Worry. It's such a life draining thing.
I tend to worry more than I need to. I actually don't need to worry at all. I serve the creator of the universe and His word says not to be worried about our lives. (Matt 6:25-34)
He says not to worry because He's got us. He has our lives in his hands. God knows worry is life draining, so He says don't do it. He loves us, He doesn't want us to be drained of life, energy and joy.
I need to remind myself of this.
Lately, the Lord has been teaching me about trust. "Instead of worrying, Kristen, just trust me". That seems easy in the moment, and then the next trial comes and I'm worried about a whole new thing. Finances, relationships, work, the list goes on and on. In the midst of all of these worries, God is constantly saying that one word; 'Trust'. It isn't something that just comes in every moment, but I am learning that I get to make the choice. Will I be worried and stressed about everything, or will I trust that my God is bigger than my problems?
It's a beautiful thing, actually. To lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus as He covers you in His grace and love. To surrender it all and say "Okay God, take it. Take my burdens and replace it with your peace." I know that He takes my worry and gives me joy every time I come to Him. He is ready with open arms every. single. time.
In November one of my good friends Evens passed away. It was one of the most difficult times of my life.
I had the privilege of spending the last month or so of his life with him every day. I got to sit with him and watch movies, pray, laugh, or just sit. Evens was that kind of guy. You could just sit with him and you felt peace and joy. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, he spoke the truth of God. With every fiber of my being I believed Evens was going to be healed. I could see it in my mind; Evens just standing up one day completely healed and new. Until the day he died this is what I believed. I never said 'if', never wondered, I always just believed that my brother was going to be better.
But then he didn't, and I asked God why.
God asked me if I trusted him with Evens life. If I trusted His plans and His will.
Sometimes life doesn't go the way I think it should, or the way I want it to. Even during the difficult times I still need to trust in the Lord with all of my heart. In the moments when I don't understand why life is the way that it is God is teaching me to trust Him. He's asking me: "Will you trust that I know what is best? Will you choose to lean on me even when you don't know how to? Will you trust that your life is in my hands?"
Evens is with Jesus now. Sometimes I wake up thinking he will be here, I think I will be able to see him on our campus. I miss him so much, but Evens is with Jesus. All we want in life is that one thing; to someday be with Jesus forever. He is there. He now has all he ever hoped for.
I want to live a life worthy of the calling God has given me. I want to live with my eyes focused on Jesus, on eternity. Trusting God with everything is a choice I made when I gave my heart to Him. I decided that I wanted my life in His hands, not in the worlds hands. So, I'll choose to trust Him. When the worry comes, trust. When there's stress, trust.
Sometimes I think that there is a magical way to just make all of these things happen. More trust, more faith, more joy, more boldness, etc. There isn't though. It's surrendering my all to God. All of those things come directly from Him. When I lean on Him all of those things come. It's funny, the other day I said 'God why can't I do this?! I'm trying so hard! Don't you see me trying? What am I supposed to do!? He said "This is what it feels like when you try and do everything in your own strength. You can't, but I can. Come to me."
Trust.
I tend to worry more than I need to. I actually don't need to worry at all. I serve the creator of the universe and His word says not to be worried about our lives. (Matt 6:25-34)
He says not to worry because He's got us. He has our lives in his hands. God knows worry is life draining, so He says don't do it. He loves us, He doesn't want us to be drained of life, energy and joy.
I need to remind myself of this.
Lately, the Lord has been teaching me about trust. "Instead of worrying, Kristen, just trust me". That seems easy in the moment, and then the next trial comes and I'm worried about a whole new thing. Finances, relationships, work, the list goes on and on. In the midst of all of these worries, God is constantly saying that one word; 'Trust'. It isn't something that just comes in every moment, but I am learning that I get to make the choice. Will I be worried and stressed about everything, or will I trust that my God is bigger than my problems?
It's a beautiful thing, actually. To lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus as He covers you in His grace and love. To surrender it all and say "Okay God, take it. Take my burdens and replace it with your peace." I know that He takes my worry and gives me joy every time I come to Him. He is ready with open arms every. single. time.
In November one of my good friends Evens passed away. It was one of the most difficult times of my life.
I had the privilege of spending the last month or so of his life with him every day. I got to sit with him and watch movies, pray, laugh, or just sit. Evens was that kind of guy. You could just sit with him and you felt peace and joy. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, he spoke the truth of God. With every fiber of my being I believed Evens was going to be healed. I could see it in my mind; Evens just standing up one day completely healed and new. Until the day he died this is what I believed. I never said 'if', never wondered, I always just believed that my brother was going to be better.
But then he didn't, and I asked God why.
God asked me if I trusted him with Evens life. If I trusted His plans and His will.
Sometimes life doesn't go the way I think it should, or the way I want it to. Even during the difficult times I still need to trust in the Lord with all of my heart. In the moments when I don't understand why life is the way that it is God is teaching me to trust Him. He's asking me: "Will you trust that I know what is best? Will you choose to lean on me even when you don't know how to? Will you trust that your life is in my hands?"
Evens is with Jesus now. Sometimes I wake up thinking he will be here, I think I will be able to see him on our campus. I miss him so much, but Evens is with Jesus. All we want in life is that one thing; to someday be with Jesus forever. He is there. He now has all he ever hoped for.
I want to live a life worthy of the calling God has given me. I want to live with my eyes focused on Jesus, on eternity. Trusting God with everything is a choice I made when I gave my heart to Him. I decided that I wanted my life in His hands, not in the worlds hands. So, I'll choose to trust Him. When the worry comes, trust. When there's stress, trust.
Sometimes I think that there is a magical way to just make all of these things happen. More trust, more faith, more joy, more boldness, etc. There isn't though. It's surrendering my all to God. All of those things come directly from Him. When I lean on Him all of those things come. It's funny, the other day I said 'God why can't I do this?! I'm trying so hard! Don't you see me trying? What am I supposed to do!? He said "This is what it feels like when you try and do everything in your own strength. You can't, but I can. Come to me."
Trust.