Y’all, life has never felt more stressful. I am living my fifth decade, so I can say without a doubt, that politics and the state of the world have never been discussed more at the dinner table and in the canned food aisle. Seriously, complete strangers and I gasp together at prices that seem to rise daily, with the sun.
If you’re like me, you catch yourself griping about the costs. Add the doom and gloom on every news report guaranteeing the worst is about to happen.
And then I groan at myself!
Why?
Because God’s word tells me not to worry or complain.
Stay with me, because I am going to flip this entire story.
You are not created to function well under constant negative thoughts and news. It produces toxic reactions in your body, making all other facets of your life miserable.
You are a well-designed vessel for this one life, but to get the best out of this life, you must operate by using His user manual. It is the instruction book for living and thinking right.
Yes, this is a talk about Scripture, our source for knowing how to think about ourselves, the people around us, and the world.
Is this the shift you were expecting? I hope so. You see, God rights E V E R Y T H I N G. His master plan always corrects our course–if we look to His word for instructions we see ourselves aligning with Him.
Think of David who was summoned to fight Goliath. He did not shrink at the news of this massive war-hungry man. No! David stood in his full stature, knowing who God is and what his own skill set brought to the battle.
Psalm 146:5, in the AMPC version, says, “Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is he who has the God of [special revelation to] Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”
Now, if you have ever studied a foreign language, you know there are difficulties in finding the exact word to fully grasp a foreign word. I remember literature professors lamenting about this for poetry translated into English. This is why several words are used in the AMPC version for one word. They are laying out several options that fit the original language used in Scripture because we do not have one word that encompasses the vast meaning of the original word. The introduction to the AMPC explains this in fuller detail.
Let’s get back to the scripture.
God’s word is declaring, (picture a bugle call): you are “happy, blessed, fortunate, and enviable”. Life does not get much better than that! Repeat out loud, “I am happy, blessed, fortunate, and enviable”. I would repeat that at least five times. Can’t you feel your brain relaxing and rejoicing at this news?!
And why do you embody these gifts from God? The verse says it is because you have God, who has special revelation, help, and hope, for Y O U ! I want God in my corner, ready to help and show me hope that my circumstances don’t reveal yet.
We’ll save the revelation part for another time, but don’t miss out on context.
The help, hope, and revelation He gives to you is what? Special. God’s personal relationship with you is special. Do you know the opposite of special is ordinary? Your relationship with God is anything BUT ordinary!
Do you need revelation for today? Do you need help today? What are you hoping for or lost hope in?
Stand on the truth that you are happy, blessed, and enviable. Lift your eyes to the Lord, seeking His revelation, help, and hope. Know, as young David did, He is in this moment with you. And, you are equipped with your experience and training to face this day.
More of the Same, but …
The news will continue in its attempt to bury your hope and happiness. You have a ready weapon for this battle and this is why you are enviable.
The devil came to destroy, but – News Alert! (Do you hear the ticker tape too?)
Jesus won the war! In Him, you are winning too.
Thank you, Lord!
Your Turn
How do you see yourself as equipped and experienced? Please share in the comments.
COPYRIGHT © Michele Marie Weisman 2024 All Rights Reserved
Photo by Hassan Pasha on Unsplash
“Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMPC),
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission. lockman.org”
Thank you for the timely reminder.
You are welcome. And thank you for stopping by. I value your visit.
Another timely, relevant, and encouraging post, Michele! Thank you for reminding us of who we are in Christ and to not be consumed by the negativity of the world. There is, in fact, much to be grateful for, even in the midst of trials.
Ah, yes! The news does try to consume us, great visual. But if we stay in this together, encouraging one another, we have hope because of the One to rise above it all.
“we do not have one word that encompasses the vast meaning of the original word”
And that includes this: “We do not have one word that encompasses the vast meaning of the original Word.”
So good and so true, Sally. Thank you for sharing that!