Friends, It’s Time to Release Our Struggles!
Welcome back to another Monday blog post, friends! Today's post is a quick one with a very important message worth meditating on. Feel free to leave me a comment in the comments section below, and let me know if this resonated with any of you! Shall we get into it? Let's talk "struggles."
We've all got them. We all dread them. The question is...how long will we HOLD ON to, OBSESS over, and REFUSE to let them go? I often wonder if some of us have become so conditioned with feeling "worried," that we are guilty of constantly needing something to worry about? Have we forgotten that as followers of Jesus we are meant to LIVE IN PEACE both in our minds and in our lives?
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27
To follow Jesus in no way means that times in our lives will always be peaceful. In fact, we were prefaced with the reality that following Him will come with hard times, but that He will never leave us, or forsake us!
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
Sometimes it may feel as though we're on a boat tossed in the midst of a raging storm, frantically screaming for our Father in heaven to save us. Others may even be tempted to throw themselves overboard in a hopeless attempt to be swallowed up by the waves. Often times we may become blinded to the very fact that Yeshua (Jesus) is also on this boat with us offering His peace that surpasses all understanding. Have we forgotten that hope? The Creator of the waves and sea is with us at all times, and able to stop all chaos in an instant with the sound of His voice. These trials, or difficult seasons of life, are not unknown to Him, and are in no way a surprise for Him! Is it possible that this trial is here to perfect our faith? To allow for more spiritual growth in, dependence on, and nearness to Him? YES!
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials fof various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perserverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
When Peter took His eyes off of Jesus, and placed His attention on the storm as He was walking on water, he began to sink. What does this teach us about focus and trust? When Jesus is not at the forefront of our minds, and we choose to instead magnify our struggles, they WILL consume us. If we find ourselves frantically stirring the boat we're on, similar to the shuffling of anxiety in our minds, we will only add to the instability of the boat. If we remain still, and focus our eyes on Jesus, then we can regain our balance and our peace.
Let's challenge ourselves to remain still today, and to trust in the One whose voice the storm obeys. Let's remember that our Father has a plan to prosper us, and not to harm us, to give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). I pray that we no longer hold onto our struggles, but finally release them to the One Who is in control of all things, and Who radically and unconditionally cares for us! Thinking and praying for my beautiful readers today, that we overcome our trials together as we surrender them to the Lord! Love to you all!!
Cool, Calm, and Collectedly Yours,
