Everyone has a little bit of crazy in their lives. From work, to school for some, to family and household responsibilities, finances, and I could go on, we often feel stretched way past our limit from time to time.
When we feel the hundreds of thoughts and feelings turning in our head all day as we try to finish the dozens of tasks that need to be completed, it can wear us out even further. And while the present day can have so much stress and craziness, that doesn't even include the worry and stress about the days to come.
I recently read through Psalms 16, and verse 11 left me in awe of how much God is willing to do for us:
"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
When I read this verse, I had just taken a break from assignments. I was tired and starting to feel overwhelmed, but this verse melted the overwhelm off of me.
One thing that I love about this verse is that it is divided into three sections, all of them pointing us to God and how he provides for us.
"You make known to me the path of life."
Thank the Lord we don't have to carve out our path and plans all on our own! God has already planned out your entire life and knows everything that will happen. He is there with you every day, and he desires to guide you no matter what you're walking through today.
Throughout the majority of my life, I didn't walk in the truth that I can lean on God when it came to my future. I tried to figure out things on my own, and I would pray short prayers about what I should do, but I wouldn't truly rely on him. It wasn't until I sincerely surrendered my life in his hands and let him work it out that I felt my life was together.
We can rest today and the future in God's hands because he knows the path of life, and he knows our specific path in life.
Each and every day, even on the hard and maddening ones, God has the strength to sustain you and guide you. He will take care of the things that are too big for you to handle, and he will guide you through each day. He will guide you through the pain, the stress, and the heavy weight of responsibilities that you're bearing. He doesn't promise that you'll never feel pain again- but that he'll be with you no matter what (Matthew 28:20).
Something that my mom has mentioned to me many times is that she has to depend on God constantly to give her the strength and endurance for her day. It was encouraging to hear her say that she knows that she always needs him and his strength to take on her busy schedule, even through her physical health problems that she deals with almost constantly. She told me that the reason that she's able to do what she does is because God gives her the strength, not because of her own strength.
The truth is, God doesn't want us to do this alone. Thank the Lord that he not only can, but wants to carry our burdens and give us peace and rest.
"In your presence there is fullness of joy."
The second section of the verse states that God's presence alone leads to complete joy. God's presence is needed every day in our lives.
Being in the presence of God gives the fullness of joy, so that means that if we aren't in his presence, we won't be able to have fullness of joy. I've noticed that when I've had a pattern of recent stress or depression hitting me harder than usual, it's usually because I'm not seeking God and his presence. We all need him, and seeking his presence allows complete joy in our day.
The most simple answer to all of the hard, stressful days is: We just can't do it without God.
We might be able to wing it and try to achieve everything on our own, and that might work out for a short time, but we'll eventually burn out.
Some days look like tiresome prayers begging to God repeatedly for his strength and joy, and other days might feel like mountaintop days with him. I love that God allows both, because our relationship with him shouldn't be dependent only on whether or not we constantly feel good.
If every single day of our lives were smooth sailing, would we ever realize the full extent of how much God does for us? Would we love him for who he is, or just for the fact that he makes us feel better?
Sometimes, it takes the prayers of numerous pleas to God in pain to strengthen our relationship with him and bring us into his presence no matter our circumstance.
"At your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Pleasures is defined as, "A feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment."
Not only does God choose to guide us through every day and bring us fullness of joy, but he also gives us pleasures forevermore- and this is just one verse in the Bible!
There are a lot of things that make people feel happy and satisfied for a little while, but they never last forever, and they're never the true source of satisfaction.
When we go to God and rely on him for our strength, those hard hours and days are made possible.
Maybe you've been dreading your schedule at school and are wondering how you can manage working a job alongside it. Maybe you're struggling to juggle the weight work and household responsibilities. Maybe you're being pulled in a dozen different directions by others that need you every weekday, and you feel exhausted.
Whatever your situation may be, know that it's not to big for God. There's nowhere in the Bible where he claims anything is too much for him, even what you're holding today.
He is the same God who parted the Red Sea for his people and made a way for them in the midst of their troubles- he can make a way for you too. He loves you, and he is more than strong enough to bring peace and rest to you today, no matter what's ahead.
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Have a great day today! All glory to Jesus!
Reflect
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
Isaiah 58:11 ESV
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2 ESV