Our youngest granddaughter Stella does not like her car seat.
She’s a bit of a Houdini and can wriggle
herself out of anything less than a fully buckled in contraption. Given a long enough ride in the car and she
will begin to maneuver to get loose. “I stuck!” she will declare quite loudly.
Lots of noise is made as well. Grunting, groaning and more declarations of her
situation. It’s cute to us but she’s serious in that once she’s had enough we
all know she’s had enough. She has no problem expressing herself, especially
when she’s “stuck”. Same thing happens
when she’s trying to dislodge a toy from the toy box. “Stuck!” she loudly
proclaims until she manages to pull the right toy loose from the pile inside
the box. Relief comes when Stella is
freed from being “stuck”. Sometimes the situation gets so desperate for her
that you can hear panic rising in her voice. “S T U C K!” Someone generally
tries to come to her aide in those situations, either by calming her down or by
helping her get the toy released. If you know anything about Stella’s story you
know she has plenty of help – nobody lets her fret for long!
I think about times in my own life when I have felt “stuck”. You know the times. When we feel bound by life’s situations and
circumstances we are like Stella – we begin to lament, often loudly, “I’m
stuck!” We’re strapped in and feel like we’re in the longest, roughest ride of
our lives. It’s hard to feel anything but the pressure of the straps of life.
We can’t do the driving, we can’t choose the road, we can’t take a deep breath.
We cannot get relief and we don’t know if relief will ever come. Are we
destined to live stuck? Are we never going to get out of the situation and walk
away?
Other times we are trying to get hold of things we want.
They don’t seem to want to dislodge so we can take possession of them. We groan
and struggle and huff and puff. Still that thing we think we must have is
stuck. We continue to work and plan and beg and plead – just because we want
it. Maybe we’ve been told we could have it so we’re trying to make it happen.
Frustration, consternation, impatience and fury come to our assistance but they
are no help at all. Will we ever take
hold of it? Will that prize ever come from beneath the pile holding it down so
we can possess it? We find ourselves in a panic and that just makes things
worse.
God speaks to my heart: My precious child. There is no panic
in heaven. When you are stuck in the situation you don’t like and you are
fretting and pleading and trying to force your way out, I am there. Nothing
that comes into your life causes panic in the Kingdom. While you may be
surprised at the sudden trap of trouble, trial or testing, I cannot be caught
by surprise. While you are in a panic I am fulfilling My purpose in you. It is
a teachable moment for you as you learn to let panic go and allow My peace to
enter in. In due time I will loosen the
hold of the momentary light afflictions you are going through and you will feel
free again. Don’t try to make things happen on your own – you’ll just stay
frustrated. Relax your hold on even those things that are promises you have
received. In due season you will reap everything I have for you. In time, the
thing that seems so elusive, the promise that hasn’t come forth will be released
to you. You can trust Me in the meantime
and relax for it is peace that will guard your heart and your mind so that you
can quit being frustrated. I AM that I AM. No panic, just peace. No fuming,
just faith. Look to Me when you feel you can’t go another moment and I will
carry you through to the better day. I am loosening the hold life has on you
little by little. Although it’s imperceptible to you, one day you will see just
how truly free you really are in Me.
Oh beloved, replace that frown with praise! God is with you
in your situation. God is working it all out for your good and His glory. God
is changing things for you so that you will learn to walk free in Him, no
matter what happens. He loves you and He’s
for you so you can rest in His promises for the rest of your life, free as a
believer in Christ! Ultimately His goal is that you become more and more like
Him. Relax, rejoice and remain – abide in Him and watch as He turns things around
just for you.
I Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for
a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.
Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD
gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk
uprightly.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all
comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Joshua 1:9 Have
I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not
be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever
you go.
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