“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”—Philippians 4:6 (NKJV).
I never thought much about the scripture found in 2 Peter 3:8 until I was out of work for a long time. At some point during that ordeal, I began questioning God about when He was going to make a way for me to get a job; after all, I had a child to feed and a mortgage and other bills to pay. It was in my moment of questioning that the text, “Do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day,” came to mind. From God’s perspective, I was not out of work one day yet, and I sensed He wanted to know why I was worried. God had my attention. He was letting me know that my days out of work were just a minuscule fraction of His concept of a day.
When our faith is tested, sometimes we get so caught up with worry that we tend to forget how real God is. But, His promise is just as real one thousand years later as the day on which it was made. I recently read some of my journal entries to gain perspective on my thought process as I was going through this challenge. I noticed that, while I was rehearsing my difficulties on paper, I could still keep Jesus in focus. Praise the Lord for that! For example, the end of one journal entry reads, “I’m still holding on to Jesus despite all that comes my way. He promised to take care of us, and I must trust that His promises are true.” The end of another entry reads, “Thank God for His love and arms of protection. I’m still not giving up.”
We are at least 20 months into a pandemic that is likely to be with us for some time. Many of us have experienced difficulty, trauma, grief, and, for some, indescribable heartache and pain. In some instances, it is causing challenges to our mental and physical systems. We are also approaching the holiday season, which could add more layers of stress, even during our times of celebration. In the midst of all that you are experiencing, How is your faith? Are you able to stay connected to Jesus Christ, the Power Source?
Keeping in mind there are 24 hours in a day that includes your sleep time, work time, travel time, and more, when do you take time to be alone with God and carve out moments alone by yourself—or do you? I share a few suggestions to help strengthen our faith as we approach the end of another year.
Stop. When you feel weighed down by your circumstances, stop to be refreshed. Try to let go of all the conversations in your head and those around you. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 11:28 (NKJV), “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Pray. Especially when you don’t feel like praying, pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) says, “Pray without ceasing.” Keeping the prayer line open between you and God will help to strengthen your faith.
Let Time Pass. Try to give yourself space between the situation and any decisions you have to make. When you hit that pause button, clarity comes, and you gain a different perspective. Keep in mind Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV), “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”
In the days of my crisis, there is no doubt that God was with me. I practiced Stop, Pray, and Let Time Pass in many situations I faced, even now. One last thing, always remember to give thanks. The Bible reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV), “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” During the holiday season, try your best to let God be in control, no matter what comes your way, and share His love with others.
