by Pastor Chris Holman
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7
We where never promised an easy life, neither from the world or from God. In fact Jesus tells us that we will be persecuted for His namesake, and increasingly we are. Life isn't fair, no one is going to hand us our every wish and desire. Even the simple things in life will be a struggle. Our walk with Christ will be filled with trials and tribulations. The enemy will attack us at every turn. If the enemy is not attacking you, you're doing something wrong in your walk with Christ.
You may have a difficult time at work. Maybe a coworker or your boss is making you miserable or trying to get you fired. Maybe you're overworked having little time to spend with family or you're underpaid finding it difficult to meet your financial responsibilities. Whatever it may be, work is difficult. They call it work for a reason. You continue to go to work each day bearing the hardships required to pay your bills and provide for yourself and your family. Still you carry on joylessly.
You may have struggles at home, maybe your spouse is being stubborn. Maybe they are ignoring you. Maybe they disrespect you at home and in public. Maybe you fight constantly over little to nothing at all. Maybe they overspend causing you excessive stress. Maybe your children are being rebellious or difficult, or they have medical needs you're are finding more and more difficult to pay for. Still you carry on joylessly.
Maybe there are disagreements and divisions at your Church. Maybe gossip is running rampant turning brother against brother and sister against sister. Maybe a close brother or sister in Christ has become distant or even antagonistic towards you. Maybe you're are finding it increasingly difficult to meet your obligations to the Church as you have less time to spare. Still you carry on joylessly.
Give it all to God in prayer, cast your burdens on Him. Give Him thanks for all that is in your life. You have a job, a family, a church to belong to. It is in giving thanks to God in the small things that we find Him. It is in our thanksgiving to God that we find joy even in the harshest of circumstances. When the storms of life rage, trust in God. Keep your eyes upon Him. Rejoice in the Lord!
In rejoicing in the Lord you will find His peace and serenity. When you find serenity in God and His promises, it will uplift and strengthen you. You can endure all things through Christ. Seek after His will and guidance in your life, both in prayer and in scripture. He walks with you each and every day. He is there with you in both the times of joy and the times of pain. When you are weak, in those moments is when He will carry you through.
I am reminded of a time when I literally had nothing. I found myself homeless at 19. I had no job, no car, and no place to live. I needed a job to put a roof over my, I needed a car to get to work, I needed a job to get the car. It was seemingly an endless cycle that could never be solved. I found myself in a pit of despair, a circumstance of my own making. I learned to eat crow, to recognize what I did wrong that led me to that point. I needed a hand up to help me get on my feet, and I needed to make a change so that I never ended up like that again. Though I recovered and got back on my feet, I had not the peace of God. I had no joy, both during that turbulent time and after.
Had I been saved, had I placed my trust in God casting my cares upon him, had I given Him thanks for all that He had done in my life I would have had joy. I would have abided in the serenity and love of God. That time would have been much less torturous in my mind...If only...
I gave my life to Christ 7 years ago, I am now 40 years old. Life is no less stressful now than before I gave my life to Christ yet today I have joy and peace. I have learned to just give it all to God and give Him thanks for the many blessings in my life. I have a roof over my head, a reliable vehicle to drive, food to eat, and I still have my health. God is so very good!! Though I face trials and tribulations just as we all do, I have learned to seek God in prayer, to seek after His will in my life, and to find God in the small things. Today, even through the struggles of life, I have peace and joy! Find your peace and joy!
May God keep and bless you, may you find Him in the small things in life, May you abide in the peace of God, May you abide in the Joy Of The Lord! Amen.
https://www.9lineministries.com/home/trust-in-god-he-is-with-you
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