Memory Verse: “O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress” (Isaiah 33:2)
There is an interesting book on the market that tells people how to deal with life’s worst-case scenarios. The name of this book is The Worst-Case Scenario Handbook. Here are just a few of the chapters contained in this book.
• How to escape from quicksand
• How to fend off a shark
• How to escape from a bear
• How to escape from killer bees
• How to deal with a charging bull
• How to land a plane
• How to survive when adrift at sea
• How to perform a tracheotomy
• How to jump from a moving car
It is possible that you will never face any of the scenarios listed, but we all have a worst-case scenario in our minds. That thing that we think would be worse than anything else in life.
What is your worst-case scenario?
Sometimes, they do come true.
For me, it was the death of my husband. At times, my desire to still have him would play tricks on my mind. Once, I saw a man with brown hair driving a red truck just like Porter’s truck and I followed him for miles. As my heart pounded with hope, nothing else mattered more in that moment than me catching that truck. I was willing to drive to the ends of the earth if necessary. When I finally caught up with him at a red light and our eyes met, my fantasy ended with a devastating halt. It felt as if the man in the truck had played a cruel joke on me. Weakened by the truth, I pulled over into a nearby parking lot, laid across the seat of my car and wept for hours. Night began to fall as the sun set in the sky. I was chilled as the temperature inside the car turned cool. Sitting up, I wiped my face, zipped up my coat, and headed for home—without him.
Awful things may happen to us as a result of living in this fallen world, but our hope lies in God’s everlasting and unchanging love.
Yes, tragedy and sorrow may touch our lives by way of sickness, a fallen economy, devastating wars, or the fury of nature in the form of a tsunami or tornado, But the worst thing that can happen to a person is never to know the love of and forgiveness God.
Some people don’t know that life is a partnership with God. Because sin separates us from God, the anxieties and burdens in life weigh heavy on our souls. Until we learn to confess our sin and place our lives in God’s care we’ll never find peace. Therefore, anyone living apart from God can expect to be plagued by phobias, fears, and anxieties. Until a person is reconciled to God, they are unpredictable and anxious creatures.
But God has made a way. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ died for your past and present sins. Any one who believes Christ died on the cross for payment of sin, was buried and raised from the grave three days later shall be saved. May be this describes you!
Still, If you are full of worry and apprehension, then it may be that you have not fully given every area of your life to God. You can do so right now!
Our Challenge: All you have to do is acknowledge that you have been living a life separated from God, seeking your own will instead of His will. By using the following prayer as a guide, you can refuse your sins and/or commit your life totally to God.
Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I believe you died for me and rose from the grave to purchase a place in heaven for me. Lord Jesus, come into my life and take control; forgive all my sins and save me. I’m placing my trust in you as I turn away from sin. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me, forgiving me, and filling me with peace. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, let me know in the comment section. We want to celebrate with you!!
Loretta says
I can say I prayed the above prayer, but the anxiety that entered me at allowing Jesus to take control is frightening. I am so much a control freak, and I know it so it is extremely hard for me to allow anyone to have complete control. I guess I know what I am praying for this week, and I am hoping it won’t hurt to much to let God have control as He does anyway, right?
Melissa says
He does. You sound a lot like my best friend and I will be praying for you to let Go and let God just as I do for her. Know that she has made drastic improvements over the past few months and is going with God’s flow! Praise Jesus a victory is headed your way! Love you sister!
Micca says
Loretta, giving up control is difficult. I’m with you sister. However, if you recall the video from week one, I talk about how our fallen nature longs to be “god.” We don’t like waiting on him. We want to be in control maiming because we are tying to avoid pain of some kind. I’m so thankful you prayed and are trusting God will your worries. Try as we may we can never get it right, but God can. He knows the plans he has for you and it’s only through a surrender life that God can accomplish much! Celebrating with you!!!
Melissa says
Prayed and will continue to. I have to share with you all: we just started a new series at my Church yesterday, Own It. At the end of service my Pastor asked us to fill out this blank apple, writing down the thing we hold on to and don’t give to God. I then came home and caught up on the chapter 7 and 8 and I just love how God gives us free will but loves us so much that He, sometimes shows us exactly what He needs from us in blinking neon lights. I am holding onto this pain from losing my baby brother, from being hurt by a family that responded as though my Mom and I needed to get over it and from having a body so riddled with illness I can no longer work. But, in a way those things while huge are only a symptom of the thing I really keep from God, the fear I will do this “alone” for the rest of my life. That while God loves me, no Christian man could ever love someone who has lived the life I lived and is now a burden of illness. I threw my apple in the basket, giving it to God and after reading Chapter 7 and 8 I am fueled to live as Jesus’ bride and letting that be all I need to get through the trails I face and get back to feeling it a privileged that I face these trails with the King of Kings at my side and his Spirit inside of me!
Micca says
I’m praying for you Melissa–both for your spiritual and physical needs. You keep moving toward God and He’ll move to you. When we allow our natural to meet His supper, we encounter the super-natual power of God doing in our lives what we can’t.
Holly says
God is definitely working on getting me to fully trust Him. Last weeks video really spoke to me. For my birthday, a friend gave me Jesus Calling a devotional by Sarah Young. Yesterday’s included “As soon as you realize you have wandered away from your trust-path, look to Me and whisper, “I trust You, Jesus.” as well as “You need to voice your trust in Me frequently. This simple act of faith will keep you walking along straight paths with Me. This weekend kept naming & giving to God and saying “I trust You” everything I got anxious. Well today I finally connected with the individual who schedules appointments for my latest referral, only to be told I have to wait until 7 Nov to be seen. I fell apart. After two years, finally found a doctor who has a clue as to what is going on. I can’t take pain or antiinflamatory meds and even ice no longer makes much of a difference with the pain. I am not sure I am going to have enough money for this months bills & then I will be completely out of money. While I still don’t see how I am going to survive two more months (physically or financially), after a breakfast of fake Fruit Loops and a chapter of a novel, I settled down enough to read my Bible,etc. The last sentence of todays devotion was “No matter what you may lose in this life, you can never lose your relationship with Me.” I am so tired of the pain and inability to do things (not much I can do laying down). Daddy is good about getting me out from time to time but it is so painful to use my wheelchair (can only sit up for about 1/2 hour before pain is unbearable) most of the time I don’t even try. Please pray. I know God has a plan & He promises not to give us more than we can handle, but right now I just don’t see how I can go on like this. (not suicidal just fighting not to give up)
Loretta says
Holly, I am praying for you. Thank you for sharing your saying of “I trust You, Jesus.” This is something I am going to keep saying until I believe it. I was taught to trust God with everything when I was a child, but as an adult my control issues take over. Repeating this sentence will definitely help. Praying for physical comfort for you and for guarding your beautiful spirit. Thank you.
Holly says
Having something specific really helped. Yesterday when I fell apart I had to make myself, but kept saying I will still trust You, Jesus. Today got a call and actually get seen tomorrow!
Annette says
Holly, I read Jesus Calling too. I get chills reading it some mornings!!!! I have been blown away at the way God is using this devotion and Micca’s book. They are so parallel some days I look up to God laughing, “Yep, you’ve got my attention!!” — it’s crazy!!
Will pray for your situation – I see that you got in to see the doctor today!! Woohoo!!! Super!!! 🙂
Kaylee Ann Smith says
I know how you feel Micca! I lost my mom when a drunk driver ran a stop sign and hit her car. I was only 4 years old, and it seems a big part of me is missing. I’m trying real hard to get past this but I don’t know how… I feel like a girl who’s just lost in this world, and I’ll never see her again until I go home to be with Jesus. I try to give my heart to God and forgive that man but I don’t know how to do that! My bible teacher says when I’m an adult I’ll understand a lot more but why does Jesus have to wait till then. I don’t know… it just hurts so much!
tonya says
Kaylee Ann
I was touched as I read your comment. I was curious as to how old you are now. I wanted to reach out to you with God’s sweet comfort. I know how painful it is to lose someone you love & need so much. And though we’re glad that we’ll get to see them again in heaven, we’d so much love to be able to spend time with them again here, now. It helps me to know that the spirit of my loved ones is still alive and well with Jesus, and that Jesus will never leave me alone or forsake me. I truly do believe that God works all things out for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Even horrible things can be used for our good somehow by God. He sees the big picture, past, present, future. Sort of like a dot to dot puzzle. Before it’s finished, I only see dots, but God sees the finished product and knows how to work it all out into something good.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that Kaylee Ann will know and be secure in the deep love You have for her. I pray that she will have spiritual mothers who are godly role models and mentors, lighting the way for her to become all that You’ve created her to be. In Jesus name. Amen
Love & Prayers, Tonya