2020 has been a difficult year thus far.
- I’ve got close members of my family struggling with the possibility of divorce.
- I’ve got close friends with health problems.
- I’ve got close friends with significant financial problems.
- I’ve got friends out of work…and the list could continue…
We have all been emotionally, financially, and sometimes physically stretched almost to the breaking point.
Each day we are met with something new to:
- Be afraid of…
- Be angry with…
- Mourn the loss of…
It’s crazy! So what are we supposed to do?
Not to downplay the significance of each situation, I think the first thing we need to recognize is the root cause we are triggered in the first place.
I think it all boils down to the fact that:
- We realize things are not going the way we want them to.
- We try to control situations that we ultimately can’t control.
- We project our interpretations of what the future will hold…and that future usually looks bad.
I realize…it’s hard not to get sucked into the daily pull towards negative thoughts and hopelessness…but hard is not impossible…it’s just hard.
So what do you do?
Don’t Give Up…Give In…
In the Bible, (Psalm 55:22) reminds us to, “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” NLT.
Why do we seldom truly “give” our burdens to the LORD? I know for me, I freely give all my burdens and concerns to Him each morning in prayer…and then by the end of the day… I have taken them all back…and I’m all anxious once again. Then the next morning…the process repeats itself.
But to really “give” means there is no taking back and to do that, I need to believe the following:
- God is real and present in my life. He hears my prayers…and gives a damn…
- God is capable…
- God is willing…
The great thing about God is this…He will never force Himself on us…either to believe in Him or to intervene in our life unwanted. But like pastor Andy Stanley once said, “Once you give your life to Christ…your problems are now His problems…”
…and if I truly believe that He is real, present, capable and willing…then my future… and all my problems and concerns are all His. And although I may try to take them back from time to time…I know He’ll allow me to do just that… until I once again realize their rightful owner…and give them back… He’s good like that…or better yet…He’s God like that!