I sweat the small stuff. I worry endlessly about the crossing of Ts and the dotting of Is...almost to the point of illness. Last weekend I made myself sick by worrying about what I felt like was a huge mistake to find out it wasn't THAT big of a deal. Yes, it was a mistake but a very fixable one. As I sat at my desk Monday still upset about this "mistake," God began to open my eyes to those around me who were dealing with major issues. And while my mistake felt like a major issue to me, it was NOTHING compared to what my friends were facing that morning. I have a friend facing several major life events within a matter of two months with many details still unknown. I found out that one of my college friends is facing breast cancer. And that was all before 8 a.m. I am sure there are many more things my friends were "sweating" that were much more that just "small stuff." In those few minutes God reminded me that my worrying only added to my stress and that I needed to change my perspective.
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Phil 4:6-7 The Message
While we were in the hospital with Riley, we would sit around his spot in the NICU and see families that were facing much greater battles. We watched kiddos come into that hospital and never leave those walls. For every battle we faced, there was another child and their family facing a greater battle within 10 feet of us. It really put things into perspective for me. Despite walking through that battle 8 years ago, I still sweat the small things; and, during those times I am thankful that God puts reminders in my path to help me remember to change my perspective and focus on Him rather than worry.
Both of my friends have such a strong testimony of faith, prayer and confidence in Him as they face the giants in their paths. While I reflected on my friends trials on Monday God reminded me of another thing...despite the giant (or even a "tiny" trial) you may be facing, He is faithful and right there with His children. He is in control and will not give us anything that we can not walk through - WITH HIM.
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. (I Cor. 10:13 The Message)
Can we do it on our own? No. But with His strength, He will carry us through...even the small stuff.
