Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Blessed beyond stressed

Have you ever had those days that seem to be so overwhelming that you can barely contain it? Maybe it's been more like weeks, months, or even a years worth of it?


My life seems to be full of that right now.


Stress.
Chaos.
Busyness.
Worry.
Drama.
Sleepless nights.
Did I mention stress? The list just builds and builds.


Everywhere I turn there's something else to add to the list. Even the answers to prayers and the things I enjoy in life tend to build into an overwhelming mess of things.


But.


BUT. You know what it's also full of?


God. Yes, GOD. It is so full of God and his love, his strength, his goodness. His blessings.


Prayer. Power given to the God above. The One in control. The Giver of all things GOOD.

Growth. You know that little problem right there? Or that inconvenience over there? Yeah, I just grew from that. God decided right then and there that it was time to step it up a notch.

Knowledge. Every ounce of worry or difficulty that arises in my life causes me to open that heart and mind of mine to gaining the knowledge I need to fix it. To solve it. To conquer it.

Wisdom. Guess what? All this craziness that's going on is a God-given, hidden blessing to gain the wisdom and insight I need to conquer the bigger, more powerful battles in the future. 20 years from now, I'm going to conquer that. And that. Oh, and that. And my kids are too. Cause, that's right, I'm gonna share my wisdom with them. And you. And any other person who needs it.

A broken me. A frail, wondering me.
AND an all consuming Mighty God ready to reach down and scoop this frail heart in His hands and unleash His mighty self all throughout my life.

Joy. Mmmhmm I said that. Joy! Undeniable, deepening, uncontrollable joy overflowing from the peace of having a gracious God care for you, strengthen you, and carry you through. He's got your back. He's ready to equip you, teach you, help you. Oh, and BLESS you.

Satan is a big, fat, generous giver of worry, stress, problems, busyness, and distractions. You name it, he'll leap for the opportunity to hand out anything that keeps ya from moving in the right direction.

Everything that jumps into my life, into your life, is an opportunity to either fall into the hands of Satan or jump into the hands of God.

So...

What will it be?

A life full of Satan and his distractions?

OR

GOD. And His rich river of blessings and peace.


The other night I went to check another thing off my list of things to worry about..Ya know, the kind of  hurry up and get it done and over with real quick so I have one less thing to worry about, kind of thing? Well, it was that kinda thing. And who woulda guessed God would make His way in and intervene. Who woulda guessed I would gain way more than I was asking for? Who would have guessed I would gain what I needed? Really needed. Instead of what I thought I needed.

It happened.

A simple visit turned into an opportunity, that I believe, was made to be given back to God.

I blessed. And was blessed.

God gave. And He received.

Everything in this life, whether it's good, bad, rough, or easy, is meant to be used by God, with God, and for God.

Who wants to miss out on that?

Not me.


I want to be ready to take every single thing in this life and make it an opportunity to serve God, honor Him, and grow closer to Him.

So stressed? Me? Ha! I'm blessed beyond stressed.

Yep.

Blessed beyond stress.






The beauty taken in by a blessed beyond stressed kind of day. No filter needed.