Take A Moment

I get stressed out a lot. Honestly, I think many of us do. When I get stressed out, I find myself not even knowing what to do. It’s like I can’t even get done what I need to get done because all I can do is think about is the next thing, and the next thing, and the next thing. The problem with that is that there will always be a next thing. After we finish one assignment, there will always be another one. There will always be another task and another thing to get done. So how do we deal with the stress?

I think coping with stress can look different for everyone. But whenever I feel overwhelmed with worry and stress and anxiety, I have to remember to breathe. I have to remember to take a moment. I have to remember what truly matters most.

In this moment, I remind myself what I know to be true.

I remind myself what I know about God. I know He has overcome the world. I know He is powerful and mighty. I know He made Heaven and Earth. I know He breathed life into me. I know He sent His One and Only Son to die for me. I know He forgives me. I know He is not against me, but He is for me. I know He has a plan for me. I know He is the God of the Universe. I know He has never failed me. I know He is with me. I know He loves me.

I know God loves me more than anything. I remember how His love changed everything. His love changed the world, and it changed me too.

I start to remember the love I have for my Father, and how even though we are so undeserving of His love, He gives it to us anyway! I remember how that love makes me feel. I remember why I decided to follow Jesus. I remember the God I’m living for.

When I begin to think about all of these things, God becomes so big compared to the stress and anxiety I’m feeling. I start to become small in my own life because I start to let God rule my life. When we can’t, we have to let God. My friends, we’ve got to get smaller. We’ve got to take a moment, and get smaller.

When we get smaller, a lot other things start to get bigger. When we get smaller, we think of the next thing less and we think of God more. When we let God rule our lives, we don’t have to worry about the weight of the next thing because with God, it’s not about making ourselves bigger. It’s not about glorifying ourselves. It’s not about the grades or the deadlines. With God it’s about lifting up His praise and glorifying His name. So if you don’t get the paper in on time, that’s okay. And if you don’t get the grade you wanted on a test, that’s okay. That’s okay because God has a plan so much bigger than just the next thing. God already has every part of our stories written out. He has a plan for us that is so much better than the life we create around ourselves. We’ve just got to trust Him. We’ve got to take a moment, get smaller, and trust Him like our lives depend on it, because they do.

That’s some pure joy right there, my friends. To conclude, I want to leave you with Psalm 139: 1-12. He knows us so deeply, and he loves us even deeper. I pray you find peace in these truths.

Lord, you know everything there is to know about me. You’ve examined my innermost being with your loving gaze. You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and understand my every thought before it even enters my mind.

You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like on open book, and you know all of the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I will take before my journey even begins!

You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. With your hand of love upon my life, you impart a Father’s blessing to me. This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength.

Where could I go from your Spirit? Where could I run and hide from your face? If I go up to heaven, you’re there! If I go down to the realm of the dead, you’re there too! If I fly with wings into the shining dawn, you’re there! If I fly into the radiant sunset, you’re there waiting! Wherever I go, your hand will guide me; your strength will empower me.

It’s impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me; for your presence is everywhere bringing light into my night! There is no such thing as darkness with you. The night, to you, is as bright as the day; there’s no difference between the two.