Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
We all have problems in life. There is no escape from them. Do you have problems that are haunting your mind? It may be a lack of finances, a failed relationship, an abusive childhood, or past regret from bad decisions. Maybe a loved one has had a bad report from the doctor. There are times when fear and anxiety can overwhelm us so much that we can actually taste it. Have you ever experienced that? Fear can also manifest as physical problems in our bodies. John 16:33 says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” God knew life would be difficult for us after the fall but He didn’t want us to become discouraged because He sent Jesus to save us and Jesus is our hope!
Now I want you to do a little exercise that will involve your imagination. First, take all of your concerns, fears, and anxieties, put them away in a box and completely put them out of your mind. Close your eyes and get ready to shift your perspective. Imagine that you are on the international space station looking out a window. What do you see? Do you see the vast expanse of space filled with stars that seem to go on forever? The sheer size of space with all the stars, planets, and galaxies is so incredible. Now look down upon the earth. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? There are 7.9 billion people down there on the earth, each with their own unique lives and challenges.
Can you imagine the creative mind and power of God? The same God that created everything loves you intensely. He created you for one reason – to have an intimate personal relationship with you that is even closer than a parent’s love for their child. The love He has for you is unconditional and immeasurable. There isn’t another love that is as deep and personal as God’s love for you. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”
It’s hard to fathom that the God who created the universe and all that is in it has a personal love for you. He doesn’t just want you to know about Him, He wants you to actually know Him. To become that close to Him you have to spend time with Him. Focus your attention on the Psalms and read about the love and greatness of our God. Then meditate on a section or chapter. As you open up to Him, He will open up to you. James 4:8 says to “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” You will have to set your problems aside. God already knows what your problems are. He just wants you to come to Him and bask in the love He has for you. Start thanking Him for His love and faithfulness. Praise Him for His greatness and power. The more you have these times with the Lord, the stronger your relationship will become and the clearer you will hear His voice.
Now, it’s time for another shift in your perspective. If the Creator of the universe has the most intense love for you that exists, and if His Word says to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and to acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your path – doesn’t that mean that you can trust Him with your life and all your problems? Yes, it does! Your heart is deceitful, your emotions fluctuate, your understanding does not see the overall, big picture. God never lies, God never changes, God knows all. Trust Him. In Jeremiah 29:11, it says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
If you start each morning meditating on God’s unfailing love, your life will change forever. You will get up with a sense of expectancy and hope because, when you seek God, you will find Him. As you spend time with Him, you will start to see answers to your problems come your way. You will start to see miracles happen in every area of your life. You will start to feel joy bubbling up inside of you. God is both loving and powerful. So the most important part of your day is the time you spend with Jesus just enjoying His presence. During these times, your focus needs to be on Him, not on your problems. Bring a pen and paper and write down any distractions that come to mind and then redirect your focus back on Him. When we plug into the source of His power and love, the answers will come. Our God is both mighty and loving as well as faithful and true. His love is unconditional. He sees us at our worst and loves us as we are and He is waiting for you. So shift your focus from your problems onto God and see for yourself what a mighty God and a loving Heavenly Father He is!
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