Here I am on a Monday night, which is too quickly turning into Tuesday morning, on the precipice of a week that will make the record books for one of the most stressful, trying to write an article with substance while I’m thinking about the list that seems to be infinite in its ability to keep growing. Yes. That run on sentence describes how my night has me, as I’m sitting and discussing the 317 unread text messages I have on my phone, and the beauty of closing tabs, when I should be focusing purely on this article, ok I am now. As you can see my mind can be a crazy place. It is particularly crazy with a lack of sleep and stress, as I have right now. But then, something beautiful happens, I feel a peace overcome me. For I know in this week I will not be awake until the morning alone, I have the strength and presence of God surrounding me, and well without it I wouldn’t be able to stay awake.
I have recently begun to allow my relationship with the Lord to radically change my life. And when I say “I have allowed”, what I really mean is I found I couldn’t do the sleepless nights alone. I surrendered everything from the pain of my past to my being able to wake up for my eight am, and because of that the Lord has done some awestriking things. He has surrounded me with some of the most incredible people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, showed me love I never thought I deserved, or thought existed, taught me to love everyone with that same infinite love, and he has also filled me with “peace that transcends all understanding” (Phil. 4:7).
As I said this week is one for the record books, and it is among many in this mental catalogue, life is busy, and overwhelming, and challenging. Yes, my life has radically changed, but that does not mean my everyday struggles completely dissipate. In fact I find I can be just as susceptible, if not more so, to getting, as I like to call it, “trapped in my mind”. You know what I mean, that train of thought you board that leads you through your stress, your doubts, your fears, and then around again, and the ticket is seemingly nonrefundable. The difference in my life with Christ is that he has my ticket off the train, not only that but he deliberately searches for me when I feel trapped, and he not only shines the light on the way out, but he carries me out. For the Bible tells us that “God is our refuge and strength, and ever present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1), not only that but when he’s carrying us because of our struggles we are being made strong. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 that Jesus said to him “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”. He then takes it another step further saying he “delights in weakness … hardship…in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am made strong”.
How incredible, that even I become a frazzled mess, I am still strong, because the Lord is within those who believe in him. For after all, Jesus said “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33), and yes that means that he has already conquered my seemingly infinite list, and your infinite list too. So “do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7), because nothing is worse than your list joining you on the train, especially when incomprehensible peace is reaching out a hand, hoping you will take it.
