Fear and anxiety can be debilitating human experiences, and our Heavenly Father has given us the remedy in Isaiah 41:10 (NLT): “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” No matter the challenges we face, the presence of God provides a security and peace that surpass our understanding. However, there are many people going through really tough storms in their lives, and they don’t know that they can lean on God. A new friend, Elaine, was in this place not long ago and shared with me the hurtful situation she was dealing with.
Dreaming of having a family since she was a child, Elaine was ecstatic when she discovered she was pregnant with twins. They were her world, and their needs always came first. If you had asked her husband, he’d argue that he was a very distant fourth or fifth on her priority list. After 13 years of complaining about what he considered a loveless marriage, Elaine came home one day after work and saw a note on the bedroom nightstand. It read, “I’m done. You won’t have me around anymore, and maybe you’ll understand how I’ve felt the last 13 years.” She acknowledged that her husband was a good father and provider but admitted that they had stopped seeing each other as man and wife years ago.
Elaine is shocked at how devastating it’s been since he left. It’s rocked her to her core, she said. Her husband took care of everything, and she may have taken this for granted. She acknowledged that she’s never known what it means to totally lean on God as the Source of all blessings. She asked me, “How do I ask God for help?” I suggested she begin by praying openly, and share her fears, confusion, and hopes with Him. I told her that asking for help is about being honest and vulnerable with God. It starts with acknowledging her need for His support and guidance. I reminded her of Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT): “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
1 John 4:15 (NLT) tells us, “All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.” Our Heavenly Father is home for us. He’s our Creator, and when we accept the salvation He offers through Jesus Christ, we begin to live in Him. But, when we put children, spouses, family, and friends above God, we lose sight of the One who gave us these blessings. This is the equivalent of living in unfamiliar territory, one that’s outside the realm of God’s Will. Life can quickly become overwhelming when our priorities are out of order in this way.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33 (NLT), “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” This means making God our top priority and trusting Him to take care of everything else. This focus on God helps us keep our lives in balance and ensures that we remain within His guiding presence and purpose.
Understanding that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and sovereign helps us see that He is unlike anyone or anything else; He’s in a class all by Himself and no one compares. Psalm 115:3 (NLT) says, “Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes.” Acknowledging the truth of His overwhelming brilliance, holiness, and perfection is the starting point for a deep relationship with Him. By keeping Him first in our lives, we align our hearts and minds with His plan, and everything else will fall into its rightful place.
Romans 8:28 (NLT) tells us: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” This is God’s promise to us, but it hinges on our faith in Him and our trust in His Word. Elaine experienced firsthand how quickly life can change when our priorities and focus drift from God’s Will. Her situation shows how extremely important prayer and faith are, and how crucial it is to keep God at the head of our lives. When we fully get on board with His purpose, even when the storms are raging and we’re dealing with the most challenging thing we’ve ever encountered, we can find peace in God. We can rest in Him, trusting that He is working everything together for our good, because this is what He promises to do.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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