Willing to wait

A few weeks ago, while at a meeting with a friend, she remarked, "I can feel a lot of tension in you today. You keep sighing like you're carrying the weight of the world!" I was stressed by many challenges that day - deadlines, decisions, people's needs - but I had no idea that my internal stress was so externally obvious. A few days later, I we met again and as we talked she said, "You're relaxed today. I like you better this way." I like myself better when I'm not one big knot of tension, too! It was not the circumstances that changed; it was my response to them.

Situations arise that require us to adjust our plans, that leave us wondering which way to go, that can keep us staring sleeplessly into the dark at 3 o'clock in the morning. Sometimes these times result from our own actions, sometimes they come from the choices made by other people. Yes, sometimes it is the result of inexplicable circumstances- 'acts of God,' we call them. [I find it strange that we label accidents, earthquakes, and hurricanes as 'acts of God,' but fail to do the same for beautiful sunrises and gentle Spring rains that awaken the flowers!]

Yesterday presented me with potentially stressful situations on a couple of fronts! I did not want to let these things result in tension taking hold of my heart and mind, so after the house grew quiet and everyone else was asleep, I knelt at my recliner in the darkness of the living room. I followed Paul's advice, originally sent to Believers in the city of Philippi, now sent my way: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV) As I talked with the Lord, I found His peace - just like He promised.

Are you stressed today? Has God allowed someone or something to enter your life that potentially will turn things upside down for you? You now have a CHOICE - worry and fret, or trust and rest. None of gets to choose all, perhaps even most, of our circumstances, but we always have a choice about how we respond to those situations, don't we? Make yours the choice of deep faith.

A favorite Psalm, the 37th, has great advice for dealing with life in those days when potentially stressful situations arise. The ancient wisdom is worthy of our confidence.

"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and
wait patiently for him; ...

If the LORD delights in a man’s way,
he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand." (Psalm 37: 2-7; 23-24, NIV)

Do you see all those 'choice' words?
Make the faith decision and 'present your requests' to God. Let Him share your burden today, won't you?

Then, instead being people whose faces are full of worry lines, whose shoulders ache from muscles tight with tension, with short tempers: we will be people at rest, waiting for God to reveal His purposes.

"Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. " (1 Peter 5:7, The Message)