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Keep Calm and Carry On . . . Even in the Chaos

“Whenever my busy thoughts were out of control, the soothing comfort of your presence calmed me down and overwhelmed me with delight.” 
Psalm 94:19 TPT

‘Keep calm and carry on’ is an old saying that’s been popularized in the United States over the past few years. As I entered a thrift store in South Georgia a few weeks ago in search of a foam topper mattress cover, you can bet that saying was rolling off my lips. I love a good deal, but this was the most disorganized and disheveled store I have ever seen in my life. It was total chaos! As one who thrives on orderliness, you can imagine my inner turmoil. How does anyone find anything in this mess (see the picture)?

There were people everywhere, a long line at the checkout counter, and no sales person to be found! “Keep calm and carry on. You can do this. Persevere. Find what you came for, and get out,” I kept telling myself. It took a while to maneuver through the aisles and customers, but I eventually scored BIG with a three-inch queen topper and mattress cover for $20 (they had a half-price sale that day – Yes!).

Reflecting on that frenzied adventure, it reminds me of how I feel when busyness, stress, anxiety, or worry creeps into my life. Like the theme verse above, my thoughts seem to plummet out of control, leaving me confused and bothered. I long for a reprieve from the perceived bedlam and distractions around me. Time is easily wasted on needless concerns that seldom occur. My focus is skewed. I long for delight instead of disarray.

Can you relate to this scenario? Oh, how we desperately need the presence of God during fretful seasons of life. “For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’ Isaiah 41:13 NASB His promises are available if we will but claim them. The assurance of His peace and comfort is ours when we leave the clutter at His feet. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NASB

My friends, hectic days will come from time to time. But you don’t have to stay there. God will see you through as you yield your thoughts to Him and trust Him to provide the calm to carry you on.

 

[Digging deeper – Ps. 22:24; 32:7-8; 37:5; 55:1-2, 16-17, 22; Jn. 14:27; 2 Cor.10:5; 1 Peter:5:7-8]

Surviving the chaos,

Beverly <><

 

 

 

Photo credit: photo by Beverly Lussi

GOD’S PERFECT PROVISION – GOD’S PERFECT PEACE

Go-Go-Go.

Stress-stress-stress.

Do-do-do.

Worry-worry-worry.

Psalm 46:10

He says, “Be stilland know that I am GodI will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth.”

II Corinthians 9:10

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

One day, after long weeks of crowded time schedules, worry, pressures, people, and everything in general, I sat down to write a Daily Dose of Encouragement. God spoke above all the racket in my life and  simply said, “Be still and know that I am God.” So I sat and listened as he reminded me of a lesson I desperately needed to remember.

A yearling squirrel sat no more than 8 feet away as I sat on my front porch writing a Daily Dose of Encouragement.  Timidly he approached the corn feeder eyeballing me every step of the way. At first, he only got close enough to nibble on the scattered kernels around the outskirts of the pile. Fearful of his human benefactor he longingly eyed the plentiful pile of corn just beyond his reach.

I sat frozen in place, hoping he’d think I wasn’t even there. But nothing changed. Even in his hunger he continued to sit in doubt. Finally, he inched over to the pile. Slowly, as he saw he could trust my presence, he moved into the full bounty we had put before him. Every once in a while he’d stop, look my way as if to say, “Are you going to hurt me? Did you put this here for me? Can I trust you?”

The more comfortable he became, the more I moved around and let him see my hands at work. I made louder breathing noises, moved my feet, rocked in my chair, and pounded on this keyboard.  Finally, he stopped eating and turned his whole body straight toward me. He looked directly into my face and just sat there quietly. It was as if he was saying “thank you”.  He sat close for so long that my back began to hurt and my dangling feet fell asleep. As the computer flashed a low battery warning, I eased from my chair and slowly walked into the house. The little one scampered away – filled to the brim on the provision given him.

Sometimes in our well doing we forget to just “be”.  Be still and pray…be still and listen for God’s voice.  Realize Who He is. Follow what His still small voice whispers in our heart. He is our benefactor – our provider of all good things.

In my time of intense stress, he used a tiny squirrel to say “slow down” – refocus on what is most important. He reminded me Who He is, and not to be anxious, because He will bring peace to our hearts as we take all our burdens to Him in prayer.

Until next time,

Your Traveling Partner,

Brenda

 

Jesus Wept

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’”
John 11: 33-36 ESV

I have always remembered John 11:35 ESV “Jesus wept” as the shortest verse in the Bible. When I was a child, if a Sunday school teacher asked us to memorize a verse, someone would jokingly suggest that one because it was the easiest. Also, the question ‘What is the shortest verse of the Bible?’ would come up in trivia, and I always knew the answer! Recently though, this verse has given me a deeper meaning, and it has caused me to see the two words “Jesus wept” in a whole new way.

One evening last fall after the kids were tucked in bed, I was watching TV with my husband, and my phone rang. We both looked at each other because it was the time of night when no one usually calls, and we all know that feeling of dread that washes over us when this happens. I answered the phone and received the shocking news that a young family member of mine had died tragically. This type of life event usually causes us to stop our daily routines and spend time reflecting on questions that we do not normally think about. Over the next days as I drove 18 hours to the funeral and spent time grieving with my family, I struggled with this news and tried to find answers. Through it all I asked God ‘Why weren’t you there?’

In John 11, Mary and her sister Martha had lost their brother, and when Jesus arrived, they both said to him “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21 and 32 ESV). It strikes me that they asked the same question that I did. Jesus responded in a very human way. He knew God’s plan and what was about to happen, yet he was deeply moved and wept. This scene in the Bible reflects how Jesus is both God and man. He had flesh like us and therefore knew sorrow like we do, and yet he is God and we can go to him for comfort when we are grieving.

The words “Jesus wept” are no longer the answer to a trivia question to me. These two powerful words mean that when I am struggling (and we will experience tragedy on earth), that Jesus is with me and he knows grief too. Jesus is both my savior and comforter, and I am not alone.

Your sister in Christ,

Erin Tabor