Scripture: Matthew 11 v 28 - 30: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Life is full of various types of pressure, which causes stress, panic, or frazzled nerves. The whole planet is subject to high and low pressure bringing extreme weather at times, which puts people in danger and under pressure to just survive.
Climate change is a high stress issue because no matter how much money is thrown into the pot to rectify the damage we have all been guilty of creating, it's unlikely to help in the short or long term. The polar ice is melting influencing currents, tides, and storms. It's impossible to turn that water back into ice.
To my understanding we are in the last days or years before Jesus returns, not as a baby in a manger, but as the King of Glory. His approach is causing the Earth to change in anticipation of His ability to restore this planet to the Maker's original settings. He made it, He will fix it.
There is financial pressure too that is created by debt, loss of jobs due to Covid-19, total upheaval because of the awful invasion of Ukraine. The Antichrist is applying intolerable levels of stress in that nation, but they are fighting back and winning most battles.
We are in the crosshairs of history. The joy of our Saviour's soon coming, and the horror of the Great Tribulation that the unsaved, and Israel, will experience. We at least know that we will be removed from the conflict to come, but everyone we fail to persuade, is going to suffer from many disasters, earthquakes, tsunamis and shortage of the essentials for good living.
Then there is stress and hypertension on health issues, family problems, schooling, careers it mounts up high at times and has us staggering under the load. The pandemic has changed our world, turned it upside down, brought insecurity, fear, loss, and conspiracy theories to keep the stress unending.
For those who know Jesus personally, we know He is always with us. Loving us, watching over us constantly, blessing us abundantly. I honestly do not know how anyone copes without His presence and assurance that all is well. Yes, we still have problems to deal with and work through, but knowing Jesus is in control of the outcome is truly gratifying.
If we are still out in the world we have to cope alone somehow and try to survive. However, in the Kingdom of God, He always has a plan. Jesus, our Saviour, is the Prince of Peace and He lives in our hearts. He gives us peace that passes our understanding. We cannot comprehend the peace that flows over our souls when we find ourselves in trouble.
Our problems bring stress when we insist on sorting them out our own way. In Hosea God says My people perish for lack of knowledge! We are ignorant of what His Word says and we overburden ourselves with pressure and stress worrying about things we cannot control.
Our true manner of living in the Kingdom should be to roll our burdens onto Jesus as in 1 Peter 5 v 6 - 9: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."
It takes humility to cast our cares upon Him, as well as being sober and vigilant, in order to resist the devil who wants to destroy us. He has schemes every minute of the day to entangle us in scams, problems, defeat, poverty and whatever else would trip us up. James 4 v 6 - 7: "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Humble yourself! Admit you are not coping under the stress, and roll your burdens on to Jesus! He is the great I AM! He says I am able, I can help you, I can heal you, I can set you free. Come unto Me, I will give you peace, I will defeat your enemies, I will cause you to triumph over them, just have faith in Me.
The only One who knows what's coming our way is Jesus. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He knows how to keep the righteous out of trouble as long as we are listening to Him. When we are panicking under pressure we make rash moves that generally create more stress.
We need to take a big step back and lay all our troubles on Jesus who knows how to deal with them. He goes beyond all we ask or think.
It takes faith and the power of the Holy Spirit to live every day the Kingdom way. Eventually faith becomes a knowing that God truly loves you and His will for you is the abundant life. It does not mean great wealth, it means that in everything you are completely satisfied.
So build up your faith and resist the pressure the devil presents you with. Take your needs to Jesus because He cares for you. Let Him take control and feel the peace of submission to His will. When the seeds of Faith are planted don't dig them up to see if they have germinated. Water with prayer and praise and they will grow and produce peaceful fruit.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, There is an abundance of peace in Your Kingdom and it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is Your will that we overcome pressure and stress Your way to live in peace and harmony here on Earth until Jesus comes for us. Help us to achieve this great blessing as soon as possible. In Jesus' name. Amen.