Good Morning All!!
Matthew 6:28; “And
why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they
grow: they neither toil nor spin”
Are you there yet? We are approaching one of the most stressful
times of the year. From about the 15th
of November until the 15th of January, there is a measurable
increase in the calls to suicide hotlines, measurable increase debt counseling,
and a measurable increase in stress within the family with an increase in
domestic calls to the police. This is
the time of the year when anxiety goes up.
We look at the demands of our jobs, our families and then add the stress
of holiday celebration, travel, gifts and then throw in the weather and the
stress can build quickly.
Are you there yet? There are many
times we live with stress; we are anxious about the outcome of an event. It is a normal human reaction but often we
let it escalate to the level of being very harmful. Some of the conditions or symptoms to watch
for trouble sleeping, grinding of your teeth, tightness in your shoulders and
or pain in your lower back, difficulty in relaxing even for a couple of hours,
shortness of breath, higher level of susceptibility to colds and flu, severe
headaches and a general feeling of unease or nervousness. These are just a few and you might not
experience all of them but if you have two or three you might want to take a
step back.
Slow down; make sure to get adequate rest and exercise. Prioritize your events and be prepared to say
“no;” “no” can be a word of love and respect just as much as “yes” can. But above all, slow down and be sure to hear
God’s word for you every day. In many
places in Scriptures, the Word of God comes in a still quiet voice; we need to
be open to hear it. It is important that
we pause in our life to enjoy what God has given us. I think that is part of the reason that Jesus
chose the lilies for comparison. A lot
of time, effort and money can go into trying to make ourselves look good but it
rarely replaces the authenticity of a true loving friend who shows true concern
for you and your welfare. In the end,
love is the greatest.
So if you are stressed, stop and remember that God is in control and
that he gives us a day at a time to savor and to live. We will never get that time back; once used
it is gone. Jesus has freed us from the
fear and pain and agony of our sin; why do we so willingly return to those
feelings? Don’t be anxious; don’t spend
a lot of time worrying about how others view you. Those who love you; love you for you, a redeemed
child of God. God loves you as his
chosen redeemed child. He has claimed
you as his child to free you from fear, anxiety stress and sorrow. Trust in his love to carry you through.
Father
of all mercy, guard us with your Spirit.
Keep us free from worry and anxiety.
Lead us on the path of contentment with you. Show us your mercy, show us your peace. Move me to always trust in your grace and
mercy. In the precious name of Jesus we
pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret
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