PSALM 55:22      Cast your cares on the Lord
and He will sustain you; He will never let
 the righteous be shaken. 

Dear Reader:

PLEASE STOP BEING AFRAID OF WHAT COULD GO WRONG AND START BEING POSITIVE ABOUT WHAT COULD GO RIGHT.  God has filled the Bible with encouraging words and commands telling us to NOT BE AFRAID.  An obstacle that occurs in our lives often causes fear.  That fear will turn into anxiety and worry.  Worry when lends itself to hopelessness, depression, and right back to fear, where it all started.  Well, almost….

I suppose the obstacle is the beginning point.  The trial, struggle, hardship, or mountain God asks you to overcome can often be a shock to your system.  You may look up to the Heavens and say, “Really, really God??” This is when your faith and trust in Him needs to kick into gear.

He offers a peace that transcends all understanding but we are told to go to Him in prayer with a thankful heart in order to receive it.  Bending a knee and falling into prayer when an obstacle is looming over our heads requires a sincere faith. The obstacle may not move, at least not for a while, but the peace can be immediate. 

Like an elephant in a room, the obstacle can sit. It might decide to sit for a very long time.  You can watch and obsess over the problem allowing stress to rob you of sleep.  You can worry about how everything is going wrong and falling apart.  Or, you can stand on the promises of God and step out with a positive attitude.  The Word tells us that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.  So, let the elephant/obstacle sit in your living room.  That’s fine, but get on with your life.

Like an ignored young child who is acting out for attention and realizes he no longer has an audience, it will go away.  Or God will help you to deal with it and then it will go away.  There is no benefit in worry and fret.  It only leads to evil.  What do I mean by evil?  Fret and worry often grow into disbelief and doubt in the powers and strength of God.

To CHOOSE a positive outlook when faced with hardships will allow you to be a mighty witness to believers and unbelievers.  They will be encouraged and amazed at the calm way you are walking through the fire.  God may have designed this trial you face, so that you have an opportunity to share God’s love with someone.  I know I can say without question that I am glad for my trials.  Maybe not while I was in the middle of them, but they have allowed me many opportunities to encourage and help others with similar issues and struggles.  That is a blessing for certain. 

Therefore, count it pure joy when you encounter trials of many kinds for the testing of your faith will develop perseverance.  This perseverance will allow you to carry yourself with your chin up.  His strength will allow you to hold on to your hope and a positive attitude while facing your obstacle. 

Will it always work out in the way you hope and want?  Of course not. You are not the illustrator of the painting.  God has all the hues and brush strokes worked out.  The painting He is creating, thanks to the struggle He has given you, is a masterpiece.  So, once again…..PLEASE STOP BEING AFRAID OF WHAT COULD GO WRONG AND START BEING POSITIVE ABOUT WHAT COULD GO RIGHT. 

ROMANS 8:28 (NLT)        We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.

“>