Giving up our Worries

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

--Philippians 4:6

So during this summer, I had come to many realizations that were always there but ignored. I won't say that this summer was filled with amazing accomplishments, but God used this summer to show the deepest parts of my heart.

I have said several times that Michigan has been my desert and even though I may have some issues I realized that these past couple of years has molded and strengthened me for the future. Even though this summer wasn't filled with amazing adventures or stories, God used it to prepare me exactly for this coming year. He allowed me to prayer my inner cry: I'm exhausted mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

It was through this summer, I was able to recognized exhaustion and find rejuvenation. This was were God told me to stop living life for just survival but Thrive in all situations. Thriving is not a easy task, it relies on the continual support of God and allowing him to gear us. Now I don't know about you, but that is scare. It's like in this movie we saw License to Wed, where in one scene the couple has to pass a driving test. The wife was blindfolded and her husband has to guide her with his words to drive through traffic. The key was communication. I don't know about you, but the idea of living life blindfolded and allowing God to lead can be scary. But why should it be, God has a better view right?

Max Lucado shared a story, in his book Grace For The Moment Vol. II, about a family vacation to a castle in the UK. Where in the center of the garden, there was a maze with rows after rows of high hedges ending to several dead ends. There was one way to go to get out and it was only through the help and guidance of his family, who got out and was overlooking the maze by standing on a tower, that he was able to find his way. It was then that he realized that we are like those people suck in the middle of the mazed only limited to see what's in front of us and God is in the tower willing to lead us to freedom if we just trust him. The key is communication. If only it were so easy.

In today's Power Point, it reminded me that it can be easy we just make it harder than it has to be. When we don't vocalize our feelings to God, we just create new issues in our life. We start to worry about things that we don't need to.

"You know, if you think about it, worry really is useless. It has never solved a problem, never dried a tear, and never changed anything. And most of us spend most of our time worrying about things that will never happen or circumstances we can't change anyway! Worry saps your strength, destroys your spirit, and robs you of the joy in life. It takes its toll physically, emotionally, and spiritually." (Dr. Jack Graham)

He nailed right on the dot. It was through my worries that I became exhausted. I pretty sure God's like "really, you couldn't figure this our on your own." The funny thing is that I've been told this many times. God even made me differently so that I would literally be in pain when I worry. I suffer from migraines and black outs, which happen to occur mostly only when I am stressed out, essentially filled with worries.

I guess sometimes you just need someone to say the obvious: "I want to encourage you to stop worrying about your future, because God's got your future! Don't worry about your life, because He has your life! Don't worry about anything, but rather, pray about everything! There's nothing too great for God. There's no problem too hard for God to solve and there is no problem too small for God. " (Dr. Jack Graham)

God,
I pray for renewing in my life.
I don't not know where my future lies, but help me trust and follow you blindly.
Help me truly let go and let these words be true of me,
your will be done and not mine.
In Jesus Name,
Amen

<3 JC