Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)
“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Have you ever had a bad day or a week where things begin to pile up on you? How about just getting an extreme circumstance under control and another comes along? Maybe you cannot seem to get out from under the pressures you are facing and then you were hit with more bad news?
Life can get complicated and be overwhelming. At times it can be like we are in a boxing ring and are getting pummeled from eight different directions. It can get hard to see a way out or even a way to go when your eyes swell shut from being hit so much.
Sure, we may have moments when everything is cruising along. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, then the sky begins to darken. That smile you had on your face while basking in the sun can quickly turn into a frown. But we wish that the weather outside was the only thing that affected our state of mind.
We can encounter anything from a small bump that we hardly even notice to a huge mountain with an avalanche that just buries us. Problems can arise from anywhere. Even the most innocent phone call can turn into a major issue.
I once sent my car to the garage for an inspection. It was running fine and drove smooth with no concerns being noted. However, when the garage called, I ended up listening to a long list of issues that needed to be addressed. The call I was expecting letting me know that I could go pick my car up turned into a nightmare and had my head spinning.
If this was the only thing I had to face I may have been able to recover quickly, but what happens when the other ugly heads of life start popping up. You get the call about your car right after seeing your doctor to discuss the treatments you have to go through. It doesn’t have to be you, it could be a spouse, a partner, your children, another family member, or even a pet.
Besides health, there are many things that can just keep piling on. Your long-time relationship suddenly ends, you get yourself into a legal situation, or suddenly find yourself without a job. You may have to make hard choices like paying the rent or getting the car fixed so you can keep working. Help a family member or study for your exam the next day.
If we had a Country or a Blues band, we could possibly write an award-winning song with everything we are facing. How we react can say a lot about a person. We can let everything keep us up all night or let it twist our insides all day. When you think about it, in most cases, the mental anguish we put ourselves through does not help.
We can replay that conversation over and over again in our heads that we are going to have, but we honestly don’t know if it will happen the way we imagine. So, all that time spent did nothing but make us a sleepless zombie with a migraine and an ulcer.
In the opening scripture we have wise advice. Worrying about tomorrow does nothing to solve the problem because we are not where we need to be to face it. We may not have all the information, we may not have paused long enough to really think about any solutions, or the person is not present to have the conversation we need to have.
Many times I have had to learn the lesson that I cannot face everything myself and I am never alone. I am not talking about that friend or family member who has always been there to help solve all the world’s problems. They may be helpful, but they may not be there every time. I needed to remember that the only one who is is God.
In my most chaotic moments where the pressure feels unbearable, I know that I can cry out to Jesus and He will lift me up. We see this in Psalm 61:2, “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” The rock higher than I is where the Lord lifts me up to.
This is where I need to be, but it is not easy. We have forces that try to pull us away from the peace the Lord brings. Some of those forces may not even know they are acting for the enemy such as Martha in Luke 10:41-42, “And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Martha was worried about making things perfect and wanted to share that with Mary, but Mary wanted to keep her eyes on the Lord. Martha wanted Mary to listen to her demands and not the guidance of Jesus. Too often this is what we do in our own lives. We let the Martha voices in the world pull our attention away from where it should be.
When we feel overburdened and don’t know what to do, don’t let our emotions get the best of us and remember Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”
Go to God, thank Him for everything that He has given you and tell Him what you are facing. We can’t let the Martha’s of the world distract us from keeping our eyes on the Lord like Mary.
FEEL ME WALKING BESIDE YOU
Family in the hospital, car’s in the shop, have to take the dog to the vet,
Everything just keeps piling up, I don’t know how bad it’s going to get.
Even going to work to try to keep my mind on other things,
Just adds to the worries, not knowing what tomorrow brings.
With everything weighing heavy and lying upon my chest,
Anxious feelings begin to rise up making it hard to get any rest.
Even when I drop down to my knees and cry out to you o Lord,
I cannot feel you there beside me and do not know what I’m walking toward.
My child, I would not leave you especially during your greatest need.
You must let me back into your heart and allow the spirit lead.
I hear the anguish in your voice and the pain in your cries,
Do not believe all those feelings or be deceived by the lies.
My loving arms are around you and my protection will never cease,
Then dig deeper into my word so you can find a greater peace.
Keep talking to me through prayer and I will come when you do,
Listen for me to speak in the darkness and Feel Me Walking Beside You.
Simple Faith Christian
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Simple Faith Christian 