What Does Worry Have to Do with Frustration?

Worry is closely associated with fear or guilt. Worry can be active below our consciousness even when we’re focused on other activities. Being confronted with a lack of faith in God’s guidance and care, we tend to lapse into apprehensiveness about what will surely transpire in the future.

Worry is allied with anxiety and fear because of our lack of control over other people and events. Apprehensiveness can be relieved by taking action to correct what is wrong rather than obsessing over the problems. This means asking God to help you discover solutions.

Worry creates frustration, which implies lack of trust for God’s immediate help. 

God does expect us to take responsibility for what we failed to do in the past. When you do take responsibility, God will do his part by giving you insight and wisdom for making things right. You can trust God to be faithful to his word when you seek his guidance.  

__________ 

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

~Psalm 37:7 New Living Translation

__________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

Can Severe, Difficult Problems Be Avoided?

What would you like to change about your lifestyle so there could be more joy and peace? Perhaps this year has been one of struggle so you need somewhat of a lifestyle change. Trials and tribulations are indicators of needed change, but it’s difficult to balance change with your lifestyle.

The good news is that severe problems or even a crisis can be avoided by facing particular issues rather than denying they exist. Needed change is prompted by lingering, persistent issues that cause stress and a potential crisis. Promise now to take the steps toward corrective change.

To keep your promise, remind yourself how God has blessed you throughout your life by keeping his promises. Listen to 2 Corinthians 7:1. “Therefore since you have these promises, purify yourselves from everything that contaminates your body and spirit. Strive to be completely holy out of awe for the Lord God.”  He will enable you to do this. 

__________ 

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is the faithful God who for a thousand generations keeps his promises and constantly loves those who love him and who obey his commands.

~Deuteronomy 7:9 The Living Bible

__________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

Managing the Storms of Life

Desperate situations and uncertain times trigger anxiety and worry, which test your faith and trust in God to manage and provide solutions. This happened to the disciples of Jesus when a storm began tossing their boat so violently, they feared for their lives. When the storms of life become threatening, fear and anxiety may try to replace your faith in Christ Jesus to send help.

Jesus calmed the storm but scolded his disciples for their lack of faith in his willingness to save them. The storms of life you and I face can arise suddenly and appear overwhelming. It's not unusual to question the reason God permits his people to experience severe pain and suffering.

This experience assured the disciples Jesus would provide for their needs. God’s name Jehovah-Jireh is translated “the Lord will provide,” so trust Jesus to send help. Whether his help comes instantly, over a period of a time, or both, trust the Lord’s faithfulness to provide whatever your situation requires.               

___________ 

The Lord is faithful to his promises; he is merciful in all his acts. He helps those who are in trouble; he lifts those who have fallen…He protects those who love him.

~Psalm 145:13-14,20

___________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

Thriving in Difficult Times

What would you say is your most compelling need at this moment? A television series focused on several families who volunteered to live for one year as the pioneers did in the1850s. This included duplicating the food, clothing, housing, and conveniences within that time period.

Each family, with one exception, discovered life was manageable without electronics, air-conditioning, automobiles, refrigeration, or indoor plumbing. The family who left the series was unable to adjust to the severe limitations of pioneer life. One couple later divorced as a consequence of stress created by pioneer life.

Those who kept their commitment discovered that God provides even in difficult, challenging times. These people committed to adapting physically and discovered God’s faithfulness in providing character strength that kept their relationships stable. A name for God’s faithfulness is Jehovah-Jireh, “the Lord who provides.” Do trust God to provide for you.  

___________                   

And God is able to make your every spiritual blessing overflow for you, so that you will always have in every situation an entire sufficiency and so overflow for every good cause.

~2 Corinthians 8:9 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

___________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

Hope: A Bridge out of Darkness

Evil builds a bridge to sorrow and grief. As a slave in Egypt, Joseph could have submitted to evil's purpose and participated in building a bridge to his own demise. However, his faith made it impossible for him to submit to evil’s purpose. Every duty he was assigned, he did with diligence.

          God's presence insures endurance. Listen to Lamentations 3:21-23.  "I remember my affliction, but because of the Lord's great love, I am not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is God’s faithfulness. I say to myself, 'I will trust in him.' The Lord is good to those who hope in him and who seek him.''

          Joseph possessed hope, which made it possible to see light at the end of a dark tunnel. God's purpose for us is to acknowledge His presence regardless of how dark the moment may be. By knowing God is present and that his mercies endure forever, you can go forward to find purpose and meaning that defines your life.  

_____________________ 

But a hope that is seen is not real hope, for who hopes for what he actually sees? But if we hope for something we do not see, we keep on patiently waiting for it.

~Romans 8:25 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

~Isaiah 40:31 New International Version

Faith: A Bridge to Survival

Jacob had a significant dream when he was running for his life. God promised him he would protect him, bless him, and bring him back to his homeland. Jacob believed God, which gave him confidence to endure the hard times that were to come his way. The power of faith God entrusted to Jacob built a bridge that guaranteed his survival.

Believing in your heart and mind that God is you friend, your redeemer and protector encourages a resilience that withstands defeat.  Laban, Jacob's father-in-law, changed his wages ten times over twenty years.  Each time they agreed on a wage Laban changed the rules, so Jacob was always indebted to him.

Jacob was assured of God’s faithfulness when in his dream God reminded him, "I am the God of Bethel where you built an altar and anointed it with oil in reverence to me and where you made vows to me. Now leave this land and return to your homeland.” God doesn't overlook our flaws, but sin’s penalty is superseded by his grace, his unmerited pardon, and his mercy.

Navigating the Path of Change - Part 3

Change is a given as we roll with the flow of life. A common occurrence is needing to adjust to unexpected events like health problems or political manipulations, in addition social issues that make life stressful. Superficial changes are made easily, but deeper emotional and spiritual changes require significant energy and commitment.

Angry, critical people may not be aware of the destructive effects their attitudes and behaviors have on themselves and others. In the early morning hours of sleeplessness, a friend asked God for help to see solutions to critical problems he faced. Learning to control what provokes an angry, critical verbal attack is required for change to occur.

While solutions may seem impossible, God is capable of surprises. He promises help to those who sincerely seek change through godly insight and understanding and who will accept the solutions he offers. God is faithful and always acts in your best interest.  

Act with Confidence and an Active Conscience - Part 3

History is replete with individuals who were overly confident in their skills and abilities. In 1863 Joseph Hooker, General of the Union Army, remarked: “My plans are perfect, and as I execute them, may God have mercy on General Robert E. Lee, for I will have none.” Months later Hooker resigned after he was defeated by Lee at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

God intended for leaders to have confidence, to be trustworthy, to believe in themselves. Too much pride and too little compassion create false confidence. False confidence led to General Hooker’s defeat. Healthy self-confidence is strengthened by our confidence in God’s faithfulness.

The Apostle Paul registered his confidence in the church at Ephesus. He also spoke of his confidence in the Gospel and his confidence in Christ Jesus. This kind of self-assurance reassured these early Christians that Paul’s conscience was clear, and this gave him the authority to speak the truth as God revealed it to him. 

Spiritual Integrity: Hope for the Family - Part 2

If you were to take stock right now, what would you say is your most important life concern? The majority of people say family takes first place, but  prayer is needed to alleviate the anxiety that comes with facing an uncertain future. Hope for the future tends to diminish where pessimism and negativity are allowed to gain a foothold, for these indicate an attitude of hopelessness.

Integrity anchored in faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ provides hope for the future. Integrity under-girds a belief that God faithfully supplies a good  purpose for our existence at every stage of development. Growth, change, and discovery become a never-ending process for those who maintain hope and are willing to participate in what God has to offer.

St. Paul put it this way, "For this reason we do not give up. Even though on the outside it looks as if things are falling apart, our spiritual self is being renewed day after day." Our integrity gets a boost when we put into action what we believe and know to be true of God's faithfulness, mercy, and compassion.