“Life seems overwhelming,” a gracEmail subscriber says. “I don’t know how I can handle another day.”
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I am very sorry for your troubles and I pray for God’s constant presence with you, for his protection around you and for his power within you. You rightly note that we live just one day at a time. For encouragement in living each new day as it comes, let us look to Jesus our Savior — “a man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs” (Isaiah 53:3). He sympathizes with our weaknesses and he invites us to come to him for grace to help in our times of need (Heb. 4:14-16). Jesus’ own example provides us valuable insight into handling anxiety.
1. REMEMBER GOD’S WORD (Matt. 3:16 — 4:11). No sooner had God confirmed Jesus’ identity and mission at his baptism than Satan called it into question in the wilderness temptations. Each time, Jesus responded by saying, “It is written,” then quoting from Deuteronomy — the ancient record of God’s “son” Israel, who also went through the water into the desert to be tested regarding trust in God. Fill your heart continually with God’s Word — the Holy Spirit will use it to encourage and strengthen you in times of trial.
2. DO GOD’S WORK (Matt. 8-9). As Jesus entered on his ministry of teaching, healing, and exorcism, the needs were overwhelming. He faced the situation without despair by doing what God had sent him to do — day by day, one person at a time. When the task seems too enormous to bear, remember that we breathe one breath at a time. Simply do whatever you know God has given you to do for that moment and that day. God will give strength, wisdom and guidance for each new occasion.
