TODAY’S INSPIRATION: FAKE IT OR FAITH IT

There was a time when I wrestled with anxiety constantly. I worried about big things, small things and everything in between. I lost my cell phone last week and it made me think about the time I lost my phone years ago. I worried myself sick about it. I was still worrying about that phone even after I got a new one. How crazy it that? In my defense, we do keep a lot of information in those phones, so it is justifiable to be concerned. However, scripture tells us to not worry or be anxious about anything. I did a good job of hiding my anxiety most of the time. It did not fit my “strong woman” image. I am sure I am not the only one who have tried to fake it, not wanting any one to see the fears or anxiety. We believe we will be judged or looked upon as weak. Let me tell you that God does His best work in our weakness. In our weakness, God gives us strength. We do not have to fake it with God, as my son says, we just need to faith it. Anyway, we cannot hide our fears from God. He sees them and He wants us to trust Him so He can comfort us. He can give us a peace that is priceless. It sucks I lost my phone, however when I focus on how good God has been to me, how He keeps me and protects me, and His promises for my future, I just cannot get upset about a phone. No matter what the situation or how hopeless you may feel, you must know that God is in control. You must believe He works everything out for our good, even lost phones. I am glad I learned to take the small things to God as well as the big things. He cares about every area of our lives. Scripture repeatedly tells us not to be afraid. Because of Jesus Christ, our fears do not have to rule our lives. Sure, we will face challenging times in this life. But God promised to be with us through it all. Our Heavenly Father never takes His eyes off His children. We cannot avoid some situations and heartaches, but we can live with confident faith relying on our Helper and Protector who watches over our lives. As I look over my life, I can see God at work. I am sure you can too. He will comfort us through the rough times, and sometimes He will stretch us through the trials and storms. The stretch makes us stronger. The stretch builds our faith. The struggles we face in this life can seem so big, but only if we take our eyes off God. He is so much bigger than anything this world can throw at us. I am not saying fear and anxiety does not try to creep into my being, but now I lift my eyes from my fears, and with faith and dependence, I focus on God. I now look to the One who promised to comfort us. Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, no bad circumstance can or will ever cause us to be destroyed or forsaken by God! He is God! He is able and He is more than enough! When we surrender our anxieties to our Father and leave them there, He comforts us and gives us a peace beyond all understanding. God’s comforting presence is more powerful than anything we may face! Love and blessings… 

 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yok e is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) 

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) NIV 

 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) 

 “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6: 25-34)