It usually takes a lot to make people feel overwhelmed; the definition literally has the word “drown” in it. So as I think of what goes on in my life, I wonder how “overwhelmed” I really am. On the days where I feel like nothing is going right and I wonder where God is, I can’t help but feel “overwhelmed.” But I believe that no matter how stressed, anxious, or busy I am, it’s nothing compared to the overwhelming feeling we receive from the Holy Spirit. No earthly thing has the ability to overwhelm us the way our Lord can. When I am feeling anxious and stressed, it seems like I have so much to do that I can’t even think correctly. So what would it take to replace that overwhelming feeling of stress and nervousness with that of peace and grace? It seems impossible, which it is without God, but with God and the Holy Spirit in me, I am sure that thosefeelings can be obliterated.
Philippians 4: 6-7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.
This verse may seem cliché, but every time I feel like I can’t handle the “crap” of this world, this verse comes to mind. It literally tells me to not be anxious and to pray. Prayer is one of my favorite ways to connect with God. One of my spiritual gifts is intercession, which is the gift to pray for others’ needs, and I have always enjoyed talking with the Lord. So if this verse tells me to pray and not hold in feelings of anxiety, then I know that God has my life in control. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God knows the plans He has for our lives. What a relief knowing we don’t have to know everything. Philippians goes on to say, in verse seven, that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ. Not only are we given peace, but we are protected from those feelings of stress and anxiety in our lives. But then why do we still feel that way sometimes? To be completely honest, I don’t have an answer to that question, but I do know that grace is offered. Just like God offers forgiveness and eternal life, He offers peace. It comes down to free will.
The difficult thing about free will is that it’s our choice. There is no “maybe” or “I will every other Thursday”,but a box checking "yes" or "no." Sometimes it’s so difficult to check that box “yes” when our lives are so full of worldly things. So as an imperfect human, how can we choose to accept all that our fully righteous God gives us? I’m not saying that every day will be an easy walk and that box checked “yes” won't stay constant. What I’m saying is that we have to put forth our best effort. WE ARE A BROKEN RACE, so then that’s the definition of the human race, isn’t it? The one thing to be cautious about is to not allow this to be our excuse to not try.
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Our reward for putting our best foot forward is eternal life and a sense of peace. Whether that complete peace lasts a day, an hour, or a minute, it gives us a small glimpse of the eternal peace we will have in heaven.
It usually takes a lot to make people feel overwhelmed; the definition literally has the word “drown” in it. So as I think of what goes on in my life, I wonder how “overwhelmed” I really am. On the days where I feel like nothing is going right and I wonder where God is, I can’t help but feel “overwhelmed.” But I believe that no matter how stressed, anxious, or busy I am, it’s nothing compared to the overwhelming feeling we receive from the Holy Spirit. No earthly thing has the ability to overwhelm us the way our Lord can. When I am feeling anxious and stressed, it seems like I have so much to do that I can’t even think correctly. So what would it take to replace that overwhelming feeling of stress and nervousness with that of peace and grace? It seems impossible, which it is without God, but with God and the Holy Spirit in me, I am sure that thosefeelings can be obliterated.
Philippians 4: 6-7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.
This verse may seem cliché, but every time I feel like I can’t handle the “crap” of this world, this verse comes to mind. It literally tells me to not be anxious and to pray. Prayer is one of my favorite ways to connect with God. One of my spiritual gifts is intercession, which is the gift to pray for others’ needs, and I have always enjoyed talking with the Lord. So if this verse tells me to pray and not hold in feelings of anxiety, then I know that God has my life in control. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God knows the plans He has for our lives. What a relief knowing we don’t have to know everything. Philippians goes on to say, in verse seven, that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ. Not only are we given peace, but we are protected from those feelings of stress and anxiety in our lives. But then why do we still feel that way sometimes? To be completely honest, I don’t have an answer to that question, but I do know that grace is offered. Just like God offers forgiveness and eternal life, He offers peace. It comes down to free will.
The difficult thing about free will is that it’s our choice. There is no “maybe” or “I will every other Thursday”,but a box checking "yes" or "no." Sometimes it’s so difficult to check that box “yes” when our lives are so full of worldly things. So as an imperfect human, how can we choose to accept all that our fully righteous God gives us? I’m not saying that every day will be an easy walk and that box checked “yes” won't stay constant. What I’m saying is that we have to put forth our best effort. WE ARE A BROKEN RACE, so then that’s the definition of the human race, isn’t it? The one thing to be cautious about is to not allow this to be our excuse to not try.
Our reward for putting our best foot forward is eternal life and a sense of peace. Whether that complete peace lasts a day, an hour, or a minute, it gives us a small glimpse of the eternal peace we will have in heaven.
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Our reward for putting our best foot forward is eternal life and a sense of peace. Whether that complete peace lasts a day, an hour, or a minute, it gives us a small glimpse of the eternal peace we will have in heaven.
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