You've been there. You've been in despair and someone has cited Jeremiah 29:11 to you numerous times. You're tired of hearing the same thing over and over again and it just doesn't feel personable anymore. Perhaps you're exhausted and drained.

One thing I have to tell you is that this kind of situation happens sometimes. Normally, this occurs when your relationship with Jesus isn't where you'd like it to be. Maybe you haven't been talking to Him. Maybe you've let your guard down and some old habits have come back. However, that doesn't mean it's a hopeless case.

The first step to fixing this problem is to rebuild your relationship with Jesus. If you don't know what your relationship with Jesus is supposed to be like, the easiest goal to set is making Jesus your best friend. When Jesus is your best friend, you're more likely to agree with what He says. Most people trust their best friends, don't they? If you believe you're already in a good relationship with the Lord, please keep reading because sometimes deterioration of your relationship with Jesus happens so slowly, you might not even know it. That's how Satan sneaks in. Chances are that if you related to the first paragraphs above, you've fallen off a bit.

Scripture can be helpful on its own when your relationship with Jesus is at its highest. Like Jesus said in His sermon, don't build your house on sand because it's going to blow away when a storm hits. Your relationship with Jesus needs to be sturdy. If you live your life according to His word, it will make repairs easier, which is essentially what verses can help with -- repairs. If verses aren't making you feel better, then there's probably a bigger issue.

In order to start repairing your relationship with Jesus, I would say to use verses as a jumping off point. The next time someone quotes a piece of the Bible to you and it doesn't help, don't get annoyed or frustrated. Instead, start a prayer with that verse.

As an example, let's go back to the verse I mentioned before, Jeremiah 29:11. It says, "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV) If you're feeling empty and hopeless, just start by saying that verse and then continue to talk to the Lord about how you feel. I would say, "Lord, I know this is true, but lately things have been bad. I have strayed and I need you back in my life. I ask that you make this verse real to my heart and that you use this to renew me. I pray that you drive away whatever it is that's making me feel hopeless and empty."

This really works for any verse as long as you're open with Jesus and you tell Him exactly what is on your mind and what's going on with no filter. You have to make yourself vulnerable and give the Lord all you have to offer. Pray for it all. Pray for every bruise and skinned knee. Even if you think the Lord has better things to worry about, He cares. He cares about the little things. If it's upsetting you, tell Him.