Does Life Ever Overwhelm You?

     Sometimes it's easy to become overwhelmed with the cares of life.  This can apply to relationships or finances or even relationships because of finances.  Man may make up rules to suit him and then change them on a whim, but God remains constant.  He is constant in His love for us, constant in providing for us, constant in keeping the rules (laws) and promises He wrote thousands of years ago.  That's why the Bible is living and active.  It never changes.  So when we are overwhelmed by what's going on today in our lives, we can go to the Source, our living God, who already sees what is ahead of us today.  Holding on to the God who created us can give us the security and peace we need to get through this day. That is why Isaiah (26:3-4) says of the Lord, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength." (NKJV)  The trust our Father expects from us is the kind of trust that comes naturally to a little child toward his parent.
     I saw that kind of trust on the face of my 21 month-old granddaughter this past weekend. She knew, when her mother asked her what she wanted for lunch, that she would be fed. She didn't see the food, but she knew that her mother would feed her.  It never occurred to her to be afraid that she wouldn't get to eat, because her mother has consistently given her what she needs day after day.  If we really think about it, God does the same thing for us.
     King David said in Psalm 37:25-26, "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.  He is ever merciful, and lends.  And his descendants are blessed." (NKJV)  I am learning to hold onto these verses. The problem that we as adults have is that we over-think things.  We (sometimes subconsciously) convince ourselves that God is not paying attention to our need.  Or we are in a hurry for God to answer, so we can feel more secure.  But what about the next time and the time after that?
     The answer lies in trusting the Lord in every situation and standing on His promises. Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man, that He should lie."  He always keeps His promises. If you are overwhelmed or stressed, read His Word.  If you don't look at what He has promised through Scripture, don't be surprised if the stress stays.  In my quiet time this morning, the Lord reminded me that in His presence is "fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11).  Since feeling overwhelmed and having fullness of joy cannot occupy the same space, I choose fullness of joy.  
     Which will you choose?