I know that a struggle today will result in music tomorrow – Max Lucado (A Gentle Thunder)
What do you do in times of crisis? What do you do in stressful situations at work? Where do you turn when innumerable cares or exasperating troubles threaten to overwhelm you? What do you when your manager dumps five piles of work on your desk and wants it done for the next morning and you already have plans for the evening? What do you do when reworking the presentation will take four hours and you only have two hours to do it in?
These are the times when we need to keep our eyes focused on God and seek his wisdom. No crisis is beyond His control. As Christians we aren’t exempt from fear … But we have an intimate, personal relationship with the God of the universe to whom we can take our fears. Our faith in God is not a ticket to escape life’s difficulties or stressful situations. Yet in our weakness we know we can take our eyes off the stressful situation and focus on our loving all-powerful God.
If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chr 7:14).
When I blindly race head first into a stressful situation I make stupid mistakes. My joy, peace, patience, gentleness, lovingkindness and self-control fall on the ground, and I trample them into the mud. But when I press the pause button, and take the time to remember God’s character and God’s promises; when I humbly cast my life on his mercy seeking his grace and power eventually a new song of joy and praise wells up in my heart.
Instead of blindly rushing forward when faced with a stressful situation, if you humbly ask God for wisdom He will replace your fear with the wisdom you need and bless you with peace and joy.
You can expect God to work in the middle of your stressful situation! God is faithful! God is unchanging! God will stand behind his promises!
Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful. (2 Chr 20:20).
Take the time to narrate your predicament to God. God always has the time to listen to you. God listens with kindness and compassion. When you admit your weakness and powerlessness you are affirming your confidence in God.
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:19)
Throw yourself on the mercy of God. You don’t need to prescribe how God will resolve your situation. You just need to ask God to demonstrate his power, his righteousness, his holiness and his grace. When you throw yourself on God’s mercy, you are claiming your seat in the spectators’ gallery to watch the Lord work.
With a symphony of praise anticipate God’s manifestation of his steadfast, divine love in the middle of your circumstances. Praise anticipates in faith God’s fulfillment of his promises through his sovereign power. Praise declares your trust in God.
As God’s child learning to trust and obey while seeking God’s wisdom and glory is of greater importance than merely surviving your stressful circumstances.
This kind of faith doesn’t spring up in the middle of a crisis. This kind of faith is cultivated over a lifetime of quiet obedience to God and trust in His word throughout the routine of everyday life.
Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever. (2 Chr 20:21 NKJV)
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