The pace of life is rather dizzying these days. Between school schedules for 3 kids, housework, schoolwork, PhD applications, and preparations to attend the annual conferences of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society for Biblical Literature in a couple weeks, I hardly know whether I'm coming or going. Your plate may be full of other things, but I'm guessing you know the feeling.
It hit me this morning that finding peace in the midst of a crazy schedule is a lot like childbirth. During labor the goal is to breathe deeply, relax completely, and stay focused ... precisely when the pain and pressure are so great that you know you can't keep going for another minute and you think you might die. It's a very real challenge to keep our eyes on Jesus when life is hectic, but it's the most important battle we fight. Allowing stress to build and panic to set in only adds to the burden.
We serve a God who is fully in control, even when we feel out of control. He is never overwhelmed, never stressed, and never worried.
"Happy is the one who fears Yahweh,
who finds great delight in His commands...
Surely he (or she!) will never be shaken ...
He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in Yahweh...
His heart is secure, he will have no fear." - Psalm 112
Take a deep breath. Relax. God is on the throne.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
peace in the storm
Dr. Carmen Imes is the Associate Professor of Old Testament at Biola University in La Mirada, CA, and serves the broader church through teaching, speaking, writing, and creating YouTube videos. She earned a PhD in Biblical Theology (Old Testament) from Wheaton College under Dr. Daniel Block, an MA in Biblical Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Charlotte), and a BA in Bible and Theology from Multnomah University. She and her husband, Daniel, served as missionaries with SIM 15 years. They have three children: Ana, Emma, and Easton.
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I wish I could come to ETS and hear how all of this is going for you--thanks for keeping us updated here. :)
ReplyDeleteChip and Bekah
You are right when you say "allowing stress to build and panic to set in only adds to the burden." I say, "Stress begats stress!" I know, that for me, when I was hurrying and stressing it seemed like my young family was more "out of whack" than usual. It took some time to realize they were just reflecting me!! I hope you and your household will find pockets of peace and take the time to enjoy one another!! You do have a full plate but it is a beautiful, precious time in your family's life together....to me, that is utmostly important! Hugs to you all!!
ReplyDeleteCarmen- thank you for sharing these lovely words of Truth. It was straight from the Lord to my heart this evening- We are almost 6 weeks pregnant with our first child after 9.5 years of praying and waiting- I am overjoyed! But I am nearly consumed with fears of miscarriage. Thank you for pointing me to the steadfast-ness of our Savior and the necessity of keeping Him center at ALL times! Grace & Peace to you!
ReplyDeleteWe had a CRAZY situation happen in our prayer group that caused a lot of panic. And it was the very message of this post that brought us back to the peace of Christ which guards and protects our hearts and minds! Remembering that Jesus isn't freaking out or frantic is so helpful! Love you friend. Praying for your peace in the midst of the busyness.
ReplyDeleteEmma,
ReplyDeleteI have been through miscarriage (though not in your circumstance), and it is one of the hardest things I've expereienced, but I can still say that God is good. He does not give us more than we can handle. His resources are always available to us.
Pregnancy and childbirth are such vulnerable times, reminding us that we are not in control. I'm delighted that God has blessed you with a little one, and I pray that your pregnancy would be marked by a deep God-given peace (the kind that only he can give). Thanks for writing!
Carmen