“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Do you ever feel like you have a lot of obstacles in your life?  Things that get in the way of accomplishing what you want.  Roadblocks that get you off course.  Take you in another direction.  Many people in today’s world have the same concerns.  With the pandemic touching so many aspects of our lives, like lockdowns, mask wearing, staying away from one another, it’s no wonder people are feeling enormous stress and fear.  Add to that the staggering number of unemployed people, with families to feed and bills that they cannot pay.  And never mind what the politicians and community leaders tell you, there really is a surge in the crime and violence going on around us daily.  It’s certainly a stressor when you think of all that added to all the “normal“ obstacles that we have in our daily lives.  

Recently I had a basement drain overflow and had to call a plumber and a restoration company to get the basement cleaned up and sanitized.  That was an obstacle I would’ve rather gone without.   Can’t escape it though.  Things happen.   Interruptions are a part of life . The important thing  is not that they happen but how we respond to them and deal with him.  

And just how do we deal with them?  Some avoid them.  Some deny them and hope they go away.  There are those who just simply ignore them.  But they don’t just suddenly vanish.  Roadblocks And obstacles come in all shapes and sizes, big and small, long term and short term. They disrupt our thought processes,  our ways of living our lives, the plans we make.  Our daily lives are fraught with them.  Some deal with them in healthy constructive ways.  Others choose less healthy ways, at times destructive or self-destructive ways.

One of the biggest obstacles in my life was my speech impediment. I stutter.  Stammer, get blocked over words and can’t get them out fluently.  How did I deal with that?  Surely not in a healthy way.  When I first discovered the effects ingesting alcohol had on me, making me fluent of speech, there was no stopping me for the next 17 years.  I drank excessively, eventually becoming addicted . But, oh boy, I spoke fluently.  Yet, sadly, I left a wake of  pain and sorrow behind me.  I was everything God wanted me not to be.

God is not in the business of placing obstacles in our lives. But he is a God of providing ways of dealing with them In a healthy manner.  For me, he literally dropped me to my knees when he heard my prayer for help.  He immediately took the obsession to drink away and I have not had a drink for 49 years.

Did I stop stuttering?  No.  But I did learn to deal with it in a healthy way that impacted others in a positive way that I could not of done without God’s help.  Your obstacle may not be as dramatic as being addicted to alcohol but it may be no less traumatic.  No matter what it is, God has a plan for helping you get through it.  Just reach out and ask him for that help.  There are many Stories in the Bible about people having been helped through tremendous difficulties by God going to bat for them.

“Over and over we see examples of people in the Bible faced with terrible situations – and with how they overcame those situations. David struggled with depression and was wanted dead by his enemies. Yet he chose to trust God completely. Elijah was discouraged and even afraid, yet he trusted God to keep him safe from the threats of Jezebel, and God did. Jonah was furious and wanted to run away – and then ended up in the belly of a fish. But God was faithful and didn’t abandon him to be digested. Job suffered loss of everything – his health, his family, his wealth, his friends – yet He remained faithful.”        https://biblereasons.com/overcoming-obstacles/

.”

You may not be a David who impregnated another man’s wife and then had him killed to cover his tracks.  You may not even suffer from a severe addiction.  Your problem may be an obstacle preventing you from getting the money for a needed operation or to help a loved one through a particular crisis.  Or you may need encouragement while standing firmly for restoration in the midst of a marred relationship.  Maybe you’re studying for an exam that has been worrying you and you need help to get through it.  Or seeking a job and need a little push to help you keep going.  There are myriad obstacles, both large and small, where we need help. Whatever it is, be assured that God is there and will walk with you through any difficulty and trial that you may have in your life. 

Almost certainly, sometime in your life, you will be facing difficulties that really challenge you.  They may leave you feeling fearful, frustrated-like there’s no end in sight.  However, it’s times like these that you have to firmly grasp onto your faith in God.  Don’t give up.  Remember, God is right there beside you.  With God we can become overcomers and find our way to peace and serenity, even in the midst of our struggles and hardships.   Although we don’t always know it, God leans into us on a fairly regular basis.  He wants to let us know he is still here and still in the business of helping his children deal with life.  Be sensitive to his nudges.

My back has been up against the wall several times in my life.  Mostly, I’ve tried to get out of tough situations by own stubborn determination.   Yes, you guessed it-my success rate was quite low.  However, when you allow God to take the reins and to speak into your life, your odds increase greatly.  Here’s some of God’s words that have been so encouraging to me when I feel pressured by life circumstances:

Jeremiah 1:19 “They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

Psalm 138:7 Though I walk through the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

Matthew 11:29-30 “Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 My prayer for you is that you would accept Jesus into your heart, soul, mind, spirit and body.  That you would allow him to do his marvelous work in taking you by the hand and guiding you through any difficult times you may be having.  I pray you sense his presence in times of trouble and darkness.  I pray you allow him to bring you out into the light of his never ending grace and undying love for you.  I pray that you know that you are his beloved child and that he created you to love and to be loved.