- 1 Cor. 16:14
As women we are responsible for so many things in the course of a day that sometimes we cannot help but worry. Some of us, in addition to working, have children to raise, husbands to tend to, or both. For those that are single, you are your only source of income. So, if your hours get cut at a job, or your company has a lay‑off, it can put added stress on you in addition to the stress you may already have.
The bible often talks about going through trials and tribulations. God allows these tribulations to build character in you. Did you know that the word tribulation refers to being in a state of stress, intense pressure, and even being pressed and squeezed as in a vice when olives are pressed to make olive oil? It is not a coincidence that olive oil was used throughout the bible as anointing oil, but for it to become anointing oil it first had to be pressed and squeezed. The anointing oil was then poured out on objects and people, as a form of consecration, as saying this object or person is now dedicated to the Lord. This means that being in a time of tribulation is a wonderful thing.
By God allowing us to be pressed and squeezed on all sides, He is saying to us, “Let me consecrate you, let me use you for great exploits, to show the world that you choose to dedicate your life to Me.” There is a very popular Christian expression that says, “There is a price to pay for the anointing.” This means that those of us who desire to be used by God to the fullest, must first go through many struggles i.e., trials and tribulations to build character in us. Knowing that God has a greater design for our lives than the lives we planned for ourselves should cause us to be in a state of joy during our tribulations, and not worry. The book of James 1:2-4 says this:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
I must confess that there are times when no matter how hard we try not to worry, or dwell on our problem, we just cannot help it. We are human, and when several events come at us at the same time, we can be overcome by worry. When I lost my job, my stress of lack of finances caused me to break out in hives. It happens, and when it does, all we need to do is say, “Oops, Lord. Help me, please. I am worried about my current circumstances.” God, with His unlimited capacity to love us, will not yell at us and say, “Hey, you failed. I am so disappointed in you.” Instead, God will comfort us with His scriptures, reminding us that He is in control – of everything that happens to us.
God is our protector. He protects us from the verbal attacks of others. He warns us when we are in fellowship with people that mean to do us harm. He even helps us find a parking space close to the supermarket door because He knows we woke up with a backache that day. God is our provider, as well. We know that the job we have came because God opened the door for us to have that job. Therefore, the source of our income is really God, and not our employer. If God is our protector and our provider, then how come we have a hard time letting go and letting God handle our situations that bring us worry?
Cross Creek Bridge Ministries
I am reminded of that cute poem which has been circulating for decades.It goes like this:
As children bring their broken toys
with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
because He was my friend.
But then instead of leaving Him
in peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
with ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back and cried:
"How can you be so slow?"
"My child," He said,
"What could I do . . . you never did let go."
Author: Unknown
We need to practice to let go of our situations.By doing so, it frees us up from worrying, and is a stepping stone to learning to be at peace.
I am sure most of you have heard the expression, “Be careful what you pray for, you just may get it.”Recently, I asked the Lord for the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.When you have peace, you have no need to worry over a situation because you trust God to fix it.I wanted to wake up in the morning, and enjoy the day the Lord had made – with the peace of God.I did not want to fret if a job interview cancelled or my insurance company did not pay a medical bill they said they would pay.I did not want to wallow in doubt when an event came along that had the potential to take away my peace.I told the Lord I did not want to experience just a few minutes of peace; I wanted His peace to surround me continually.Let me tell you ladies, it is a process, but it is worth it.
You see, in order to have the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, God will test you by causing un-peaceful things to happen to you.For me, first, came the loss of the job, the torn cartilage and subsequent medical bills, then the hives – and then the peace.Remember, God never gives you any more than you can handle, so you know that no matter how hard the testing process feels at the time, God knows you will make it through to the other side, even if you do not feel that you will make it through to the other side.
During the testing process, focus on the fact that God’s hand is holding your hand, and gently walking a couple of steps ahead of you (1) to watch out for you along the journey, and (2) to guide you forward as if to whisper, “That’s it.” “Follow me.” “Keep going; I’m right here with you.” “You can do it. I know because I created you to do it.”
When you stop, God stops with you.He stands there, waiting in patient silence because He knows you will pass the test. He understands that you are at a painful process (for the moment).You know the scripture; it is found in Philippians 4:6-8:
(6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
It is not a coincidence that just before God makes reference to His peace which surpasses all understanding, He tells us to not be anxious.That is the key!
We worry because we are anxious.
We are anxious to receive the “thing” that will fix all of our problems; when in fact, it is God who fixes all of our problems.God wants us to cast all our cares on Him.He tells us in 1 Peter 5:6-9:
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.Resist him, steadfast in the faith . . .
1 Peter 5:9-11 continues:
. . . knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
God reminds us that women in the entire world experience sufferings, trials and tribulations.It is comforting to know that you are not alone.Stress and worry is not a condition only experienced in the United States.I have had the opportunity to travel overseas, and I have personally met women who worry how to pay their bills.
This is the season where God is teaching us not to worry.He is causing us to stop worrying about money, so that we do not rely on our money as our safety net, but we rely on God as our safety net.Trusting in the world’s monetary system is not a good idea.Trusting in God is, as it is God who owns all the silver and all the gold. God says in Haggai 2:7-9:
“and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts.‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
God wants us to have peace.If we stop worrying about our finances, and remember that God is the source of income, everything we need, we will have the peace of God.
Cross Creek Bridge Ministries
God is getting ready to send women out to the four corners of the world to minister to other women.What you may be experiencing now is going to cause you to be able to minister comfort to another woman in another country.This is the exciting part.You see, your suffering, your anxiety, your worry is not in vain.There is a purpose for it, and when God uses you and your prior circumstances to bring comfort and understanding to another woman in hers, the pain you felt during your time of trial will be nothing compared to the joy of watching that woman overcome her discomfort because of your sharing what you went through.
It is vitally important in this season for you ladies to stay up-to-date on current events in the news.Things on this planet are changing rapidly.One day there is a government, and the next day that government is overthrown.There are a lot of things that could cause us to worry, but knowing that God is control should bring us peace, and not worry.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-27:
25) “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
I recently made a trip to Cross Creek State Park, which Cross Creek Bridge Ministries is named after.I go there often to hear the voice of God.While I was going through the testing to rid myself of worry, I was sitting on the beach and feeding bread to the seagulls waiting for God to answer.God said nothing.He didn’t have to because all of a sudden the seagulls took flight over my head, and became the “birds of the air.”It guaranteed them a piece of bread because as I tossed the bread up in the air they were able to swoop down, catch it and eat it.As soon as all the bread was gone, I left for God had given me my answer to attaining His peace without saying a word.
I laughed all the way back to the car as I realized God had reminded me . . .
“Stop worrying. I feed the birds of the air, don’t I?
Cross Creek Bridge Ministries
P.O. Box 572391
Tarzana, CA 91357
Tel: (818) 881-2009
Toll-Free: (877) 303-CCBM (2009)
Cross Creek Bridge Ministries is a qualified IRS Section 501(c)(3) Organization