PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7 – Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
THEME OF THE DAY. WHEN LIFE IS OVERWHELMING. Allow me to start today’s nugget with a question that may make you question my intelligence, maybe even my sanity – “Do you ever wake up in the morning flooded with all that is on your life’s plate and feel overwhelmed, maybe even like you are drowning in all the demands and responsibilities in your life?”
Life gets that way fast. We have responsibilities to our families, our jobs, our churches, our communities, and not to mention just the regular maintenance of life; cleaning house, washing clothes, preparing meals, running errands, doing yard work, upkeep on our homes and vehicles . . . the list goes on and on. And if we are not careful, we can get overwhelmed quickly; so quickly that what will be lost is our spiritual perspective on life and our spiritual awareness of the Lord Jesus who is life. When these are lost, our lives are filled with anxiety, stress, and worry. So, what may we do when life is like a flood threatening to drown us in a sea of anxiety and stress? Two things from today’s scripture.
First, when life is running at breakneck speed, pause and rejoice in the Lord. Yes, even when driving our kids to still yet another event. Yes, even when the laundry is Mount Everest high. Yes, even when work pressures seem about to cause us to explode. Yes, even when we need thirty-six hours in the day. Yes, even when still yet another person needs our attention and ministry. Stop and worship the Lord. Stop and praise His name. Friends, rejoicing in the Lord is one of the most powerful spiritual weapons to strengthen the heart, renew the mind, and remove the stress and anxiety deep inside of us. Why? It takes us off ourselves. It draws us to live outside of ourselves and focused on Him who said, “I am your rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, and stronghold” (Psalm 18:2). With minds and hearts centered on the Lord Jesus, our lives are empowered to live above circumstances and demands upon us with a joyful, even worshipful, attitude.
Another thing to do when we feel the rising tide of being overwhelmed in life is remember we are not alone – “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything”. We never walk alone despite what we feel. Our God has committed to not only save us for eternity but to walk close to us this side of eternity. His Presence remembered and consciously lived out will stop the floods of life from overtaking us. We will live with a confidence that I can do all things through Christ, the Christ who we are walking closely with every day of life (Philippians 4:13).
Life can be overwhelming . . . if we let it. We don’t have to be controlled by circumstances and demands. Just the opposite, we can rejoice in our circumstances and demands in life as we walk hand in hand with Him who controls our circumstances in life.
PRAYER: “Father, don’t let me allow the pressures of life remove from me the awareness of Your presence in my life.”
QUOTE: “Life can be overwhelming if we look at all that is demanded of us if we forgot to walk with Him who is life.”