Month: March 2023

When I travel, on the day I fly back home I try to remember that I’m going back to 8,500 feet above sea level. If I forget to slightly deflate my cosmetic tubes as I pack them, they’ve been known to spray lotion or cleanser all over the room — and me — because of the buildup of pressure in the tubes.

This got me thinking. How do I guard against the pressure of daily living? I love traveling and meeting with Lutheran Women in Mission around the country for various reasons, but when I arrive back home I find a backlog of work to do. The pressure begins to build. I’m not always aware that the pressure is building, and I often put this pressure on myself. This world is filled with pressures and obligations — some we put on ourselves and some are put on us by others or by the established traditions of our families or organizations.

Of course, I know that pressure is not always a bad thing. As we exercise our bodies, we put pressure on our muscles and they gain strength and improve our endurance. As we go through the trials of living in this world, God strengthens us spiritually as we rely on His truths. But I do believe that pressure needs to be alleviated, to be relieved so we don’t burst!

Have you ever done that, let the pressure build and then burst? You shout something you wish you could take back, but you can’t take back hurtful words — you can only ask for forgiveness. So how can I guard against the pressures of daily living? I can go to the Source. Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear (Psalm 118:5–6a).

But … sometimes I go to the Lord only after trying other means of relief. Why do I do that? Honestly, I can just see Jesus shaking His head! It’s like trying to cut through a tough steak with a fork and realizing you have a sharp knife right there. With a nudge from the Holy Spirit, I go to the Source once again. When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul (Psalm 94:18–19).

I love this next Bible verse. I love when Jesus says, “Take heart.” Please join me in reading this verse, finding the comfort it brings, and discovering the confidence that can only come from the Source.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Today, and always, we are surrounded by HIS grace,

Debbie

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” And God blessed them. (Genesis 1: 26 and 28a).

Nice! We are given dominion over other creatures. God has blessed us! As humans, created by the Lord, we may be tempted to let pride sneak in — at least I have. I’m special, after all. I’m created in the image of God! I think of myself as fairly intelligent and capable — but I am, in fact, weak. In the midst of a storm, I stumble and fall. In the face of the death of a loved one, I struggle to understand. When the trials of this world and my own sinful self weigh me down, it is undeniably obvious — I am weak.

I certainly do not have the power to calm the storm, escape death, or atone for my own sins. But my Savior is full of grace and mercy, and when I am weak I can find strength in His power. I glorify my Father by trusting His Son. In the midst of the storm, He is there to walk alongside me. In the face of death, He is there to comfort me and remind me of His promises. Because I cannot atone for my own sin, my faithful and loving Savior suffered and died on the cross in my place. He rose triumphantly to conquer sin, death, and the power of the devil. He was strong — for me. He is strong — for all of His children.

I have had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 12 years old. There were years when walking was a struggle. Most of us have dealt with challenges in our lives. Paul was no exception and pleaded with the Lord to take his burden away. God answered and Paul found clarity. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).

Sometimes my struggle is physical, and I go to this verse. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26).

Sometimes my struggle is something I can’t even describe, and yet my Lord provides. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26).

It is undeniably obvious that I am weak. It is undeniably obvious that my Lord is strong!

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed (Psalm 28:7–8).

Today, and always, we are surrounded by HIS grace,

Debbie