Breathe

They were down-right discouraged.  Their list of hardships included a possible eviction, accumulated debt that totaled more than what it seemed possible to ever earn, a broken relationship with his parents, and sheer exhaustion from the messiness of life.  It was obvious to me circumstances had left them fragile and fearful. 

 

So.  What should they do?

 

Breathe.  Sometimes we need to take a breath, step back, and look at our list of challenges from the perspective that God is present, at work, and will do more than we can imagine.  Study Psalm 46 . . . the first verse turns our attention to God as the world is falling apart:

God is our refuge and strength,
         A very present help in trouble.( Psalm 46:1)

 

We need to reframe our mindset each day, especially in times of trouble.  Before the Psalmist describes the out-of-control circumstances . . . he declares that God is OUR  Refuge, Strength . . . and a Very Present Help.  It shifts how we see and respond to situations when we see that God is not only present but personally involved . . . God will get us through. So . . . breathe.

And then the last verse states the obvious if we believe God is in control and has a plan: Cease striving and know that I am God;
         I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10 )

 

The difference of facing our falling-apart-life with God rather than without God is the difference between life and death. The thing is we need to stop . . . breathe . . . and know God is God.

I think of the time that the people of God could only see the giants that occupied the Promised Land . . . so they backed down . . . decided not to take the risk . . .  and wandered for forty years. What a waste.  If only . . .they had took the time to step back . . . breathe . . . and focus on God.    

 

When they finally believed God and faced their fear of the giants . . . it was obvious that the reality of life with God . . . shifts fear to faith:  Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel. Joshua 5:1

 

 The thing is . . . when we review our times of trouble .  . . the times  we were freaking out with fear  . . . we will see how different life becomes when we breathe . . . trusting God to be our refuge, strength, and very present help.

 

Stop.  Cease striving.  Know God is God.

Breathe. 

Receive God as your refuge, strength, and very present help.

Believe God will make a way through the hardships and trials of life.

Be ready for what more God has planned.

 Keep breathing.

 

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . breathing.

Pastor Kerrie

 

 (written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
interactstudies/ ~ kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/