Hey there!
I was reading my Bible today after waking up on the wrong side of the bed. As I prayed to God, I asked, “Why is life so hard sometimes?” I flipped to Psalm 5, a very familiar chapter for me. It starts out with:
“Listen to my words, LORD, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.”
As David writes this, he is clearly going through some hard times. But after he expresses his grief to God, he goes on to rejoice:
“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”
The last verse of Psalm 5 shows David’s comfort in the LORD – he knew all along that God would deliver him, even through the hard times.
“Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
Even though we all go through tough times, God will deliver us. When we get into a bad mood and decide to focus on the bad aspects of life, we are being tempted by the devil to see the evil and hard times… forcing us to be downcast and lonely. But the LORD is stronger than the devil! 1 Corinthians 10:13 says:
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
God is so good, and I feel that personally, I take that for granted at times. He has blessed each and every one of us in so many different ways, even when you can’t see them. Ask God to open your eyes to see what He has given you, and thank Him for it!
So when you are feeling downcast and grumpy, go have some time alone with God. Just you and Him. Pray to Him, tell Him how you are feeling – He understands better than anyone else!
Here are some ways to calm down from stress:
- Go outside! Being in God’s creations always cheers me up.
- Take a hot shower and use the time to sing praise songs to God!
- Spend time with pets – play with them, or just sit and cuddle!
- Eat something healthy – such as fruit – and thank the LORD for it! Did you know that the scent of an orange can reduce stress by 60%? (yes, it really does work 😉 )
- Talk to trusted family or friends. When I’m in a bad mood, talking it over with people I trust ALWAYS helps me. And it’s ok to cry, sometimes we just need to let it out.
God loves you, and gave you 1 life. How are you going to live it?
Chick & Co.
Living the Sweet Life
Chick & Co. 