Stressed Out

Matthew 11: ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

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Meeting after meeting, my day was full. If I wasn’t in meetings, I was answering my voicemail or replying to some scathing email left by the arrogant. After a while I found myself without sleep. I would wake in the middle of the night thinking about work. The speed in which I had to reply to issues was ridiculous. Was there any relief?!

• I have been stressed out in the past.
• I have had extreme pressure in the past.
• I have had to face situations where it seemed as if no one was in my corner and I did not know where to turn.

Feeling like no one cares can lead to even more stress. After a while I even asked the question, “GOD do you care?” HE gave me HIS answer.

• GOD said to me “I care so come to me with whatever is stressing you out.”
• GOD said to me “I love you so I will yoke myself with you and pull when you cannot.”
• GOD said to me “I died for you and now I live so with the power that has been given to ME, I will give you rest.”

There is no issue too great for GOD. There is no problem GOD cannot solve. There is no situation that causes me stress that GOD cannot handle. Whether GOD is my first choice or the last, I can always go to HIM and give HIM my burdens.

I can also learn HIS word so in times of stress I can use them to navigate the unwieldy times. GOD cares enough about me that HE wants me to have peace. All I need to do is seek HIM.

• Are you stressed out?
• Do you face situations that have you deeply worried?
• Can you talk to GOD about what is stressing you out?
• Will you connect yourself to HIM and learn HIS word so you can navigate through stressful times?

Pondering Takes Time

Psalm 48: ⁹ Within your temple, O God,
    we meditate on your unfailing love.
¹⁰ Like your name, O God,
    your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
    your right hand is filled with righteousness.

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“I wonder if I did my report?” was the thought that crossed my mind. The answer came to me in a flash. “No!” I started thinking of who I could call to help me with the project. I then thought about some important points that would make the report engaging. Finally I thought of some great numbers that would really knock the socks off of senior management.

When I finished my flood of thoughts I realized I was in church and had not really heard a word that was said. “Oh well, I’ll catch it next week.”

• Sometimes I get distracted with life.
• Sometimes I put projects in the way of life.
• Sometimes I see nothing else but the project, causing me to be blind.

Praise who? I have this on my mind and it’s hard to praise anyone when I am this distracted, I thought to myself. Then it hit me, I was getting choked by the world.

• GOD says to me “Do not worry” and I believe it is because I lose my focus of HIM.
• GOD says to me “Do not be afraid” and I believe it is because I think about this world too much.
• GOD says to me “I will be with you always” and I forget this when I am distracted.

GOD has received second billing in my life to so many worries, fears and doubts. I exhaust myself just trying to keep things moving in a path that I feel comfortable. GOD has never placed me on a path where life gets boring. HE has just the right mix of trial and reward to make me grow. HE is worthy of my time and I need to quiet down and listen to HIM daily.

• Are you distracted?
• Do you feel overwhelmed?
• Can you stop for a moment to meditate on GOD’s wonderful power?
• Will you praise GOD today for HIS unfailing love?

A wonderful Prayer for You!

Psalm 20: ¹ May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
    may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
² May he send you help from the sanctuary
    and grant you support from Zion.
³ May he remember all your sacrifices
    and accept your burnt offerings.
⁴ May he give you the desire of your heart
    and make all your plans succeed.
⁵ May we shout for joy over your victory
    and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

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What a delightful prayer! When I read this prayer I quickly realized that I need to align my thoughts to GOD’s. Any thought I have needs to be measured against HIS word and ways because they could be answered with positive or negative outcomes. I did realize something.

• GOD hears me when I am in distress and is planning something great for me.
• GOD sends help and grants support for me even when I don’t see it.
• GOD sees any sacrifice I have made, especially the ones no one else knows.
• GOD knows the desires of my heart even before I am aware of them and HE does not take them lightly, so HE makes strong plans for them to succeed.
• GOD gives victory and grants requests so this allows me to shout praise to HIM!

Success in the Makings

1 Chronicles 18: ⁵ When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. ⁶ He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

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¹² Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.¹³ He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

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Boss number twenty two came through the revolving door and was super zealous and quite curt in her discussions. She was very demanding and it seemed like I needed to saddle up for the very long journey of oppression. After staying up most of the night, I was able to get the presentation just right but traffic prevented me from delivering it on time.

“I’m going to be fired” I thought to myself. I hurried into the meeting, late. I turned on my laptop in hopes that I could slip the new presentation in, but the look from my boss made it known I was in the toilet.

• When trouble comes I feel distressed.
• When the pressure is on and I miss on my delivery I feel pain.
• When I am surrounded on all sides and there seems to be no way out I feel like giving up.

One of the high ranking officials in the room asked about some detail from the area I was responsible. I quickly responded and it actually was better that my presentation was not shown as it kept down the number of follow on questions. “Good job” grunted my boss afterwards.

• Sometimes trouble is placed in front of me by GOD to help me grow.
• Sometimes obstacles are placed in front of me by GOD because HIS plan is better than mine.
• Sometimes barriers are placed in front of me by GOD to prevent me from messing up.

There is a way that seems right to man but GOD’s ways are far above any thought humans can have. GOD knows just when to place a barrier in front of me to slow me down when things aren’t aligned with HIS plan. I must recognize and appreciate the barrier because that may be GOD saying “It’s not ready yet.”

• Are you anxious?
• Are you tired of waiting for “it” to be ready?
• Can you recognize when GOD is slowing you down to prevent you from crashing and burning?
• Won’t you try again, but this time ask GOD for HIS victory to shine through whatever you are doing?

GOD gives me my footing!

1 Saumel 22: 1 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. ² All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

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²⁰ But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. ²¹ He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. ²² Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. ²³ Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”

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Sitting on the corporate jet I discussed the millions we were going to spend that year and how we were going to use the large department to grow the business. Years later I sat in my home wondering where my first customer was going to come from in my micro business.

All of the large budgeting techniques and resource management lessons couldn’t scare up a single customer on my own. On opening day there were no parades or floods of people handing me money like my previous employer. “LORD where are you?” was my question.

• When I put a timer on GOD I get disappointed.
• When I get anxious about when HE is going to deliver me I get distressed.
• When I threaten GOD with a date and a line in the sand I get displeased.

GOD scoffs at my dates and times. In fact HE laughs at every humans plans and end of world predictions. HE is the only one who knows what is going to happen so HE says this to me.

• MY thoughts are not your thoughts MY ways are not your ways.
• No one knows the day or the hour in which I will return.
• I will be with you even until the end of this age.
• Put your trust in ME.

David started to get his footing even though he was still being pursued. I felt the same way when after my exclamation a customer purchased, then another and another. Soon I had a contract with steady work. GOD started my journey over with a small group of people.

• Do you feel you have lost you footing?
• Do you feel you have started over and are hiding in a cave?
• Can you come out of your cave and face the situation with GOD’s strength?
• Won’t you shut out the noise of the doubters and move forward with confidence, trust and faith?