HAVING PROBLEMS, LOSING HOPE, FEELING STRESSED, OR EXPERIENCING ANXIETY?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
(Psalm 46:1)

MEDITATION:
When you are having problems, or getting stressed out, what
do you think could give you relief? Don’t you just want to go
to a safe place and stay there until you are less stressed, or the
problem goes away? Wouldn’t it be great if we had a special
room in our home that we could run to, in order to lose our
worries, calm down, and find peace?

If only we had a friend who knew exactly what to say to allay our fears,
worries, and anxieties. Unfortunately, even our best friends, who know
us well, do not always have the answers to our issues. They may love us
and want to help us, but they cannot see the desires of our hearts. They
can’t understand everything that ‘makes us tick’.

So how do we handle our problems, stress and worries? We would be
well advised to turn to the One who knows us best, wouldn’t we? We
should go to the One who can read our hearts, our thoughts, and knows
what ‘makes us tick’. We turn to our God, the One who created us, the
One who loves us, the One who is concerned about us, and the One who
wants us to have His best.

Think about it – God, the Creator of the universe, does not want to see
us troubled. Although He doesn’t tempt us (that comes from Satan), He
will test us, and allow us to endure temptation. Why would He do that?
More than likely it is because He wants us to realize how dependent on
Him we need to be, and not totally reliant on ourselves.

The more we feel like we can cope with any situation without depending
on the Lord, the more we are in danger of developing an arrogant and
egotistical attitude. God knows how arrogance and egotism can have a
negative impact on us, on our interaction with others, and more importantly,
on our relationship with Him. He also knows how we can benefit whenever
we develop the characteristics of Jesus, which includes humbleness.

We have to admit that Jesus did not worry, get stressed, or become
overwhelmed with problems. Why not? Because He knew where to
seek refuge, regain strength, and get any help He needed. He could
deal with all the issues He faced, because He remained as close to His
Father as He could. And that’s exactly what we should do – get as close
to God, our Father, as we can.

ACTION:
Are you having problems, feeling stressed out, feeling anxious,
and/or need help on some issues you are dealing with? If so, then
maybe you need to get closer to God. Are you reading His book,
are you going to His house, are you talking to Him frequently in
prayer, and are you obeying Him to the best of your ability?

These four actions (reading the bible, worshipping, praying, obedience)
can help you in your quest to get closer to Him. And, in addition to
these four attributes, make a conscious effort to become humble, so
you (with God’s help) can overcome any feelings of arrogance or egotism.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, You are the One who knows me inside
and out. You know how to help me whenever I am having
issues of any kind. You are the One who can give me strength
to overcome the troubles I face. My trust is in You, and I am
thankful I can depend on You for help in any situation. Help
me to lose any arrogance, egotism, or independence that may
exist in my life. Teach me to be humble so I can be more like
Jesus, and grow closer to You. May I never overlook or forget
the power of Your holy name.”

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