" or "get away from it all" is a fairly common human response to life's difficulties. Even some of the key people in the Bible felt that way at times. Moses, Jonah and Peter - really did run away.
Where can we turn for assistance when life feels overwhelming? Where can we find the help that we need when the world seems to be more than we can handle?
I believe there are at least three key sources for help.
1. We can turn to family members and friends. We do not need to face the challenges of life alone. Many of us have family members, friends and neighbors who can help us. The problem is that we are often too afraid or too stubborn to ask them for help. Please . . . reach out and contact them.
2. Churches can help. Churches have experience with helping people in times of difficulty and joy. We, also, have connections to other groups and agencies that can try to provide help. My number is (309) 255-6702. Call me if life gets overwhelming. .
3. God, Jesus - and prayer - can help. God and Jesus promise to always be with us - and to comfort us and help us. Jesus - who rose from the grave and defeated death - is far more powerful than any problems that we will ever encounter. A prayer can be as simple as "God help Me!" I invite you to reach out to God and Jesus.
Pastor Jon Prain
[email protected]