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Be Still and KNOW

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Be Still and KNOW

Tag Archives: struggles

LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED

27 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by carolyncam1 in Uncategorized

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Christian, COMFORT, eternity, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, peace, promise, struggles, trouble

 

So many people I know have been dealing with some mighty struggles in their lives lately, including me. It helps when those struggling know that God is holding us up, helping each one of us get through the struggle if we’ll turn our gaze on Him. However, I know I did not fully embrace God’s promises of care and comfort until I was experiencing some rather deep pain. One morning I heard James MacDonald give a sermon on John 14:1 that reminded me where our thoughts need to go at the first hint of trouble.

Philippians 4:7 –“ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This promise is not an easy one to claim – it’s difficult to accept that it can become a reality in our lives. When I accepted God’s calling to follow Him, it was the promise I couldn’t believe was possible. In no uncertain terms, I let God know that I knew following Him could never bring the peace I desired because it was loved ones in my life that left me paralyzed with fear and overwhelming sadness that I could no longer find the strength to cope with. I didn’t see any way He could ease my troubled heart unless He drastically changed these people or their circumstances and I didn’t see any earthly way that could happen soon enough to quiet the storms I was experiencing. That was my biggest error – I thought the only solutions were earthly resolutions. I sold God short – He has other ways of bringing us peace.

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Well, God didn’t change the circumstances and He didn’t perform personality exorcisms on my friends and family. But in a matter of weeks I experienced a peace about it all. Being a new Christian and full of doubt about God being able to fulfill this particular promise, I can assure you I hadn’t done anything to bring about this newfound peace to my soul. It truly just came upon me. Nothing about the situations changed, yet somehow I experienced a peace about it all. I spent a lot of time thinking about this miracle He performed in my life, trying to figure out exactly how it had come about. After four-plus years of thought on the matter, the only thing I’ve ever come up with is that, for the first time in my life, I KNEW God was real. I KNEW He loved me and would be working in my life. These facts went from beliefs I held to knowledge of the reality of God and the power and love He has. This knowledge resulted in a newfound confidence that no matter how things worked out, I COULD trust Him. Knowing that eternity is a reality and is actually God’s plan for us helped me know that I would see good from those things I allow God to work out even though I might not see them in this physical world. I could truly claim this!

 I think as I work out my faith, too often I focus on the doing. As I’m confronted with struggles, I focus on praying, reading my Bible and, when peace does not come, I conclude I’m not “doing” enough, that I’m missing something or there’s some secret Christian thing I haven’t yet discovered. Prayer and Bible study are good things to do and in the midst of a trial bring momentary comfort to me. But as soon as I get back out in the world where I am unable to formally pray or pick up my Bible that sick feeling in my stomach often comes back, reminding me of the terrible things that could happen as a result of struggles. What I fail to remember is that I have the Holy Spirit dwelling within me, longing to bring me peace just as He did when I first yielded my life to Him. Too often, I don’t let Him do His work, feeling there is something I must do rather than simply relying on His strength. Simply being still with Him, thinking about Him and fixing my eyes on Jesus is all I need to “do.” A quick reminder in the middle of any situation that He is with me is all I need to squash that sickening fear and panic that often comes upon me.

 Praying, reading and spending time with God must be something I practice consistently to build my relationship with Him so that when the struggles come I am properly equipped to receive His peace. Waiting to do these things in the midst of a struggle adds to my burden because, along with coping with the emotions I must now get His Word into my mind and heart. When they are already planted there, I can immediately recall them and be comforted, receiving His peace before the fear and sadness are unmanageable.

Proverbs 30:5 – “Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

As Pastor James said, it is no sin to have a troubled heart, but as we continue to be troubled, sin can easily come into our lives. The longer we dwell in this place, the more negative emotions we feel, the more overwhelming the situation becomes and our hope quickly begins to fade. As the weight of our situation bears down on us, we are more likely to seek solace from substances, physical pleasure, self-pity, angry words or behavior. But as soon as we can look to Jesus for comfort, our tendency to go to these things is diminished and we can respond in His way. Be prepared by strengthening your knowledge of God and always remember you have the Holy Spirit just waiting for you to call on Him. That is how we can quickly find the peace He promises in every situation. Don’t wait for the doubt and fear to take hold before you call on Him!

Worry about NOTHING?!

19 Saturday Oct 2013

Posted by carolyncam1 in Uncategorized

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anxiety, anxious, Christ, depression, fear, God, Israelites, Jesus, peace, struggles, trials, trust, worry

One of the greatest struggles I had in building my relationship with God over the last four years is overcoming worry.  When I accepted Christ’s sacrifice for me and decided to follow His direction for my life, I was overwhelmed with worry, fear, depression and anxiety.  I desperately needed the peace He promises.  But I struggled to find this rest as my family and I went through some tremendous trials.  During my Bible study one day I came across this verse:

Philippians 4:6 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”

It was hard for me to fathom how God could expect me to live in this world and not worry about anything.  The only way I thought that could happen would be to stop caring about people.  That wasn’t going to happen and it certainly wasn’t consistent with the person God is and the kind of person He wants me to be.  Surely God understands if we worry about our loved ones, people who have not accepted His gift of salvation, world events that we have no control over.  But these words come from Paul, who suffered greatly.  He faced death numerous times, endured torture time and time again, had many friends who suffered and died, and was pursued endlessly by powerful people who opposed his message.  Yet Paul exhorts us through his words to the Philippians that we are to be anxious about NOTHING.  Paul didn’t provide us with a list of things we are allowed to worry about.  He says we are to be anxious about NOTHING.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  NO THING.  NOTHING. 

There is only one way to worry about nothing:  absolute trust in God.  When I am faced with a struggle, I come up with a solution that I want to see.  It’s generally a quick solution because the sooner the issue goes away, the sooner I can quit worrying.  I know how I want things to turn out and I go to God asking Him for those results.  Then I become anxious when I see even a slight possibility that things might turn out differently than I have planned or when nothing seems to be changing.  As I provide God with solutions, the absurdity of what I’m doing hits me and I have to switch gears.  I begin to focus on turning the situation over to God, but still I often worry whether or not I will be able to handle the outcome He might choose. 

Each time I’m faced with a new struggle, I face the challenge of totally trusting God.  I have to remember that He will work it out in a way that accounts for many things I cannot possibly consider.  He can account for every possible consequence for every individual and for eternity.  My limited view of life leaves me wanting answers that don’t include any kind of suffering or pain.  I don’t consider answers that will benefit someone I am harboring hard feelings for.  When I trust God’s answers, I can know He is able to take all of this into account and bring about good.  My view is too limited to even begin to accomplish this.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 I love reading the Old Testament.  I get really frustrated with the Israelites as I read of their constant lack of trust in God during their time in the wilderness.  They worried about what they would eat and drink and expressed their displeasure with Moses for taking them out of Egypt where they had plenty, conveniently forgetting how they had suffered there.  They were fearful of the approaching Egyptian army and they feared the inhabitants of the land God promised them.  I question how they could ever worry about anything after the miracles they had witnessed – the parting of the Red Sea, God leading them by fire at night and the cloud by day, water pouring out of rocks and manna falling from the sky.  I sometimes think that if God would perform one of these miracles today, it would be easier to trust Him.  But if it didn’t work for the Israelites, I have to understand it wouldn’t work for me, either!  As I read these stories, I also have to remember that I have the advantage of reading about these things centuries after they happened.  I am no different from the Israelites when I face the trials He allows in my life.  I have to trust what He is going to do and I have to keep in mind that it might not look like I want it to look.  That’s the tough part. 

There are several things about God that I keep in mind.  God is outside of time.  He is able to work in my life as if He is reading about it centuries later.  He is omniscient so He knows what the consequences will be of everything that He allows in my life.  He orchestrates all of it so it works for good for all those who love Him who are involved even in the smallest way, not just the people and things I am aware of. 

Even when the solution God provides is difficult, I can rest assured God is still taking care of me.  As the Israelites’ wandered in the wilderness for 40 years as punishment for their lack of trust, God provided everything they needed.  As long as I remind myself that what He is doing takes into consideration everyone who loves Him and that He is preparing all for eternity, I am able to free myself from the anxiety I experience when I cannot see or understand the reasons for the difficult things He allows into my life. 

God’s timing is vastly different from mine.  More often than not, God’s plans require a lot of patience.  My most earnest prayer is that my loved ones will accept Christ.  As I watch things in the world unravel, I am convinced that this world has just about tested God’s patience to the limit and He will soon bring it to a close.  This leaves me with a sense of urgency for those who haven’t accepted His gift of salvation. There are days when I plead with Him to let me see some progress and there have been times when He shows me how someone has become more open to Jesus or they ask a question that indicates they are thinking about something we have discussed.  But, again, He didn’t provide a list of exceptions that I’m allowed to worry about, not even others’ salvation, nor did He say He would relieve my worry through visible evidence.  He will relieve my worry through faith and trust in Him and I must be patient.

The Philippians verse also tells us that we are to be thankful.  Giving thanks allows us to focus on God’s goodness.  It reminds us that He has cared for us in the past and will continue to do so.  Thanking and praising God as we petition Him for help in getting through trials changes our attitude and should help us realize that He truly cares for us.

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

My husband has head knowledge of Jesus but is not a committed follower.  We were talking about money and I reminded him that it could all be taken away in the blink of an eye despite his methodical, careful management.  I told him that if God wants me to live in a box, I’ll live in a box.  He said “But I don’t want to live in a box.”  In a misguided attempt to help him understand something about God’s nature, I tried to assure him if that were God’s plan, it would happen no matter what we do and we can rest in knowing that God would take care of our needs while teaching and refining us.  It wasn’t a well-timed conversation – like trying to teach someone geometry before they’ve mastered basic math – but it reminded me how thankful I am that I can trust God’s plans for me, no matter what they look like.  I wish my husband could find this peace.  

Luke 12:22-25 – “Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”

Even my Christian friends often approach a struggle with their own plan in mind.  I try to find ways to remind them that God might have something different in mind for them.  Perhaps they will not be healed of a health issue, perhaps they will not get that job they desperately want, or maybe a family matter won’t be resolved in the way we believe would be best.  But they can still trust that no matter what happens God will use it for good.  God wants us to bring the desires of our hearts to Him and we are to be persistent and bold with our requests.  But we have to remember God is part of all answers, even when we don’t like them or understand them.  Too often we celebrate His presence when the answers look like we want them to look but chalk up His more difficult responses as unanswered prayer.    

Mark 14:32- 36: “ Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.  And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Does this mean we will never have a minute of worry?  No, I don’t expect that.  After all, we still live in a broken world and we still care about other people.  Even Jesus, God in the flesh, experienced great anxiety on the night of His arrest.  On that night Jesus was deeply distressed and exceedingly sorrowful.  He turned to God in fervent prayer, asking God three times to take the cup from Him.  But Jesus yielded to God’s will.  Unlike us, Jesus knew what God’s plan would demand and how difficult it would be yet He still trusted in what God was doing, knowing what that plan meant for every person who ever lived. This should be our example during our struggles. 

I want to be as confident in God’s plans as Jesus was at Gethsemane; to live as if I can see through to eternity and rest assured that God’s plans are always the best for everyone involved.  I know I can approach God with my requests time and time again but when I convince myself that is the only acceptable answer, I invite worry and anxiety into my life.  I must always turn it over to God in the end and let Him work it out His way.  I must learn to lean on Him and trust that He will get me through those answers He provides that are painful or that I don’t understand.

The payoff is huge:  Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

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