Reach Out and Touch Someone
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“Carry each other’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
Julie’s face was set in a worried, tight expression, a look I had seen on her often in recent months.
“What’s the matter, Julie?” I asked.
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“Oh, the doctor just told me I have gastritis!” she exclaimed. “I’ve read that it can become chronic, and can have some painful consequences!”
“Well, if this is your first attack, maybe it won’t become chronic,” I said. “I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. That might make it worse.”
“But you’re not me!” Julie returned. “The doctor suggested that I try to avoid tension as much as possible. Avoid tension! How can I do that when I have to work in the same office with that impossible woman? Whenever she gets a chance, she sticks her verbal knife in my back!”
“Why don’t you find another job?”
“That’s not as easy as it sounds,” said Julie. “I’ve worked for this company for twenty-five years. I’ve built up seniority, as well as my salary. This woman has been working there for only a year. Why should I let her drive me out?”
“Well, it certainly sounds like a bad situation, and I’ll pray with you about it,” I promised. “You know, I had a problem like that in an office once.”
“How did you handle it?” Julie asked.
“I asked the Lord to help me to answer with kindness whenever the other girl took a stab at me,” I told her.
Julie nodded. “Well, I’ve tried to be nice to this woman. Maybe if I ask the Lord, He will show me what else to do.”
“Are there any other things that might cause tension in your life?” I asked.
“I have a lot to do,” answered Julie. “I’m ‘on the go’ all the time. On my lunch hour, I run downtown to do some shopping. I belong to several organizations and hold offices in them. Also, I just bought a new car, and keeping up with the payments is difficult. I’ve been taking in odd jobs on the side. There just seems to be so many things to worry about!”
“Sounds as if the devil has you in a corner,” I said. “Look, I have a book dealing with tension. I’ll loan it to you. It might help.”
The following Sunday I brought the book to church to give to Julie. And I prayed daily about her situation at the office and other problems. Several weeks later I saw her in Sunday school class. “How’s it going now?” I asked.
“Much better!” she exclaimed, smiling. “I can hardly believe it, but things are so different at the office. That girl’s attitude toward me is changing. And that book has helped me so much!”
So many people carry unnecessary heavy burdens in our rush-rush world today, burdens that actually make them sick. Jesus tells us, “Come to me, all you who are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Questions: What unnecessary burdens are you carrying? What is God asking you to do about it?
About the Author Muriel Larson
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Hi again, sisters! I have about eight-ten shelves of books on various emotional problems and others, and can’t find the one on tension just now.
But check a large church library under the stress/tension category and you can probably find several books. My articles, “Why Worry,” “Living Above Moods,” “Trusting God,” and “What Holds Things Together” might help you. I have them listed with their urls on my website, along with other helpful articles. Website is: http://AdviceDrMuriel.blogspot.com
May the Lord lift you into His life of love, peace, and joy, and use you for His glory. In His love, Dr. Muriel
I struggle with “mind clutter” constantly. Always thinking what I haven’t done, what needs to be done, who needs what, and so on. I either have things to do or something to worry about. It appears my husband is too comfortable believing I will take care of everything! If I ask him to do something, he asks me how to do it. I feel extremely overburdened. Every morning I have “quiet time” with God, praying, reading the Bible, and asking him to help me. Worries, things to do, etc., interrupt my focus on God. When I read Barbara’s advice, I was struck by how simple the solution is. From now on during my quiet time, I will ask Him to tell me what he wants me to do, and to show me how to discard the rest. Thank you, Barbara!
Dear Vernesha, Thank you sooo much for being so open and honest with sharing your struggle with those evil thoughts….I am a survivor of “5″ bad attempts and each one got worse…I beleive it was an attack from SATAN yet God pulled me through each and everyone of them and during the course I wrote and published an adorable Children’s Christmas book about the true meaning of Christmas and also have complete an entire memior regarding my struggles in the darkness and the awsomeness of GOD being with me thorugh each evil attack…this book will be called “Labled No More…A Forty Year Journey from darkness to light” I know it was a GOD thing for me to write these books that will touch the hearts of many and hopefully lead them into the KINGDOM of HEAVEN…my next hearts desire is to become and inpirational speaker to broken hearted women…IT AIN’T OVER TILL HE CALLS ME HOME! The heart attack i had was better for me than alllllll the evil, suidcidal attacks SATAN had me in….thank God I’m alive so I can reach out and help others trapped in similar dismay. Barbara
This devotion was for me. I am going through the same thing, and I am telling you, lately I have thought about suicide, and was being attacked every time I turned around. But when God has an assignment for you to do, the devil will use anyone including your family, co-workers that you’ve has a good relationship with. I am learning when the attacks come frequently, God has a blessing for you. Continue to pray my sisters. Put one foot in front of the other, and believe. Even when it feels scary. Call on your mentors. Get busy praying for the ones who are coming against you, pray for the good. We never know what they are going through. Thank you for Christian Women Today!!
Thank you, Dr. Muriel, for today’s devotional. The first thing I wondered was, “what is the title of the book you shared”. The first post I read asked the same question. :-)
Barbara, the advice you shared was awesome! “I pray that all of you women out there whom are juggling way too many things learn to discard that which God has not asked you to do. We can get so wrapped up and involved in many things that God did not call us to.”
I worry about my children, now that they are young adults. I worry about how they are going to ge the money to finish their schooling. Also, I worry about being lonely. When I feel too worried, I lift up all my concerns to the Lord, and it never fails that he gives me the peace which passes all understanding. I am trying to remember to let the kids worry about their own situations and follow what God is gently telling me to do.
Amen Barbara! Thank God for His strength unto you!!
Thank you for this devotional today! It has truly blessed my heart!
Not to long ago I was lugging the weight of the world on my shoulders and was feeling so down, weary and oppressed. I was in a black abyss and became very, very suicidal….the thoughts rushing through my mind that night nearly drew me into grabbing a rope to hang myself!!! It was bad…real bad! However, that very same evening after coming in from an evening walk hoping to overcome my dreadful thoughts I ended up having a heart attack! After this rude awaking…I have since casted all of my cares upon the LORD and have learned to keep life simple yet to the best you can to help at least a few individuals….I pray that all of you women out there whom are juggling way to many things learn to discard that which God has not asked you to do. We can get so wrapped up and involved in many things that God did not call us to. Our number one thing is to seek, to know and to LOVE him above all.
What is the name of the book that you refer to in this devotional, the one that deals with tension??? I would love to read it myself. Thanks!