A couple of weeks ago my stress level was peaking. It was partially my own fault. I had allowed some things to get to me and I was carrying burdens that I should have given up in prayer. Some problems needed a little time to work out, but it felt like there were more problems than time to handle them. I felt like I was barely treading water and that if one more thing went wrongÖ
That was my condition when I was in the shower one evening. I noticed that the hot water seemed to be running out quicker than usual. I decided right then that I knew the solution ó when I got out of the shower I was going to turn the hot water heater up. When I opened the door to the closet with the hot water heater, I discovered that one more thingÖ
The floor of the closet was wet and I could hear dripping. Those are not good signs. I grabbed a flashlight and confirmed what I already suspected. My hot water heater was shot. If you want to say that there was some luck, it was that I only had a slow leak. Most of the water was making its way through a hole in the floor and ending up under the house. There was my problem staring me in the face, the problem that should have sent me over the edge.
It was in that moment that I should have exploded or lost it emotionally, but something strange happened. I started to laugh. Here I was staring at the last straw and all I wanted to do was laugh. Naturally, I couldnít, because my wife would think I was crazy. It was in that moment that I realized that everything that had been weighing me down was going to work itself out. The water heater would get fixed and all the other problems that a few moments before seemed overwhelming were all going to work themselves out.
Why had I allowed stress, worry, and lifeís problems to overwhelm me? I know better and I know the solution. Take it to the Lord in prayer. God cares more about us than we do. He was right there all along, wanting to lift lifeís burdens from my soul.
It took me about a week to get things under control, but my perspective and my peace were repaired much more quickly. I guess I was allowing things to pile up and I hadnít even realized it. When I consider the problems other people are facing, my problems were insignificant. But that is not the way God sees it. God is concerned about the things that concern us.
God has solutions to all the things we are facing. Maybe you have lost your job and it has been difficult looking for work. God cares. Maybe you are facing serious health issues. God is with you and he cares. Maybe you are having problems with relationships. God knows how to help you find peace.God loves and cares for us so deeply that we canít understand it. He doesnít want us to face stress alone; he wants us to know his peace and grace for each situation. Let me make myself clear, God isnít going to take problems or stress away. He is going to be with us as we walk through the problems. God intends for us to walk in his love, joy, and peace no matter what our circumstances might be. God is bigger and greater than all of lifeís circumstances.
I want to remind you that God is with you. I know that lifeís circumstances can be great one moment and awful the next. I want to encourage you in those dark moments to turn your heart to God in prayer. It may not instantly change your circumstances, but you can be sure that God is with you. We can know that God will bring some good out of even the worst circumstances. We serve an awesome God who has your back and is planning a good and prosperous future for you.
Doug Creamerís website is www.dougcreamer.com. E-mail him at doug@dougcreamer.com