Tag: Stuck

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Prayers from experience.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings.” Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

King David, the most beloved king of Israel went through years of struggle and introspective self doubt on his path to succeeding Israel’s first king, Saul. Remember, David was anointed, by Samuel, to become the future king while he was still at teenager. It is helpful to watch House of David on Amazon Prime. Although it takes some liberties in telling the story, the series shows us the moments and captures the tension of believing God, but waiting for the fulfillment of a promise.

David becomes a pro at suffering. When David writes, “may the Lord answer your cry,” he’s writing from experience. David did cry. David had been in deep anguish. David had to live through the moments of doubt, while running, hiding and fearing the mad king Saul’s vengeful fury! David reminds us of a generational and logistical promise – from Jacob with his own struggles of faith to Jerusalem and the glory of God’s supernatural visitation on the place and people of God. David reminds us as a patriarch, a father and a friend – God will answer. God sees us, hears us and will help us! History reminds us, men and women of faith remind us and God’s own word reminds us – God is for us not against us. Call out to Him. Pray with all the intensity of emotion possible – God will show mercy and keep you.

Prayer

​Dad,
I remember both learning from the Psalms, and from David’s prayers, how to pray. I remember the raw emotions and being filled with doubt, anger or frustration. I remember feeling trapped or stuck, not knowing what to do. And in those moments, I found your presence! Oftentimes the answers were not immediate, but I could release my fears and lean into trusting that you were in control. As I look back, I share David’s confidence both in relief and in telling others how trustworthy you are. Thank you for your mercy to cover me and for those who cry out to you!

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Do you worry?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Worrying is an interesting subject. Some worry often, others seem to not worry enough! For some, worry is debilitating, suffocating, causing a mental collapse or stall – an awful state of stuckness.

Jesus used this Greek word, anxious, merimnáō (from mérimna, “a part, as opposed to the whole”) – negatively it is “drawn in opposite directions;” “divided into parts” or figuratively “to go to pieces”. In other words, DO NOT be pulled apart or go to pieces!

Surprisingly, the word can be used positively. It is also used of effectively distributing concern, in proper relation to the whole picture. Paul uses the positive word in Philippians 2:20 speaking of Timothy, who genuinely “cares” (merimnaó – distributed concern) about your welfare. So the word anxious can pull you apart or it can get us to distribute the concern. Paul also uses this word in 1 Corinthians 12:25, saying instead of division (schisma) the body of Christ should have distributed care (merimnōsin) for one another.

I wonder what makes the difference between going to pieces verses distributing the pieces? One feels helpless, like I am so overwhelmed that I just “lose it.” I guess that’s kind of what worry feels like. My life, represented as a ceramic vase, drops to the ground shattering in a thousand pieces. It’s overwhelming! The other is more like several people cooperatively working on a 1000 piece puzzle. The solution is to distribute the FUN, the joy in working together to build and complete the puzzle. There is even an art form called Kintsugi. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold. Of course the idea would be that several artists work together, ie: distributed repair verses solo repair.

One “anxiety” is a collapse the other a collaboration! Jesus wasn’t using this unique word as a Greek object lesson. He was simply stating faith-facts. Look for God today instead of looking for tribble-trouble tomorrow – “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬

Prayer

Dad,
As you know, I can receive some small bit of information that just vase-drops my life into a thousand pieces. One criticism, one loss, one negative comment – boom – and I shatter into anxieties. Your Word doesn’t just remind me to stop ruminating long enough to trust you, but also to rest in the fact that you are working in this distributed care fashion. In your Kingdom, all the pieces fit together for those who love you and are called according to your purpose! In your Kingdom, broken things have a way of becoming more beautiful, more effective in your hands. Today I don’t just hand over my worries, I hand over all the broken shards and trust that you are making something spectacular out them! I cast all my cares (merimnan) on you, because you care for me.