How To React To Difficulties
by Bro. Duane Marshall
05/09/2023
Philippians 4:4-7 - “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
You know there’s going to be a hard winter if you see woodpeckers sharing a tree or raccoons with thick tails and bright bands. If insects march in a line rather than meandering around or pigs gather sticks. I wonder if the pigs are going to build a fire. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, these signs of a hard winter affect the animal kingdom so they can drastically respond. The animal kingdom reacts to future circumstances that may put them in an uncomfortable environment.
We as humans also react if it looks like bad news is headed our way, but God has also given us a prescription that doesn’t taste like bad medicine. It’s found in Philippians 4:4-7. Paul says to “Rejoice in the Lord always:...”! It’s easy to rejoice when everything goes our way, but Paul rejoiced when nothing was going his way. He wrote this epistle from prison while waiting for his trial. How did he do it? Focus. Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” These last seven predicaments that pertain to our physical life cannot destroy God’s love for us. Everything around us may change, but our Savior never changes or backs out of His promises.
If you’re not living under stressful circumstances, you’re probably not breathing. These are difficult days for any member of God’s family. Undoubtedly, part of our difficulty is that we have filled our lives to capacity, crowding out relationships and rest. We often blame stress for the tension brought about in our minds, bodies, and relationships. The medical profession believes if we leave these unchecked, stress and its companion of worry will overcome our thoughts, rule our emotions and compromise our health.
What about the uncontrollable events of your life that keep you awake at night? There is nothing you can do to change them, but you can’t ignore them either. An unknown author said, “It’s not the greatness of my trials but the littleness of my faith that causes me to complain.” A Christian doctor stated that stress levels change dramatically when a patient changes his perceptions. This doctor confirms what God has already taught. Changing our thinking is the best cure for stress.
The best way to change our thoughts is to renew them through scripture. The pigs, the woodpeckers, and the raccoons never worry about the next hard winter. They only prepare for it because the Creator has given them the instinct to prepare. Our Creator has provided a prescription for His children, and it is found in His inerrant Word.
05/09/2023
Philippians 4:4-7 - “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
You know there’s going to be a hard winter if you see woodpeckers sharing a tree or raccoons with thick tails and bright bands. If insects march in a line rather than meandering around or pigs gather sticks. I wonder if the pigs are going to build a fire. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, these signs of a hard winter affect the animal kingdom so they can drastically respond. The animal kingdom reacts to future circumstances that may put them in an uncomfortable environment.
We as humans also react if it looks like bad news is headed our way, but God has also given us a prescription that doesn’t taste like bad medicine. It’s found in Philippians 4:4-7. Paul says to “Rejoice in the Lord always:...”! It’s easy to rejoice when everything goes our way, but Paul rejoiced when nothing was going his way. He wrote this epistle from prison while waiting for his trial. How did he do it? Focus. Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” These last seven predicaments that pertain to our physical life cannot destroy God’s love for us. Everything around us may change, but our Savior never changes or backs out of His promises.
If you’re not living under stressful circumstances, you’re probably not breathing. These are difficult days for any member of God’s family. Undoubtedly, part of our difficulty is that we have filled our lives to capacity, crowding out relationships and rest. We often blame stress for the tension brought about in our minds, bodies, and relationships. The medical profession believes if we leave these unchecked, stress and its companion of worry will overcome our thoughts, rule our emotions and compromise our health.
What about the uncontrollable events of your life that keep you awake at night? There is nothing you can do to change them, but you can’t ignore them either. An unknown author said, “It’s not the greatness of my trials but the littleness of my faith that causes me to complain.” A Christian doctor stated that stress levels change dramatically when a patient changes his perceptions. This doctor confirms what God has already taught. Changing our thinking is the best cure for stress.
The best way to change our thoughts is to renew them through scripture. The pigs, the woodpeckers, and the raccoons never worry about the next hard winter. They only prepare for it because the Creator has given them the instinct to prepare. Our Creator has provided a prescription for His children, and it is found in His inerrant Word.
Posted in Trials
Posted in Philippians 4, rejoice, trials, difficulties, stress, renew, thoughts, Word of God
Posted in Philippians 4, rejoice, trials, difficulties, stress, renew, thoughts, Word of God
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