I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
I hold on to the promise of God that He cares about me and all I do, say and all of the challenges I face. In the New Year, I will be starting PT again, this time for my shoulder that the doctor thinks has a rotator cuff problem. I am trying to avoid surgery, having already had a steroid shot a week or so ago. The pain is better but not gone, so I am thankful that God truly cares for me and everyone I love. Casting my cares on Him means letting it go and not worrying about surgery that may or may not happen. He is a good, good God and it is beyond my scope of understanding how much He cares for me. I just accept that He does and my heart’s desire is to show others that He cares for them, too.
I think of the word “when” as almost like a promise. My mom used to say to me, “Your father will take care of you when he gets home!” Rather than be terribly frightened at the punishment that I knew would come, I was happy to know that daddy was coming home. That was because he was generally my defender and intercessor with my mother. He could calm her down, and although I might be punished, the punishment would fit the offense rather than the outrage of my mother.
The Bible has a lot of “when” in it. Here are two I found recently during my devotional.
Hidden within the context of this verse if the idea that I will get anxious. Never mind that the Bible also admonishes me not to be anxious, but to always pray. Never mind that I know that God is always with me. Sometimes situations cause me anxiety that seems to overwhelm me. I was once diagnosed with agoraphobia and spent months talking to a therapist so that I could go out into crowds again. Yes, I was a Christian then, but all of the therapy and the self-talk in the world could not convince me that it was “safe” for me to be among a group of people, particularly strangers. How did I overcome this disability? I recited Scripture, with my eyes closed. Then I would open my eyes and see things the way God saw them…just fellow travelers in a world that is not our home. I am thankful that God is always there to console me and remind me from His Word that He is there and will take care of me until it is time for HIM to call me home. I sometimes still have episodes where going into a room with strangers, or even on a highway filled with cars, I get anxious. God is faithful to remind me that He has never let me down and He never will.
I think this verse can be taken literally for me as well as spiritually. The joke in our household is that if there is one spot of ice, my foot will find it and I will slip and fall. In fact, I may even fall on dry ground. I sometimes fall for no reason at all. The last time I had a big, scary fall was several years ago. I was just walking from one end of our house to the other, and suddenly I found myself face down on the ground. Praise God that I didn’t break anything! I was quite bruised and very sore, but no broken bones. God took care of me even when I literally fell on my face. The spiritual part is when I start doubting; I consider that my foot slipping. Instead of being firmly planted on my rock of faith, I move and then I start asking questions. But God supports me even then, with His love and reminders of all He has brought me through and all we have to look forward to in the future, together.
So, it’s not an “if” for me…it’s a when. And I am grateful that God continually whispers His sweet words of comfort and reassurance for me when I am anxious and when I am falling. He lifts me up and sets me right back where I belong, on the solid rock of His love and grace.
There Was Jesus: In the Waiting (You Version Devotional, “There Was Jesus” by Zach Williams)
One of the things we all can agree on is that, as a culture, we’re not good at waiting; we’ve invented so many ways to get out of waiting in lines, waiting on food to cook and waiting for paint to dry. I’ll admit, I’ve been conditioned to expect things quickly and right when I ask. When I read a verse like Isaiah 40:31, where it lists out the wonderful things that can happen when we wait on God, it’s challenging to follow through, especially when times are tough. I believe our impatience comes from our need to remain in control. It’s scary and goes against what we naturally want to do in most situations; hold tight and only trust ourselves. God has given us guidance on the best way to live, and sometimes, the best way to allow God to have control of a situation is to wait on Him. It requires existing in a space that feels unknown, trusting in His process, and believing that He has a plan for our lives. Easier said than done, right? What should we be doing during the waiting? Romans 12:12 tells us to be “constant in prayer.” While we’re waiting on God’s timing, prayer helps connect us to Him and helps us to focus our faith. Ephesians 4:2 tells us that we should spend our time loving others, being gentle with each other, and to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” Basically, God has asked us to trust Him with the timing, but to walk along with Him in the meantime.
Waiting on God doesn’t mean we’re separated from Him. He’s always right alongside us. Exodus 14:14 tells us, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” He’s fighting for us and with us in the waiting and the searching, every minute and every moment.
My Thoughts
I don’t know about you, but waiting is hard for me. I am not so much “in an instant”as in my own timing. I don’t like to wait because, as the author of the devotional wrote, it means I have to relinquish my control over something. Change and waiting throws me, every time. I try to be in prayer and wait, but I get anxious, and my blood pressure soars. I try not to be anxious, but that doesn’t work because in trying not be anxious, I get more anxious. It’s like I am on a Ferris wheel, stuck on the top and unable to get off or to make the thing move and get me back down to the ground. So, I am working on learning to calm my thoughts and think about Jesus walking beside me, or even sitting in that Ferris wheel next to me, holding my hand and asking me to tell Him about my day. I’m glad that He is patiently still working on me.
This morning, I got up early and got ready for my appointment with my neurologist. Every year since my stroke, I have to go in to get a Doppler on my carotid artery. The procedure isn’t painful so it’s not a big deal. That is, until an hour and a half before I am supposed to leave, the doctor’s office calls, says there is a problem with today’s schedule and wants me to come in tomorrow. You would think that I would roll with the punches, as they say, just write down the new time and move on. Well, instead, I had to juggle another appointment to take my car in for brake work and there were two changes to the schedule this week already. Not bad, right? Unless you have my body and my mind which has its own way of dealing with change and waiting…my blood pressure soared and I had to take my extra pill that is only for such occasions as this. As my husband says, I am not conditioned for change because change in my home growing up meant my mom would get angry and I would be the target. I have basically spent my whole life trying to avoid change, but then along comes God who wants me to get accustomed to it so He can teach me that change is not a bad thing. I am now putting myself into His capable and loving hands and praying for my BP to regulate so my head will stop pounding. I am doing my deep breathing exercises and reading my Bible while I also pray. There is no magic formula for me to de-stress when change happens, but believe it or not, I am getting better at accepting the waiting part of change. My body still reacts physically, but my heart is calmer, knowing that the Lord is right beside me. He is waiting, too, for me to be calm enough to listen. So, appointment tomorrow…no problem! Car on Wednesday, not a big deal. God’s got this and me, in His hands and He is molding me to be more like him. After all, that is what I have been praying for. And if this change and waiting stuff is what it takes, then I am ready to fight that stress battle with the Lord holding my hand and speaking in my ear!
Let Your Gentleness Be Evident to All (YouVersion Devotional by Max Lucado: “Anxious for Nothing”)
Unchecked anxiety can unleash an Enola Gay of angry outbursts, rash accusations, and fiery retaliations against those in your path who are unfortunate to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. How many people have been wounded as a result of such unbridled stress? On the other hand, how many disasters have been averted because one person decided to be calm?
It is this composure Paul is referring to when he states, “Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Philippians 4:5 NIV). The Greek word translated as gentlenessdescribes a temperament that is seasoned and mature. It envisions an attitude that is fitting to the occasion, levelheaded and tempered. The gentle reaction is one of steadiness, evenhandedness, and fairness.
Jesus promised that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33 NIV). It is as inevitable as the sun rising on a new day—as waves crashing on the shores of a beach. But what you also need to remember is that Jesus has promised to be with you in the midst of those troubles. Before Jesus departed this earth, he said to his disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20 NIV).
In fact, throughout the Bible, God repeatedly pledged to be present with his people. He was with Abram as he traveled to a new land. He was with Hagar when she fled into the wilderness, and with Isaac when he was forced to move from place to place. He was with Joshua when he faced the Canaanites, and with David when he faced the Philistines. He was with Peter in prison, and with Paul whenever and wherever he found himself in dire circumstances.
God was never watching from a distance. In fact, his very name is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” He became flesh. He became sin. He defeated the grave. And he is still with you.
Maybe you’re fighting today to keep a family together, a business afloat, or a school from going under. How you handle that fight will reveal where your trust ultimately lies. If you trust in Jesus and believe he is always with you, the byproduct of releasing the control to him will be a contagious calm that surrounds your life. This calm will allow you to see how God is working in your situation—and others will notice there is something different about you. It will bring healing to your anxiety, mature your faith, and show others that God is always faithful.
Anxiety management is like pulling stumps out of the ground. Some of your worries have deep root systems, and extracting them is hard work. But you don’t have to do it alone. Present the challenge to your Father and ask for help.
Will he solve the issue? Yes, he will. Will he solve it immediately? Maybe. Or maybe part of the test is an advanced course in patience. This much is sure: contagious calm will happen to the degree that you turn to him.
Respond
Who in your life is most impacted by the way you respond to stressful situations?
How would you define the word gentleness? Would you say your responses to others in stressful situations tend to be gentle? Why or why not?
How can knowing that God is always present in your circumstances help you to maintain a sense of contagious calm?
My Thoughts
On Election Day, I spent most of the day alone as my husband is a poll watcher. When he came home a little before eight, he was tired, but in a good way, and we talked a little while about what was going on in the election. I had been praying all day for God’s mercy and as the evening wore on and the results were coming slowly, I decided to go ahead and go to bed. I thought that I would not be able to sleep, but in my prayer, I asked God for peace and His response to my heart was, “Trust.” I woke up about three a.m. as my husband was coming to bed. It looked like President Trump would win, but I didn’t trust the Democrats not to pull a switch or find more ballots. My anxiety kicked in again, and again, God spoke to my heart, “Trust.”
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that my word for this year has been trust. I have had to trust God for some hard things, at least hard things for me. I had to drive my husband in heavy traffic back and forth to his appointments for his eye surgery. It sounds easy and normal, but not for me. I have little peripheral vision after my stroke and as a result, I have not driven much for the last ten years. But, God whispered the word “trust” to me and so I just did what I needed to do.
So many times, I have surprised myself and probably others around me with my calm spirit when inwardly I was seething with anxiety. God’s message to me has been the same in every situation, “Just trust.” I have not arrived at the place where I can say that I am not anxious about anything, but I can testify that I am calmer in situations that used to make me so anxious that I would hide from others or explode at them. So, progress, right? God is still working on me, and I am thankful that He never gives up.
From the YouVersion Bible App: Devotional by Max Lucado, “Anxious for Nothing”
Rejoice in the Lord Always
Anxiety is a meteor shower of what-ifs. What if I don’t close the sale? What if we can’t afford braces for the kids? What if my kids have crooked teeth? What if crooked teeth keep them from having friends . . . a career . . . a spouse? Anxiety is living life in a minor key with major concerns.
Is your heart weighed down with worry? Could you use some calm? If so, you aren’t alone. Conquering anxiety and worry requires some work on your part, but it is not God’s will that you lead a life of perpetual anxiety. God loves his children. He oversees your world. He monitors your life.
In Philippians 4:4, Paul offers what could be considered a “prescription” for anxiety and worries. Interestingly, this prescription begins with a call to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Paul used every tool in the box on this verse to get his readers’ attention. First, he uses a verb tense so they would hear, “continually, habitually rejoice!” And if the verb tense wasn’t enough, he removed the expiration date: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” And if that wasn’t enough, he repeated the command: “Again I will say, rejoice!”
But how do you obey this command? By recognizing the sovereignty of God. The most stressed-out people are control freaks. The more they try to control the world, the more they realize they cannot. Life becomes a cycle of anxiety, failure; anxiety, failure; anxiety, failure. But when you recognize heaven has an occupied throne, you allow the Lord to be in control. God then calms your fears not by removing the problem, but by revealing his divine power and presence. Your anxiety decreases as your understanding of God, your Father, increases.
The next time you fear the future, rejoice in the Lord’s sovereignty. Rejoice in what he has accomplished. Rejoice that he is able to do what you cannot do. Fill your mind with thoughts of him. Where others see the problems of the world and wring their hands, see those problems and bend your knees. Intentionally lift up your mind to thoughts about your king. Don’t get lost in your troubles. Dare to believe that good things will happen. Examine what sustains your belief, and make sure your belief in God is founded in trusting that he is in control.
Also realize that God has freed you from the guilt and quagmire of regret that may be causing you anxiety. Unresolved guilt can turn you into a person who is hiding, running, denying, and pretending. Guilt can suck the life out of your soul. But grace restores that life and allows you to trust God’s forgiveness. The result is the ability to rejoice unhindered, confident in God’s sovereignty.
Your Father’s hands are open, so place yourself entirely in his care. As you do, you will find it is possible—yes, possible!—to be anxious for nothing.
Respond
How is rejoicing a choice? What does rejoicing in the Lord look like to you?
How would you describe your confidence in God’s control over your life? What are some ways you have seen God’s sovereign hand at work in your life?
How can spending time each day in God’s presence help you rejoice in the Lord always?
My Thoughts
I need to read this devotional every day, along with God’s Word that tells me not to worry. I wake up every morning and say thank you to God and then I proceed to worry. I worry about small things (an earache just beginning) and big things (car repairs). But God says He is on His throne and I need to let go. So, I am working on it. As a Type A Control Freak, this is not easy for me, but since it is a command, I will call on God to help me to do better about not being anxious. I am spending more time with God every day and that is helping. Do you have any secrets to letting go of worry? I don’t think that there is a “magic bullet” but I do know that there is a powerful God who is watching over me.
Changes in life and in this world are never more evident that when it’s an election year and when you are aging quickly. Election years bring all kinds of anxiety for me, so I have learned to tune out the news and to turn to God. He knows what is going to happen and He isn’t afraid, so why should I be? As far as the aging process that seems to get more aggressive these days, it is a natural part of life. Again, with the aches, pains and dimming vision, I can turn to God who already knows what I am going through and who comforts me, heals me and strengthens me. My bones don’t work so well anymore as they pop and creak at each movement, but God never changes and is a stalwart and dependable refuge for me. I don’t have any idea how people without God cope with life and its many challenges, and I don’t really want to find out. But I feel sad for them, because I know that without God every day would be bleak and hopeless. With God, every day is a new day, filled with hope and expectation of what new thing He will do that day to show me His love and protection. Have a great day and remember to run, don’t walk, to the Lord God! He is waiting for you with outstretched arms.
God Our Rock
There are hundreds of different names and titles for God throughout Scripture. And since the Psalms are written from various seasons in life, there are many different perspectives of how God acts within those seasons. Psalm 18 is written at a time when the author, King David, was delivered from his enemies by God.
In this Psalm, David almost immediately calls God his rock, because God was dependable and stable. There was nothing that could overtake God or move Him. This truth wasn’t just for David, but for everyone who relies on God.
When we belong to God, He is a rock and a fortress for us as well. Everything in the world constantly shifts, but we belong to a God who never changes. He is our protection from things that might seek to harm us.
We belong to a God who can protect us throughout our lives. Even if we don’t have physical enemies, we can run to God when life gets difficult. That’s why, like David, we get to respond to God with praise. We need to remember what God has done so we can praise Him for who He is.
Take some time today to thank God for how He has led and protected you so far in your life. And if you’re currently in a difficult season, run to God and ask Him for help. He is able and willing to protect and comfort you.
I prefer to be a hummingbird, positively looking around for the good and sweet things in life. It’s a sad fact that there are vultures around, too, just as it’s sad that there is darkness and light. In a world filled with criticism, be the encourager. In a world filled with evil, be kind and generous. Be the one who makes a difference so that others want to know the reason for the hope within you.
Fight Fear and Hold Fast
It seems there’s always something to worry about: natural disasters, current (and potential) wars, shaky finances, relational brokenness, unmet expectations, political, cultural, or racial divisions, senseless violence, our kids, our jobs, our health, and more—much more. But many of the things we fear are largely out of our control.
We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can choose our response.
You can constantly be worried, negative, anxious, fearful, critical, and bitter. Or, you can be known for seeing the good in people, choosing joy, offering encouragement, looking for God’s fingerprints, and always finding something to be grateful for. In either case, the cycle feeds itself.
Like hummingbirds are attracted to sweet things while vultures scour the earth for dead things, we will always find what we are looking for. Why? Because darkness and light both exist. Good and evil are everyday realities. And we must decide who we’ll trust, and how we’ll spend our lives.
There are plenty of scary things happening in the world, but—because of Jesus—there is always good.
Even on our darkest days, Jesus is the light of the world. He’s already carrying the weight of the world on His shoulders, which means we don’t have to. He has already made a way where there was no way, which means we can follow the path He has blazed. The Holy Spirit is already compelling us and leading us and teaching us and comforting us, which means we’re not alone.
The hope we have in Christ isn’t just wishful thinking or positive vibes. It’s hope that’s based on truth—on facts and faith.
So what can we do? The Bible says:
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”
Proverbs 12:25 NIV
We can fight anxiousness with hope.
We can ward off worry with truth-filled encouragement.
We can resist fear by offering life-giving words.
We can refuse to settle for living scared.
We can expose the darkness to light.
So the next time you feel anxiety and fear weighing down your heart, ask God for help and encouragement. Remember, He is with you always.
Just in case you think that you can have secrets from God, let me clue you in to some truth. You can’t! Try reading Psalm 139 aloud and let it speak to you about where God is and how intimately He is involved in your life. This psalm was in both of my devotional books this morning, so if I didn’t get the message the first time, God repeated it.
When I got up this morning, my first thoughts after saying my thanksgiving prayer were all that I have to do today to get ready to go to the beach to meet our daughter and her family. No, I didn’t procrastinate. Well, maybe a little. We have known since April that we would be meeting our daughter at Myrtle Beach and I waited until today to organize and pack. It’s not that I don’t want to see everyone. I do, I really do! I just am not a big fan of traveling or packing or unpacking. I get anxious that I will forget something vital (like meds), so I make lists. Then I check things off, highlight them, circle them, carry the list with me from room to room. You get the idea, right? We were away from home for three weeks in June to July. Then, mid-July, I visited my sister in NC for a week. Two weeks at home and back on the road again for another week now. We will be traveling again later in August and one final trip in September. So, all of this traveling and packing has me a little fidgety. But God surprised me with a verse this morning that jumped off the page at me and immediately calmed me down.
Wow! Just wow! I always pray for traveling mercies and know that God goes with me wherever I go, But for Him to affirm that He is seeing me as I travel…this blows my mind. I know it shouldn’t because of course, God sees me everywhere, doing everything that I do routinely. I am blessed that He is aware that I am traveling again, that my heart wants to go but my mind is reluctant, and that I have tons to do to get ready to head to SC. For now, I will focus on God’s great love for me and His attention to details. I have no doubt that He will help me to remember all that I have to pack and do to get ready for the trip. But mostly, I pray that He will continue to bring this verse to my mind so that the anxiety that I usually suffer when traveling will flee.
As everyone knows, today is Election Day in the United States and I hope you are all doing your civic duty and voting. My husband is working at the polls as a poll watcher. He enjoys getting out into the public and talking to folks who come to vote. I already voted since I knew that he would be at the polls all day today.
I awakened this morning with a headache and I attribute it to the weather change (the high today is in the 50’s and it has been almost 80 degrees for the last three days) as well as just a little bit of stress. What could cause that stress? Well, other than the election that is so important for our nation, but that isn’t really why. Our grandson has to go see the surgeon again on November 21st about his broken clavicle. It seems to be healing, but it is doing so very slowly. We are going to Maryland for Thanksgiving so I get to see family there. Grandchildren! Our fiftieth anniversary is coming up in April and we have been working on plans for a train trip across the U.S. Christmas is coming and I need to shop. And my youngest sister in Florida has a Cat 1 hurricane headed her way. So, why the stress? All of the above but not all at the same time. Anxious thoughts seem to wait until I am having a quiet moment and then, boom! They start attacking from all sides. Yes, I have my armor on and my helmet of salvation is firmly in place. But I need more and I find it in the comfort of God’s presence. That is what I am thankful for today. When my heart is rocketing around like a space ship out of control and the pain in my head is forcefully letting me know that I need to relax, then God shows Himself strong on my behalf, speaks calming words to me through His Word and the praise music that I listen to and gradually, my focus changes from the problems and task list to the Almighty God who is worthy to be praised.
God knows just the right words to speak to my heart to keep me focused on His goodness and not on the problems. He is so merciful and gracious to me and I sincerely appreciate His always being there, right on time!
No matter what you are facing today, remember that God is in control…of elections, trips, money issues, and even hurricanes. May you have a blessed and peaceful day!
When unexpected events happen in my life, it is then that I find out what parts of my life I have not yet surrendered to God. That is when the anxiety that is always lurking and ready to attack surfaces and I have to be ready to give it all to Jesus again. This week, I found myself anxious about our grandson Tyler’s appointment with the surgeon. But because God had reassured me repeatedly that He is taking care of Tyler, the anxiety did not get the best of me. Rather. I prayed and then waited for word from my daughter. Normally, I would have been texting repeatedly about the time of the appointment, the outcome of the appointment, the exact words of the surgeon. Instead, I rested in the assurance of the Lord. The results weren’t all that I wanted, but they were enough to let me know that God has the situation under control and He doesn’t need my help to manage it. The surgeon told Tyler that the fracture of his clavicle is severe and is taking a while to heal. He took him out of the brace and the sling but cautioned him that he cannot lift anything. He also gave him gentle exercises to do as he showers in order to get strength back into his left arm that he hasn’t used since August. Finally, he wants to see him again in a month. The clavicle has moved back into the correct position, so that is a big praise and a huge relief! God is good, even when we try to rush Him or move Him quickly towards our desired outcome. He moves in His time and with His purpose. So, the anxiety that I had felt before this week, leading up to the appointment, did not do anything but make me uncomfortable. I had to hand things over to the Father to handle and then I felt the “ahh” relief that comes from knowing that although I couldn’t do anything, God could and was working on Tyler’s behalf.
Letting go and letting God is freeing and brings rejoicing, maybe not immediately or during the circumstances, but in the end, the rejoicing comes.
Just as the ocean washes away the debris from the beach, so God is washing away my tendency to be anxious. He wants me to relax and trust Him and every day is a new day to try to do just that. Last week was Tyler’s appointment. Who knows what this week will bring? But as I texted Tyler, nothing is going to happen to me today that God and I cannot handle together. God is making sure that I know that and I’m looking forward to see where He will lead me next in my quest for total trust and assurance in Him.
Have a blessed day, filled with rejoicing and the knowledge that God has everything under control!
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