Daily Encouragement: Year 2, Day 83
From Handbook to God’s Promises
GOD’S RESPONSE TO ME
Prioritize the Problems
Read Philippians 4:6–7
Moving from the general to the specific, think of all the things that you have to worry about today: The sun could run out of energy, or a giant meteor could hit the earth. Or, more possibly, a severe economic recession or depression could occur; the country could go to war or even be invaded by an enemy; an incurable disease could spread rapidly through the water supply. Finally, and even more likely, you could overdraw your bank account; you might be involved in a fender bender in your car; you could be called to the hospital because a family member was injured; you could lose your job.
Now, with potential disasters like these looming on the horizon, who in his or her right mind would even consider getting out of bed? Only one person, the apostle Paul says: the person who possesses the peace of God.
People respond to the pressures and anxieties of life in different ways. Some decide, tragically, that they can’t live with the pressures, that there is no hope. Others decide to live, but they use pills or other substances to anesthetize themselves against pain. Others live in superficial peace, having chosen fatalism as their answer: “What will be, will be.”
Wise people choose to prioritize the problems. They know that the biggest problem they could ever have is also 100 percent certain to happen: death and its aftermath. Once they come to terms with that problem, they realize that all other problems are small by comparison, and they have peace. Here’s how they do it—and how you can, too.
First, make sure your biggest worry is solved—by accepting God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Next, pray about every other potential worry, thanking God in advance for what He causes or allows. Third, receive the peace of God, which will guard your heart and your mind from worry. Fourth, get out of bed and live in peace!
God’s Promise: He will stand guard over your heart if you will ask Him.