Are you overwhelmed?
The problem is, when you add too busy with life happens, you get: feeling like you are going to lose it. This summation makes you unable to get off the couch, want to eat two gallons of ice cream or personally invest in Kleenex.
Sometimes, as Christians, when the hard hits we feel confused. How could a loving God do this or let this happen?
A couple of years ago after dealing with some very hard issues, I found myself sitting in front of a godly counselor every other week. I want to share with you one of the greatest things she ever taught me:
Choose life.
She quoted Deuteronomy 30:19-20a, and the verse still rings in my ears daily:
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.
She encouraged me that when life felt too hard, to literally say out loud (or think it if that makes you feel less crazy),
“I choose life.”
Regardless of the situation, choose life. Not fake joy or a perceived peace, but life. Sometimes we do too much self-help when the Lord is simply asking us to
choose life.
How do we do this? I’m glad you asked. That very same verse gives us three commands:
- Love the Lord your God
- Listen to His voice
- Hold fast to Him
It’s easier said than done, I know. But if we really focused on this, our life would surely have a richer purpose. At our core I think most of us long for more out of this life. It’s why we turn to wanting more clothes, or more attention or become obsessed with celebrities – who seem to have it all.
But in reality, it is so much simpler than that. Answer these questions and you will surely find a path to choosing a more full life:
How can you love the Lord your God more? Do you remember a time you really loved Him well? When you see other people who love God, what is different about them?
How can you listen to His voice? What other noises need to be turned down or off to hear? When can you take the time to listen more? What does listening look like?
How can you hold fast to Him? Is there anything that is pulling you away and should you rid yourself of that? Is there anyway you can build up your strength to hold on?
Please share some of your answers and thoughts in the comments so we can all learn from each other how to choose life more!
This is so good and so true!! We have to make a concerted effort to choose the path of abundant life. It is much easier to sink into our problems but in the end choosing to walk it out is much better!!! I love this post!