Stressful Life Situations Are Unavoidable. Beware They Don't Drown You
We Can’t Get Away From Facing Stressful life Situations
But We Can Overcome stressful life situations rather than them overtaking us.
As a Bible teacher and someone who has personally overcome a past life filled with pain and shame, I give you from my experience and God’s word, which go hand and hand. You see, God’s Word helped me through some seriously difficult and stressful seasons in my life. Because of that, now God’s Word is my “go to,” my default. God’s Word is the first place I turn to for help and guidance in overcoming difficult and stressful life situations.
So Let’s Look At Psalm 69:1-3.
David wrote Psalm 69 and as we read you will hear that he is in his own stressful life situation.
Psalm 69:1-3
Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing;
I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
I am weary with my crying; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Maybe you have been in a situation like this, maybe you are right now… Stressful situations can overwhelm us and make us feel like we are drowning in the midst of the difficulties we face. I have said things like “I have had it up to here with this situation” or, I have had it up to my eyeballs.” That’s a drowning statement for sure! What about this one, “I’m in over my head.” You get the picture, RIGHT? As my youngest, my 23 year old daughter always says, “Are you picking up, what I am putting down?”
I bet you are because stressful situations are a part of normal life. However, so much of the time when we face these difficult seasons of life, we have a tendency to ask WHY? WHY LORD? Why am I going through this? I don’t understand…
Think about David, the drowning author of Psalm 69.
God called David A Man After His Own Heart (Acts 13:22). If a man after God’s own heart went through the deep water of life, surely you and I must recognize that deep water is going to rise in our own life. The fact is, you and I cannot avoid the storms of life. They are going to come!
The reality of life is that sometimes life is hard and overwhelming. Sometimes it is painful and it breaks our heart. The storms of life come and they threaten to drown our hopes, our dreams, our passion, our love, our families, and our marriages. I remember many years ago my pastor saying we all fall into 1 of 3 categories as related to the storms of life. He said, we are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or going into a storm.
The Bible assures us that storms are coming.
David’s story reminds us that we too will face difficulties, and Scripture also tells us that we are going to face storms, trials, tribulations…
1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened to you.
And in John 16:1, Jesus spoke to His disciples about the near future event of His crucifixion. He told His disciples,
“These things I have spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble.”
Jesus told his disciples then and His word still communicates to us today that we will face difficult things in this life. But listen to the encouragement of His words:
“These things I have spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble.”
Jesus told them ahead of time of the difficult things of life, that when they faced them, they would not stumble. I want to remind you of that very thing, that when the storm comes in your life, you do not stumble, but wholly trust and lean on Jesus. I think that is why God gave this testimony of David, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'
David faced difficulties and stressful life situations, so much so that he felt like he would drown because of them. But he also knew that God was trustworthy through those stormy seasons of life.
The Bible assures us of what we have in the storm.
I want to encourage you today, in possibly what you already know, but you simply need a reminder of all that we have as believers in Christ.
You and I have a firm foundation in Jesus Christ.
We have the Holy Spirit of the Living God on the inside and the Word of God at our finger tips. Trust in the truth and promises of God’s word. There is so much strength, enlightenment, hope, and encouragement there to get us through those difficult and stressful life situations.
Here is what I know by faith and by experience as you look to Jesus and His word in your difficult seasons:
1) He will walk with you through it and you will come out on the other side stronger as a person, stronger in your faith, empowered to face all that life throws at you. I believe that spiritual growth, strength, and maturity is God’s will and purpose in our difficulties. That is why James said:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4
2) When you come out on the other side, you own a powerful story and a message to share with someone else going through their own difficulties and stressful season. Your story of overcoming is a powerful gift to give to someone else. That is why Jesus encouraged Peter before he faced a satan-inflicted trial saying,
But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail;
and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
Luke 22:32
3) If you are in the storm, Jesus is praying for You. Think about that, the most power prayer warrior we could ever have is on our side praying for us and praying for our faith to stand against the trials we face. With Jesus, you have what you need to face the storms of life. You are equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit in you and the effective Word of God available for you.
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him,
since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25
4) Remembering Past Victories During Our Present Difficulties
Dear One, Rise up and walk with Jesus in, through, or above the storms in your life. And when you come out on the other side, give away what you have been given. Strengthen those around you in the storm.
