Pressure, it’s everywhere. It sneaks into every part of our lives. We have pressure in marriage, pressure to keep up and have more, and pressure to give our kids the latest gadgets. We even experience pressure for our time. No doubt about it, life today is stressful! And with stress comes fear. We fear losing it. We fear we won’t be enough for our families. We fear failure. So, we work longer and do more, all in the name of fear. Even though adding more is not the way to handle pressure, we do it anyway. Before we know it our lives can resemble a three ring circus as we try to juggle it all on top of a high wire. One of our greatest fears is having someone discover the truth: We can’t really juggle it all.
Think about your own life for a moment. What stressful circumstances are you facing that seem hopeless? Do you often feel like everything depends on you? Perhaps, you fear that you won’t measure up or you fear what others think of you. Maybe you fear missing out on opportunities so you stretch yourself thin dipping your controlling fingers into every pot. Could it be that discontentment with life is adding undue stress and pressure?
Living under such stress is like living in constant terror of an intruder lurking in the darkness just waiting to attack. The intruder can bear many names: fear, pressure, stress, worry, control, old age, sickness, anxiety, or anything that haunts us. Yes, you and I are being chased and hunted by these intruders. That’s the bad news. The good news is God has provided protection and provision when life presses in on us. Allow me to introduce you to God’s bodyguards, Goodness and Mercy in the 23rd Psalm.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
David wrote this psalm as praise to God for His faithfulness throughout David’s life. It reflects David’s confidence in “fearing no evil” because God is his shepherd who promises Him “goodness and mercy” amidst the strains of life.
When you’re barely holding on, when you can’t handle one more day of stress, when you can’t parent those kids another minute, when you’re about to blow—relying on God’s Goodness and Mercy to show up will pacify your anxieties. They may not come when you want or the way you want, but God’s provisions are always certain. That’s a promise I’ve experienced in my own life and you can too, because whom God loves, He loves and defends to the end.
However, we often mislabel Goodness and Mercy. We call them luck or coincidence. In God’s economy, luck and coincidence don’t exist. “Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle” (James 1:17 Message). Goodness and Mercy have many characteristics and come in many forms. You and I must believe that every benefit that comes our way is God’s Goodness and Mercy following after us. As we anticipate their involvement and count on their help, God infuses us with fresh faith, fresh strength, and fresh peace.
If you’re looking for a life marked with peace and joy instead of stress and pressure, then my new book, An Untroubled Heart is for you! Wait! There’s an added bonus. In the back of my book, you’ll find study questions. You can go through the study alone or join a group of women with real fears and pressures just like you in a weekly bible study starting this month hosted by Lelia Chealey.
© 2009 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved
Thanks Micca, I sure agree with you – coincidences or luck does not exist with God. I’m looking forward to reading An Untroubled Heart!
I read your P31 devotion this morning and cried. My husband died tragically 9 months ago, leaving me (a stay at home Mom) and my 8 yr. old daughter with not much. I was afraid at first, and had no idea what I would do, but I knew the Lord would take care of us. And of course, He did. In so many ways, he had planned out a new path for us. One I wasn’t sure I could walk down on my own, but then again, he didn’t plan on me being alone. He is right here with me. Thank you for your thoughts, and your ministry!
Micca:
Thanks for your devo today. God’s provision is always timely, always exactly what we need. I lost my son and my mother within a 6 month period, and I look back over the last 10 years in awe at how God’s hand gently guided me through every single dark valley.
I just started to tackle this very important subject on my blog. Your devo was timely for me.
Blessings,
Sandy
Your devotional today was such a blessing. I was so captured by the visual in God’s Word, “You make me lie down in green pastures”. Although I have read that so many times, today I just needed that reminder of His peace and rest and the beauty of the green pasture.
Praying He will be my strength and rest today. My Dad is having surgery to remove a cancerous tumor this morning, and I am anxious and fearful. Praying He will infuse me with fresh strength, fresh faith and fresh peace.
Blessings,
Joy
PS. Your new book sounds wonderful. Fear is a constant struggle for me. I am praying for an untroubled heart.
I, too, read your P31 devotion today. I was pregnant with our fifth child when we found out Michael was terminally ill. We didn’t have the luxury of life insurance; I was happy to have a full-time job that worked with my schedule. But, Jesus was there the WHOLE time. We lost everything and started over; He is faithful. There is no one we can liken unto Him. To God be the Glory…My prayer is National Revival…check out my blog at tracyvinson.blogspot.com….Thanks for all you do in advancing the Kingdom of God!
Oh, girls. My heart goes out to each of you over your losses. Been there and I know your pain. I also know that our God is able–not just able–but willing to comfort you, heal you, and free you from the fears that accopanies loss.
Please know that I’ve prayed for each of you today.
I also love the fact that Joy was reminded that our Father leads us to greener pastures. It’s there we find rest from our worries.
What are your green pastures? Do you find peace and rest when you take a walk, curel up with a book, pray, what???
Whatever it is, you and I should do it more. Rest is God’s idea and with it comes peace to replace our stress.
I’ve always said “there’s no such thing as luck.”
Reading your P31 devotion reminded me to be thankful for all the polishing He has done in my life.
Got your book and can’t wait to start reading.I will be joining in Lelia’s on-line bible study.
Perfect timing,raising a teen daughter and flying to Fla. in June.(Big fears,Big)
In His Grace,
Tammy
Thank you Micca. I can’t wait to read your book.
Micca,
I just wanted to say Congrats on the book! I saw it on the shelves of my local Family Christian bookstore today. It looks great!!!
Hi Micca. I’m wondering if God is talking to me. I have done several of Lelia’s online studies; I can’t seem to say no to the participation even though I’m doing two other studies continually. I received your book yesterday. I just read today your P31 devotional and thought it was powerful. I know you will be just two hours from me on March 20-21. I need to pray and re-examine the possibility of me attending. I don’t do well in hotels and sharing a room…the whole games in pj’s kind of scared me.
I love how the Lord provided for you just two weeks prior to your husband’s death. I believe you are remarried now and that is glorious. I don’t know your whole testimony but would like to…how long ago your husband passed, how you met your second, etc etc.
I’ll see what your blog has.
Sweet blessings,
Paula