Today, I feel somewhat stressed and overwhelmed. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling very small as I began to think about decisions to be made, the unknown, and the future. I then read Hebrews 13:5b-6:
"…Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
In front of me is a memo pad. I wrote the following a few minutes ago:
Today, the Lord is my helper — I am free to give my stress, anxiety, and concerns over to God.
Today, the Lord is my helper — I am free to not be stressed over the future.
Today, the Lord is my helper — I am free to relax and work hard.
Today, the Lord is my helper — I am free to be myself and not be overly concerned with pleasing others.
Today, the Lord is my helper — I am free to focus on pleasing Him instead of trying to make others happy.
Today, the Lord is my helper — I am free to be fully present with other people.
Today, the Lord is my helper — I am free to live as a balanced person. I don’t have to apologize for taking time to laugh, play, sleep, or live as a balanced human being.
Today, the Lord is my helper — I am free to say "No" or "Yes" or "I don’t know."
Today, the Lord is my helper — I am free to enjoy the love of God, my wife, my two girls, and many other people.
I suspect you relate to this. I suspect that as you read this post, you can think of your own anxiety and worry. I am so very thankful that he literally is "my helper." Now isn’t THAT a wonderful gift.
Yes, that is a wonderful gift! Thanks for the reminder that the Lord is my helper. I have a lot of projects going on at work right now–and of course all are coming due at the same time!–and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I need the reminder that the Lord will not give me more to do than I can handle with His help, and that what’s most important will get done today. The rest can wait.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Thanks, Jim. These words came at a time when I could really use them, as your posts so frequently do. Yes, that is a wonderful gift. I appreciate the reminder. Peace to you in your decisions.
Thank you for the reminder that we are not alone, that God is our helper Jim. I needed it today!
Once upon a time I was facing a life altering choice. I was really agonizing over what the right thing to do was and constantly praying for God to show me the right way. A or B? Here or there? But I could not see THE WAY he wanted me to go. I shared this with a much older and wiser friend and she said that maybe that was God’s way of telling me he would bless me in whatever decision I made. It was trult my choice. He would be honored eother way I went. That was sort of freeing for me. I have no idea if this related to anything you said here today…I’m just saying…
I appreciate so much what you said here today.
I recently went through a time when i felt a lot of the things you described – stressed and overwhelemed. Looking back at the situation i see how God was working in my life and how in a difficult situation i grew much closer to God. It is true that in all things God is with us and working in our lives.
Thanks so much Steve.
Richard, I’m glad that out of those experiences, your faith in Jesus has been strengthened even more.
Very good comment, SG. Very wise counsel by your friend. Thanks.
Thanks Motu. Glad that in some way you were encouraged by this.
Thanks Lisa. Glad you stopped by.
Today, the Lord is my helper — I am free to sleep peacefully, trusting that He will keep the world running just fine!
Glad I came across your blog! When I read this, Psalm 121 came to mind. I look forward to reading your posts and will add you to my blog roll!
Thanks so much. It is very re-assuring to know that we have a good shephard who says that he will never forsake us. He is always with us to direct our ways even when we are under stress-which will eventually turn to goodies. Very encouraging!
all i have to say is this….. i wil lift up my eyes to the hills from whence my help
my help comes from the lord, the lord which made heaven and earth.. he said he will not suffer my
foot, my foot to be moived. the lord keepeth me he shall preserve my soul…..
for the lord is my shephered and shield,upon my right hand, upon my right hand
Thank you! I had myself convinced I was headed down the path of a day of stress and anxiety. I googled "the Lord is my helper" and read your post. I also wrote down most of it in a journal. I took a deep breath and felt relief. I pray that I can really believe that the Lord is my helper. I do not need to worry.
Nancy– I am glad that in some way this post helped to detour what you had anticipated for the day. I am glad that God could use this to give you some measure of relief.
Hope that you will come back.
"The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid" this one came to me in October 1998, as I had turned away from him many years before. I was at the bottom, and prayed to find my Bible in many boxes of books after moving to the East Coast. It was the first box! He knew I needed him, and he knew he did not want me to be alone and afraid. This one is one I constantly say thru the day, when stressful situations arise! Thank you for sharing this!