Have you ever experienced something so overwhelming that it felt as though you had been punched in the gut? I mean, you felt as though the enemy had been given free rein to attack you on every side. You felt like a combination of Job and Joseph all rolled into one.
What do you do when the enemy has launched a full-on attack against you? Do you come out swinging? Do you retreat to a corner and cry? Or do you do what I did last week? I closed myself off from people and just got still and quiet.
I knew God had me, but I needed to hear from Him. Being overwhelmed by circumstances while knowing God has the answer is key.
In the midst of the battle, we are meant to thrive, not merely survive. How do you thrive in chaos? You lean into the One who has always been there to keep you.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV)
God is there to strengthen and encourage you. In your flesh, you may want to fight or defend yourself, but then you hear, “Be still.” What does that look like? It doesn’t mean doing nothing; it means trusting God and receiving His Word as truth. His Word is our anchor. It stabilizes you. The Word of God will help you be still when you want to lash out. God will give you a Word, and that Word will bring peace to you.
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psalm 107:20 (NKJV)
Being in His Word is being in His presence. Author and speaker Priscilla Shirer states, “His Word is His breath in pages.” If you can’t fall in love with His Word, do you truly love and know God?
Abiding in His presence—praying, worshiping, and studying His Word—will cause you to thrive. Pushing past the darkness and finding yourself in His presence will give you the strength you need to overcome feelings of overwhelm. He will cover you.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ Psalm 91:1-2 (ESV)
Trusting God will also cause you to thrive. Many say they trust God, but when those overwhelming feelings hit, doubt and unbelief may creep in.
For me, waiting for the promise while being asked to be still can feel daunting. Yet, God often reminds me of His history with me. He might tell me to read through my past journals or send someone to remind me of what He has already done. You can trust God. Say it with me: “I can trust God to do what He promised.”
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV)
After you’ve entered His presence and been fed by His Word, you can truly say, “Lord, I trust You to handle these situations.” Then you sit, wait for further instructions, and obey them. Obedience to God has become life to me.
You see, I used to be rebellious. I was quick to tell God “no,” “I can’t,” or even negotiate with Him. But it all amounted to the same thing—disobedience. When I began to truly trust Him—knowing He knew better than I did and would never fail me—that’s when I started to obey Him completely. I gave Him my full “yes,” not a partial one. Then, I began to have encounter after encounter and breakthrough after breakthrough. It all stemmed from surrender.
To walk in God’s fullness, you must trust that He will not harm you. Even when the situation you’re in is heartbreaking, God is right there, and He will carry you through. It may feel like you won’t make it, but your Heavenly Father has experienced what you’re experiencing and has overcome so that you can do the same.
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 (ESV)
You will thrive and not just survive.
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