by Brenda McGraw @BrendaMMcGraw
Brenda McGraw is an author and speaker who reveals how to discover joy beyond the clutter of life. She draws from her own life experiences in the #1 Amazon Best seller, “Joy Beyond, 28 Days to Finding Joy Beyond the Clutter of Life”. She is the founder of Ask God Today Ministries where she has a team of writers sharing truth and hope with others.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come
from?” Psalm 121:1
My
help comes from the Lord.
If we live long enough we are going to have something that
rocks our world. It steals our peace and joy. I call these “Joy Zappers.”
What is stealing your peace
and joy today?
Is it the lack of money, or debt? What has you worried?
We can have the pressures of caring for a parent. Or we may
have a job we don’t like and dread going in everyday, which causes us to not
want to get up every morning.
There are many things that can zap our joy. I have named a
few, but there are also frustrations, relationships, kids, stress, addictions,
school, grief, fear and the list could go on.
Life is hard. But what did Jesus tell the disciples in John
16:33? He said, “In me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
I learned to trust the Lord when life got tough several
years ago while going through a divorce. When I lifted my tears to God in
prayer, He embraced and comforted me. He surprised me with little gifts from
friends, which helped me pay unexpected car repairs. He spoke to me through His
word when I needed encouraging. He sent people to cut my grass when I didn’t
have a lawn mower.
God was there for me and He helped me when I was at my
lowest, so I know I can trust Him through anything.
In Psalm 121, the Lord assures us, “He who watches over you
will not slumber.” He tells us. “He will keep us from harm and He will watch
over our life; He will watch over our coming and going both now and
forevermore.”
We can trust Him. So, why do we worry when worrying doesn’t
do anything for us?
I wish I knew the answer. I can’t honestly say I never
worry. But I can honestly say that many times what we worry about never even
happens.
The next time we are tempted to worry, we need to turn our eyes
towards Jesus, Try to turn our worry to prayers and focus on Christ. We can be
confident that He cares about what is going on in our life. He is never going
to leave us and He will never harm us.
Even through the days that rock our world and zap our joy we
can look at Jesus and know that “He’s got this.”
Is there something you are worrying about today? If you
answer “yes” in the comments I will lift you up in my prayers. God knows the
details.
“I
lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
My
help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He
will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber;.
The
Lord will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life;
the
Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Psalm
121:1-3, 7-8
Brenda currently lives in South Carolina with her husband, Jeff and three of their five children. She is a survivor of breast cancer and a heart attack.. Despite the challenges she has endured, Brenda found peace through her relationship with Jesus Christ.
You can connect with Brenda at:
Website - http://www.askgodtoday.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Brenda-McGraw/e/B00GOIE7AG
Thank you for this encouragement. I was a worry wart. After a long conversations with God and a flareup of my fibromyalgia. I had to step out in faith and trust My health and sanity were at stake. I realized that He has NEVER forsaken me. I always have food (even if it was from the food pantry) My bills were paid (in small amounts) and my son was healthy. My faith has grown stronger. When I find myself starting to worry I worship. The worship consumes the worry and my heart and faith are strengthened.
ReplyDeleteHey Cherrilynn. I understand about the health problems. I have had my fair share. Many times the stress of worrying brings on more to worry about. That's why Jesus said that worry won't add days to our life's. I love turning my worry to worship. Thanks for your comment. Have a wonderful week ahead. #joybeyond
DeleteThank you, Brenda, for the reminder that worrying is silly when we have such a faithful God. Your reference to Psalm 121 was the perfect Word from the Lord to me today.
ReplyDeleteLori, I am so glad that God used this for a perfect word for you today. I have to remind myself often too. Blessings always, Keep seeing Him!
DeleteBrenda ~ Thank you so much for your encouraging words. I've been helping care for my elderly parents since this past May - not in my own home but still very much part of the process. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, and your reminder to trust God was a message I needed to hear again today. I've no doubt the Lord directed me to read your post so He could speak to me through it. Love and blessings to you in Christ.
ReplyDeleteEmiy I am so glad this encouraged you. I know it is overwhelming caring for your parents. Take it one day at a time. God is faithful. Thanks so much for your comments. Have a great week.
DeleteBrenda,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this. Sometimes I let worry get the best of me and other times I am the one reminding others that we have a God bigger than our problems. I would like to get to the point where I don't worry at all. Realistically, I know in my humanness it will creep in from time to time. Your post was a welcome reminder that God is in control.
God has been calling me to write in order to encourage and reach people for Christ. This is one area where worry creeps in. I don't want to fail at this. I know if God has ordained it, I can do it but the devil likes to whisper that I don't have it in me. Some prayer in this regard would be much appreciated.
Thanks for being a blessing!
Michol, I understand and I would love to get to the point where I don't worry at all, where I can be anxious for nothing. I think when the worry creeps in we have to take every thought captive to the Lord and make it obedient to Christ and that takes practice. I also understand about the fear in writing. But remember you have something to say and somebody needs to hear it. Move forward. Lifting you up. Keep seeking the Lord and His direction. Thanks. Brenda
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