My pastor said something very interesting today. Well actually, it was an entire story and I’m totally giving him credit so don’t act like this came for me.
You can watch the full service that abundantlife.CO/sermons and look for Sunday, February 26.
I’ll weave my pastor’s illustration into this….You see, God had given me the word abide this year, and it has continually come up over and over as if He thinks I need the reminder. Sometimes I just laugh at His gentle reminders because I’ll be going about my day and totally forgetting I should be abiding and then something comes up about it. Totally God!
The illustration my pastor used today, was when he was on a mission trip and snorkeling, and after an injury was not going to make it back to shore because he was exhausted. He was trying as hard as he could in his own strength, but he did not have the strength. And eventually he was reminded to do what he told his children to do, which was if you ever find yourself getting too tired when you’re swimming you should lay on your back and float.
Do you ever do what he was doing? Do you ever try and try and fight and fight and work yourself to exhaustion because you’re trying to do it all on your own? You don’t ask for help. You don’t surround yourself with people to guide and encourage you. You just keep trying on your own.
You keep going to the point you are completely exhausted. Now I know there are going to be times where we have to work long and we will work and be tired, but when you’re struggling to hang on in life or struggling because you’re exhausted, do you ever stop and ask are you filling your mind with God and His truth? Are you calling on God for His strength? Are you abiding and resting in the Father and allowing Him to fill you with supernatural strength? Or are you just trying to do this life on your own?
I am guilty as charged of all of the above many times!
I’m sure this is no secret, but just in case you haven’t figured it out yet, life is hard. You will fail. You will get sick. You will let people down and people will let you down. Evil is all around us. Life is full of trials and heartache. Life can also be full of joy and beauty and love. But what do you do when you are overwhelmed and tired of working yourself into the ground?
Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior so you can trust in Him and His strength and have the peace that passes all understanding this world with all of its craziness is not your home? Because if you ask Him to save you, and believe that He died for your sins, you can have understanding and peace that one day all of this evil and heartache will be gone.
You can claim Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” and Philippians, 4:19 which says, “My God shall supply all my needs according to his riches”, and you will have the fruit of the spirit of long-suffering to make it through.
This hit home for me today as I was listening to the sermon, I felt God continually whisper in my soul, “Abide in me. Rest in me. Trust in me. I’ve got you and I’m not going to let you go. I know you don’t see how it’s going all work out but trust. Trust in Me with all your heart lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways, acknowledge Me and I will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
This is hard to do. This is against all we have in our human nature, and yet I can look back over the years and see God’s continued provision and faithfulness and I know He won’t let me down now.
No matter where you are right now in life (and know I say this because I’ve been endured the really dark places and evil) you can abide in Jesus. You can abide in your one true Father, who loves you beyond measure.
It reminds me of the song we sang at church camp when I was younger. “I’m coming back to the heart of worship it’s all about You. It’s all about You Jesus.”
It’s not about us, but about Him and He will provide and He will be glorified for it!
Let’s pray today:
Father God,
May this life not be about me at all, but may be about the eternal. May You use me for far beyond what is seen in the day to day on this earth. Thank you for the gentle reminders when I am stubborn and trying to do it all on my own I only need to abide in You. Trust in You. Hold onto You and lean not on my own understanding but in all my ways acknowledge You and You will direct the path. I do this again today Lord. Thank you for loving me and always providing.
In Jesus’ Name
Amen
© 2023 Susan M. Clabaugh with Encouragement in Daily Living LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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