How to Be OK in the Midst of Not OK Part 1

There are things in life which are simply not OK: death, destruction, loss, betrayal, murder, rape, abandonment, torture, defilement, disease, infirmity, all the “isms”, and the list goes on and on. We each have our own struggles and tragedies. How do we get through? How do we get past survival into prospering and thriving?

Prosperous, thriving kids are truly the heart of God. Jesus says in John 10:10-11:

10 A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance —life in its fullness until you overflow! 11I am the Good Shepherd who lays down my life as a sacrifice for the sheep. The Passion Translation (TPT) (emphasis added)

Brian Simons comments here that implied in the Aramaic text, Christ came to give you more than you expect. In order to do so, He laid down His life as the Good Shepherd, in concert with Papa and Holy Spirit. That is how serious God is about you as His beloved sheep!

John expressed God’s heart in kind, stating:

2 Beloved friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and that you continually enjoy good health, just as your soul is prospering. 3 John 2 (TPT)

According to Brian Simmons, the Greek word eudōomai means “to be brought along to a smooth and prosperous journey” or “to be continually prospered [unto success] in every way.” 

If you are still not convinced, meditate on Ephesians 3:20, which states:

20 Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. TPT (emphasis added)

So, this is where you are heading. In the meantime, God is present to help you get through whatever is going on in your life. What does that look like practically—where the rubber meets the road? What can you do to partner with Him?

Retreat into God as a Refuge

God is always present and the Source of all life, light, healing, and restoration. He is a hiding place. When I say, “retreat into God”, that looks like crying or calling out to Him. That would look something like, “God, I need You! Help me to hide in You, know You are present, know that You never leave me, release my burdens to You, and receive all Your saving, healing, and restoring power! Show me what I need to know. In Jesus’ name.” 

Then wait upon what He reveals to you—what are you hearing, seeing, sensing, feeling, and/or knowing in your “knower”? What thoughts spontaneously come up? It is often helpful for you to journal as you receive in order to help you connect with Him and to keep you from getting distracted. Just write down what you are getting. If you need more help, you can download my “How to Hear God” mini-book or purchase it on Amazon. 

Your admonishment and invitation to retreat into God plays out over and over in Scripture. Psalm 9:9-10 says:

9 All who are oppressed may come to Yahweh as a high shelter in the time of trouble, a perfect hiding place.

10For everyone who knows your wonderful name keeps putting their trust in you. They can count on you for help no matter what. O Lord, you will never, no never, neglect those who come to you. TPT (emphasis added)

Trying to handle things on our own is unnecessary toil, and honestly, it’s simply foolish. Insisting on doing so causes you to act as If there is no God (Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1), or as if He is disinterested to help when He is actually called the Helper (Heb. 13:6)!

Psalm 46:1 echoes the idea of refuge:

1God, you’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in time of trouble—more than enough and always available whenever I need you. TPT (emphasis added)

Psalm 91:1-4 brings about the nuance of abiding in the protection and the delivering power of God:

1 When you abide under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. 2 He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. 3 He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and he will protect you from false accusation and any deadly curse. 4 His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under his covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm. TPT (emphasis added)

Retreat into God as Always Present

Psalm 62:7-8 reveals that:

7 God’s glory is all around me! His wraparound presence is all I need,

for the Lord is my Savior, my hero, and my life-giving strength.

8 Trust only in God every moment!

Tell him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to him.

Believe me when I tell you—he will help you! TPT (emphasis added)

Hebrews 13:5b in The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMP) echoes the ever-present nature of God so brilliantly. Let it wash over you in wave after wave of affirmation:

5 …for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! Assuredly not! (emphasis added)

Breaking it down:

• He will not fail you in any way.
• He will not give you up.
• He will not leave you without support.
• He will not (THREE times) in any degree:
• leave you helpless,
• forsake you,
• let you down,
• or relax His hold on you.

     ASSUREDLY NOT! 

Let His passion for you with His faithful, enduring presence minister to your heart. 

Retreat into God as a Burden Carrier and Savior

God is masterful burden carrier. Jesus came to serve not to be served (Matt. 20:28). He does not call us servants but friends (John 15:5), His bride (John 3:29), and our Elder Brother (Rom. 8:29). Friends, brides, brothers/sisters, and children are not servants, although out of love we will serve as a fruit of love. And out of God’s love, Trinity serves us. Jesus says:

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

           Matthew 11:28-29 (AMP, emphasis added)

To find rest and relief, we need to:

• come to Him,
• yoke ourselves with Him (allow Him to carry the weight of our burdens like the lead ox yoked in with a weaker younger ox),
• and learn that He is gentle, meek, humble, and lowly of heart.

The truth is that we were never designed to be alone or do anything by ourselves and in our own strength (Phil. 2:13; John 15:5).

Learning how to do this is very difficult for many people, especially those who have had to do things on their own in their past. If this is you, learning how to engage with God (Who is Love) in this way can be a huge learning curve. Let me recommend my Marked by Love book—particularly the “Freaky Rest” chapter. I have had so many get such tangible help with this from the book, and I believe it will help you!

Psalm 68:19 links this burden carrying aspect of God with salvation in our daily lives. It says:

19 What a glorious God! He gives us salvation over and over, 

then daily he carries our burdens! 

20Our God is a mighty God who saves us over and over!

For the Lord, Yahweh, rescues us from the ways of death many times.

TPT (emphasis added)

It is one thing to “yoke in” with Jesus. We also need to hand over our cares to Him as well. We will not find the relief and peace we need if we insist on holding onto them. First Peter 5:6-7 admonishes us:

6 Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,

7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. AMP (emphasis added)

Note that relinquishing our cares to God is linked with humility. We simply cannot handle all the junk we are carrying. No wonder people are breaking down! It is prideful to think we can handle things on our own without God. And He is much smarter than we are. He is a masterful God—a redeeming genius! 

Also casting our cares has to do with trust. Is God always there? Does He notice? Does He care? Does He really love me? Has He really forgiven me of all the junk I have done? Is He going to punish me? What about the mistakes I have made that are my fault? 

This is where going to God to heal our trust issues with Him is HUGE! To relinquish our cares to Him and LEAVE them there requires trust that He is really GOOD and capable and REALLY loves us and sees us as His beloved sons/daughters, forgiven and spotless, even while we all struggle with sinful ways of being!

Many of us need to forgive a sinless God—not because He really has sinned (abandoned/approved of evil things/didn’t care/didn’t notice, etc.), but because in many of our hearts, if we are honest, it sure FEELS that way! 

Verse 7 reminds us that we CAN give Him our cares because He really does care with great affection and doesn’t miss a thing! After all, He is Love, and Love never fails (1 John 4:8, 16; 1 Cor. 13:8, 13).

As we continue to the next verse, 1 Peter 5:8 brings out something vital:

8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. TPT (emphasis added)

Casting our cares is how we remain alert against the wiles of the enemy of our souls. It is vital we remain in regular communion with God, relinquishing our burdens. Otherwise, we become weighted or even crushed under them, and we are fodder for the demonic. 

What does casting our cares to God look like?

It might look something like this (use your wording):

Papa/Jesus/Holy Spirit,

I come to You with all my junk. 

My anxiety about…

My fear of…

My disappointment about…

My anger/fury about…

My trauma about…

My grief about…

It is way too much for me.

Thank You that you are here and You care!

Help me to give it all to You.

Then pour out your heart to Him.

If you need to forgive (Him, yourself, anyone, or anything else), ask His help to do so.

If you need forgiveness, ask for it, receive, and forgive yourself with His help. 

Then hand Him all the junk, piece by piece. This is cathartic. You were never intended to carry it. 

Thank Him for taking it.

There may be things that it may take a bit for you to relinquish. He is patient, and He is there to help when you are ready. 

You may need help with this. Let me recommend my Marked by Love book again. I guide you through a lot of this stuff in the Love Encounter Breaks. 

I trust that this has been a blessing, and I’d love to hear about it. Join me for Part 2 of this series!

 

XO,

Catherine