Modern Day Samaritan Woman

Surviving the Endless Pressure while supporting your loved ones overcome the trials that come

Sometimes life seems to be an endless pressure…pressing, pushing and never letting up. Sometimes I feel like shouting to no one in particular

“ENOUGH ALREADY”.

And I know I’m not the only one…so many others feel the same…

As a human being I have experienced this pressure build up from time to time and have felt as if I would explode if it didn’t let up…

We all know what these pressures are, cars that break down, meaning arranging alternative transport to get to work and back and the added pressure to find the finances (never budgeted for) to have these broken cars repaired. Invariably, the bank will be over drawn during these times, and the alternative transport requires that you have to either get up earlier in the morning or stay later at night, bring with them, their own pressures as your normal routine is disrupted.

If you have children and animals you have to make alternative arrangements for their care because, well… too bad… your normal routine is disrupted.

Not to mention, that just listening to the daily news is enough to add to the pressure. As a South African I am sadly quite used to living on the edge of crises and conflict and as a mother I truly want to be able to spare my grown children the reality of these pressures in their lives; however I simply can’t. I can only support them while they pass through the trial to the other side.

Sometimes I imagine …

“If I was richer…I could….”

“If I was older…I could…”

If I was younger… I could…”

If I was smarter… I could…”

If I was _______ (add your own)… I could “

We look at others and imagine that their lives are easier, but in reality we all face trials and tribulations…

Scripture warns that troubles will come…why do we always imagine it means someone else will face the troubles???

2 Timothy 3:1 & 4 [“Difficult Times Will Come” ] But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]” “and (many) will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable]. (AMP)

So what is a mother to do??? Scripture again gives us clear guidelines…

2 Timothy 3:5 ^“But as for you, be clear-headed in every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] your ministry.” (AMP)

How??? By hanging onto our faith and entrusting all our concerns to God… He knows what we are facing, fearing and experiencing …and He promises that if we hand it all over into His care…

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].” (AMP)

The trials we face are not punishment and can’t be avoided by doing well or by living lives as hermits, but good will be the result of our overcoming…Paul said….

James 1:2-4 “[Faith Under Pressure] Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”(The Message)

My friend, as you and I stand firm in our faith, even if we are standing with tears in our eyes and gritting our teeth…we can agree with the Psalmist that….

Psalm 119:73-80 “With your very own hands you formed me; now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you. When they see me waiting, expecting your Word, those who fear you will take heart and be glad. I can see now, God, that your decisions are right; your testing has taught me what’s true and right. Oh, love me—and right now!—hold me tight! just the way you promised. Now comfort me so I can live, really live; your revelation is the tune I dance to. Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds; they tried to sell me a bill of goods, but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel. Let those who fear you turn to me for evidence of your wise guidance. And let me live whole and holy, soul and body, so I can always walk with my head held high.” (The Message)

*Hugs* till next time.

Ariéte

Linking up at :

Modern Day Samaritan Woman

Mending Burnt Bridges, Knotting Tongues and avoiding emotional Mudslides.

Life is a journey…and like all journeys the landscape changes and so too does the road surface. Sometimes the road is clear and straight and smooth. The landscape is breath-taking and beautiful.

We go to work, manage our homes, and love our children and families well enough…It’s all …Easy… Blessed… Happy and Smooth Sailing. You can see where you are going and for the longest time and it a nice safe place to be. It seems like you finally have it all together…Things can only get better from here on in

……Until……

suddenly and usually without warning you go round a bend and the landscape and road surface are not the same anymore. It’s barren and painfully ugly…You can’t understand how you got there, how did it change so unexpectedly.

Sometimes the road is only scattered with thousands of tiny pebbles… not too bad…merely minor irritations, but if you travel along that road surface long enough and those mild irritations turn to HUGE BOULDERS of annoyance, unfairness, intolerance and downright ANGER. This is the time when………….

A word out of your mouth makes all the difference between crossing bridges and burning them…..

God’s Word clearly warns us to guard our tongues.  Yet it’s also one of the hardest things we find to do. I, certainly have a very hard time controlling my tongue and being quiet during these times. 

As the pressure mounts and the irritations pile up, so too does the desire to lash out and find relief. The thoughts roll around in my head, the unfairness, the dishonesty, whatever pebbles are scattered in my path at that time don’t let up and I find myself brooding about those things at work, at home, when I’m trying to sleep, as soon as I wake up... Always there, demanding to be let out…  

I know that I have to be particularly careful with loved ones during these times of stress, yet I invariably fail and my tongue gets to have its way.

Admittedly, it brings a very brief satisfaction, but only very briefly and then I feel awful. A huge emotional mud slide of self-reproach and regret invariably floods over me and I wish I hadn't said a word, almost immediately afterwards. My stomach tenses and then I know I will function with the hollow feeling of shame and remorse for a few days before I start to feel better.

Thankfully, I serve the God of new beginnings who doesn't leave me in that place but has provided for me a way out of that horrible place. I’m comforted to read in scripture that I am not the only person plagued by relentless thoughts and an uncontrollable tongue.

However, I am more comforted by Grace…God’s Grace and Mercy that follows me and picks me up again…Precious Holy Spirit folds me in endless layers of Grace and Peace, while directing me to God’s Word and after spending time relating to the people and their sins that are so familiar to me, and then finding God’s solutions to these sins…chewing on them...and feeling better as I do. Restoring my soul....

I found that instead of brooding on all the perceived injustices and irritations I should rather……….focus on....

Philippians ^4:8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]."(AMP)

When I do those things…I can avoid the unpleasantness and rather mend my bridges instead of burn them….I can build up instead of break down…..

How about you? How do you manage your tongue? Do you succeed or are you more like me…

*Hugs* till next time.

Ariéte