How often do you stress because of stress-inducing situations and circumstances in your life?
Since the loss of our son, Kevin, in 2002, my husband and I are much better equipped to handle the stresses of life, because we more quickly turn to God for stress relief.
This has been quite a Summer for us. It was our plan to have a fun-filled, relaxed Summer, as we have had several summers, since we moved to Colorado in 2008 where our plans for fun has been interrupted by unforeseen circumstances such as breast cancer treatments and surgeries (me) and hip replacements (Bob). How we had hoped for a lazy-day kind of Summer, which did not happen again this year.
Bob and I have been on "stress overload" this Summer.
We have dealt with some significant issues and most recently due to my 89 year old Mom being in and out of emergency rooms and the hospital for the past three months. She has been in a rehabilitation center for two weeks, and we don't know when she will be able to go home and what she will need as far as support and help in the future.
My brother has Stage 4 prostate cancer and he has been staying with us, and though there has been many blessings that accompany these and other challenging situations, watching those we love suffer has significantly impacted our lives and there seems to be little stress relief in sight, at this point.
So, how do you handle and respond to the stresses of your life? I think this quote I have used for this blog says it all. There are things in our lives that are simply out of our control and beyond our understanding, but it has been my personal experience that "faith reassures (us) that everything will happen (work out) in God's timing," But, what to do until God's will is done, His way, in His timing?
"Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey!" These words from a chorus that I sang as a child comes to mind, when I feel like I can't take it anymore. When things get so tough, it is my natural inclination to try to fix it . . . "when things get tough, the tough get going." That saying used to move me to action but has been replaced with a much more reasonable and sound response to the stresses of life, because the idea of being "tough" and "getting going," never really worked for me. Muscling my way through challenges and difficulties drained me of energy and robbed me of the joy that I have found in testing my trust in "God's timing," because I know He loves me, is concerned about what concerns me and has a "plan for good." -Jeremiah 29:11
Though, once again I find myself in a season of testing rather than resting I am reminded that I can look ahead with faith and hope that God's with us and everything will work out and "happens" in His timing. When I am tired, weary and experience moments of doubt and perplexity, I ask "When will it be time, Father?" And, in my heart I hear Him reassure me with something like, "Soon My child, very soon. Be patient, don't give up hope and trust in Me!"
In His Time,
Angie "a mom like you"
www.amotherlikeme.info
amotherlikeme@gmail.com
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