Stress: Another Failed Test From God

Isaiah 43:1-4:
1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia[a] and Seba in your place.
4 Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you."

Footnotes:
Isaiah 43:3 Hebrew Cush

After reading these verses I began to cry. They were exactly what I needed to hear, right at that time. Why did I suffer for a month? Because it was time for me to "go through deep waters". Problem was, I didn't reach for God to keep me above the water, instead I was drowning...now my head is above the water...my body filled with new strength to reach the land, the finish line: graduation.



For the past month, I have let stress take over my life. I have been SO BUSY that I haven't had time to breathe and take a day off. And I know this is a failed test from God.

Today, as I sought help from a friend of mine for a Bible verse to help me relieve stress (the one above) and God spoke through her, rather, chatted through her while I was on Facebook, and I feel INCREDIBLY BETTER than I did just three hours ago.

Other verses recommended by different friends were:
Romans 8:28: "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

2 Corinthians 9:7-9: "You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.""

Job Chapters 1-3

Ecc. 11:4-6: 4 "Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. 5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. 6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both."

this song on you tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2nz6PG8KM,

Psalm 118:8: " It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people."

and Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

(Not to mention that this last one was another anwer to a different prayer--I'll blog about that later)

Stress is SO consuming....it takes control and it doesn't let go and then I get too busy and I don't read the Bible, and then not only was my body tired, but my soul also. It started to get chocked off and then I fell apart.

I cannot believe I tried to do this on my own....instead of saying, "God hold me above the water and help me get there." I tried on my own. I had a strong start, but at the end of the first day I could already tell I was slowing down, my destination wasn't getting closer and I wasn't getting any younger. Then the first week ended. My mouth was under the water, my nose barely above it...struggling was definate. By the end of the second week, both my nose and mouth were under, I was trying to keep my eyes above. The end of the 3rd week (today) I was giving up, my arms, which were just above the water were sinking below the surface, like the Titanic. I was drowning and I couldn't figure out how to keep myself alive.

Then, when I saw my friend on Facebook Chat today, I reached out, almost like I reached up toward her boat sitting ontop of the water, and she reached out her hand, doing God's instruction. God had her pull me from the water. And now I'm on the boat, ontop of the water, soaking wet, and fighting the urge to jump back in; to let the raging waters of Stress take me over again.

Now, I know what I must do to keep inside the boat, I'm gonna do that now :)