“He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” – 2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV
As we face challenges in life we need to remind ourselves that the battle that we face is not ours to fight. Most of the time it’s for us to stay still if faith and see God Fight on our behalf. When we face opposition from work or a tight deadline or a troublesome neighbour we need to know that God will fight the battle for us and we shouldn’t allow it to stress us out.
“Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”” – Mark 4:38-41 NIV
In this storm Jesus and the disciples were in the same boat, at the same time, during the same storm but there were two different reactions to the storm. The point that I want to drive home here is that of perception. Jesus had a different perception to the storm because he knew who he was. The disciples didn’t truly know God The Father like Jesus did… their reaction to the storm was different. Likewise, we need to ensure that we have the correct perception of the storm of life without it causing stress to over take us. This only comes from knowing God the father.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Anxiety about things that have not happened can cause stress to build up in your life. The way that you can cast your anxieties on God before they stress you out is by prayer first and then secondly not thinking about them negatively. The moment you start to think about them negatively, you take them out of Gods hands and put them in your own again.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” – James 1: 2-4
Look at stress as a blessing because it allows you to see your faith in God and learn perseverance to overcome challenges in the future. Again, your perception is what important to evaluate here. The better your relationship is with God, the better you will handle tough situations.
““Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” – Matthew 6:34
I’ll read this verse from the KJV because on the way it is written is better to explain. Is said to take no thought for tomorrow. By taking a thought, this means to think about negatively. By doing that you are only going to worry about how you will overcome a situation that hasn’t even happened. This takes stress from tomorrow and puts it on you today. Be prepared for tomorrow but do not think about it negatively. There is no point in dwelling on the unknown stress of the future, so don’t.
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. – Psalm 119:71
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
The journey you are going through may be long and hard, but you will find rest in God’s loving arms at the end.