It has been a week! I will not go into detail but to say it has been a bit stressful and tiring and involved some trauma. And… share the reminder that if there is one thing I have learned in my 72 years, it is that life just keeps coming at you. I am sure you have experienced the same kind of days and weeks.
When I first became a believer in my senior year in high school at the beginning of the Jesus Movement, everyone said “it is a fad and he will get over it”. I never did get over it. I also heard often that Christianity was “just a crutch”. As though it was for the weak or the somehow handicapped.
My answer to that is I just don’t care! If it is, then I am happy to be weak and handicapped, because when I am weak he is strong. In fact. His strength/power is perfected when I am at my weakest, and, in fact, like a dead man, unable to respond to anything in my own strength.
[2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NASB95] 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
That power of Christ is resurrection power, the power that overcame death and brought life, and not just life, but eternal life. So, when life just keep bringing challenges, stress, and trauma, we have a hope and can indeed press on in him
[Philippians 3:10-12 NASB95] 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained [it] or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Having been a believer walking through challenges, stress, trauma… life…. with this “crutch” of faith and knowing Him and trying to follow after Him, I frankly don’t know how anyone faces a day without it/Him.
I find myself blessed even in the midst of life coming at me hard. No, I don’t always have all the answers. But, I am rarely afraid, and I always have a hope.
Paul instructed and encouraged the Philippians who were under persecution with this:
[Philippians 4:4-7 NASB95] 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle [spirit] be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Consider what I underlined here. In this is the recipe for finding peace beyond all comprehension in the midst of all life comes at you with. (When I say recipe, please don’t misunderstand. We don’t work God by recipe. What I mean, is that there is a way in Him to find hope and peace… Paul knew it in all he suffered, and he knew that Jesus knew it in all He suffered, and the apostle instructed the church at Philippi, and us, with these steps from the his suffering and the example of Christ Jesus and others)
Rejoice in the Lord always. No matter what the situation or circumstance you can find joy in the depth of His love and purpose.
Let your gentle [spirit] be known. Do not let anger or emotion run away with you. A gentle, humble, meek spirit and a soft answer goes a long way in turning away the wrath of evil men and advocating for you and Him before them.
The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing. I have combined two phrases because one is dependent upon the other. Remember God, the LORD, is not far away. He is in the midst of this with you. He never leaves nor forsakes you. He is an ever present help in time of trouble. If we can, keep that one thing in mind. Anxiety is removed. Fear and Anxiety are not to have a great place in the life of a believer. We always have a hope (even beyond death and the grave) and our help is near, even present. Consider the psalmist plea in all of Psalm 42 when it seemed God was faraway, (here is a taste of it…[Psalm 42:5 NASB95] 5 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And [why] have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him [For] the help of His presence.)
in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Pray, make supplication to Him and let your need be known to Him. He already knows it, but cry out to Him anyway! And… don’t forget the added instruction here, to mix in THANKSGIVING with your supplication. Remember you enter into His gates with thanksgiving (Psalm 100) and into His courts with praise. If you want to draw nearer/closer to Him who is always near you… thanksgiving is key. He hears, and He will save and deliver. He will bring peace in the storm
The result outlined here is peace. But do consider it is not just any peace; it is the peace of God,… a peace that is supernatural beyond our understanding, a peace which surpasses all comprehension.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
So, whatever life brings, embrace it in Him and find rest and peace being yoked to Him and His purpose.
[Matthew 11:28-30 NASB95] 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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.”