My oldest son Zach is a senior in high school this year and in talking to him about his senior year my husband told him to continue putting his goals out there, work hard and “enjoy the ride,” there is nothing to “stress out” about. God promises to direct our path “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV Our son does acknowledge God is his ways and as a family we are trusting God to direct his future path.
Then my son said “I was ‘enjoying the ride’ in 8th, 9th, and even 10th grade like I was in a convertible corvette, but now I feel like I’m driving an ambulance and a guy is dying in the back and I just need to get him to the hospital! I’m stressed out, everything feels so urgent, I’m not enjoying this at all.”
My husband asked with curiosity, “So who’s the guy in the back of the ambulance about to die?”
“Me!” Zach responded loudly, with eyebrows raised in surprise as if he was having a hard time understanding how we didn’t know that! Then, laughing at himself he said “I’m the driver and the guy in the back! That’s why this is all so stressful!”
To which I responded “yeah, that is stressful, because God wants you to let Him drive, and trust Him that He will get you to your destination. Life is REALLY stressful and will cause a lot of anxiety if you’re trying to control and direct things as if you’re God. That’s called setting up an idol and a lack of faith, both of which God has told us in sin. You’re not trusting God to do His job and that His result, whatever He chooses is ultimately for your good.
He hadn’t seen it that way before, and we talked more after that about what God’s job is, and what our job is based on scripture.
If you were to make a list of the things that cause you worry, anxiety or stress and then cross off all the things on the list that you are not in control of, it can help bring clarity, peace and freedom as you learn to replace those things you are not in control of with trust that God is “for you and not against you” and that “His ways are higher than your ways.”
I’m so thankful for God’s Word and the truth we find in them to encourage one another, and as we prepare to celebrate Christmas I love to remember that God’s gift to us was literally His Word made flesh in the person of Jesus. God’s Word is the gift, and it’s a gift that will be relevant for all eternity.
If you find yourself stressed about what to give someone on your list for Christmas this year, I encourage you to consider writing a loving letter to them. Just as His Word is a gift to us, so your words of encouragement will also be a gift to someone else. A letter of love & encouragement is a gift that people will cherish and it will also make the recipient “glad!”
Proverbs 12:25 ESV “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad”
Written by Jamie