The Lord is with You
Jeremiah 20:10 -11
I hear many whispering, ‘Terror on every side! Denounce him! Let’s denounce him’’ All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, ‘Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him. But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so, my persecutors will stumble and not prevail…. – Jeremiah 20:10 -11
I am sure, like me, you’ve had one of those days when life hits you all at once and it seems like everything is wrong. Some people would go through this for a few hours, days, weeks, months, and even years. Most people would always offer the advice of “just be positive” but it doesn’t always work. So, what should you do?
Oftentimes, it’s not just one big problem but many little things. And those little things add up. Sometimes it’s just a certain stumbling block that just won’t go away. Those apparently minor issues can take up a lot of your time. In these moments, any new mishap would usually take on gigantic dimensions.
You feel overwhelmed but it is real – it is not all in your head. You might feel inconvenienced to the greater happiness of life, experience more ‘down days’ than up, or in some cases utter failures. However, your reaction to these negative thoughts, feelings, and events makes a huge difference. I want to encourage you that it’s easier to navigate a crisis when you have clarity and peace. Some of the ways you can seek to preserve a wholesome mindset are:
- Pray and invite God into your situation. Do not try to do it alone, no matter how small it may seem.
- Always remember this too shall pass.
- Pick your battle well and focus on one problem at a time.
- Resolve the extremely nagging issues first.
- Visualise the future where the problems are solved.
- Accept the things that you are powerless to change. Ask God to give you the peace concerning them.
- Be aware that trials produce patience and character.
- Ask for help. Accept help.
As helpful as those methods are, however, some of them resonate with the “just be positive” advice that often doesn’t work. You may ask what about the problems that seem to last forever? In chapter 20 of Jeremiah, the prophet heard ‘many whispering’, “Terror on every side!” And that’s exactly what the enemy is trying to convince us of – that our life is a failure. Many fall into this belief, and once we begin believing satan’s lies, things get worse.
Jeremiah, however, goes on to say, ‘the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.’ Who are your persecutors? They are the pessimists and unbelievers. Don’t allow these things to keep you from invoking the “mighty warrior” Who is our Living God. He is always with us. He fights for you fiercely. Cry out to the Lord God and things will change.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, forgive us for thinking we can do it all on our own. Lord, take my heart, keep it pure. Save me in spite of myself, my weak self. Father God, mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy person. May your love continue to flow through me. This I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
Read: Genesis 9:9; Genesis 9:12; Matthew 28:20
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 15:1-10; Acts 11:19-30; Acts 12:1-19; I Kings 2:13-46; I Kings 3:1-15
