God and Me in Twenty-Three (2023): What I want for Christmas!
What I want for Christmas is a less confusing life! Is it just me or is life in general more stressful with each passing day? It’s not just major things that I’m talking about here; it’s also the little things and everything in between! For example, Shirley just asked me to help her figure out something that was happening on her iPhone. When she opened the weather app music and other sounds would play. We believe we found the culprit when we discovered an advertisement for a Star Wars game playing in the background; however, there doesn’t seem to be a way to turn it off. If one of our grandkids was here they would probably say something like, “That’s easy, you just do this, this and this” and walla… it’s fixed. Now, this is an example of one of the small things; however, several small things together can easily become a big thing.
There are plenty of major situations that we are faced with every day: the economy spiraling out of control, human/child trafficking, crime/violence on the rise, what our kids/grandkids are being taught in school, gender identity issues, election integrity and God forbid, will there be a nuclear war?
Now let’s add in some of the in-between issues such as: which health insurance plan should we choose, do we have enough money to pay the bills this month, web sites that are not USER FRIENDLY, and is the message I just received legitimate or is somebody just phishing for my information? The list could go on and on!
If we added up all the small, medium and large concerns that we deal with every day, it becomes what seems to be a hopeless situation! Is it any wonder why illegal drug use, alcohol abuse and suicides are raging out of control? It becomes more than a person can handle on their own! That’s the key phrase, more than a person can handle on their own. As I always do in this blog, let’s go to the Bible and see if there is help for us in coping with life’s dilemmas.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 55:22 (NIV)
22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
It’s plainly obvious from Scripture that God realized this life would be full of problems
and stress. He tells us that He will sustain us if we put our trust in Him! That’s my prayer
for all of us, especially during this Christmas season!
John 16:33 (NIV)
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will havetrouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.“
Remember… God and Me WE in 23!