Survival Mode

As I, and several people close to me, go through a season of trial and hardships I have observed that while these times should, and most times do, draw us closer to God and make our desperation for Him real. However, I have also witnessed and admittedly experienced times of separation from Him.

Scripture tells us in Nehemiah 8:10 “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is our strength”. So if that is true, why do we have a tendency to go away from the Lord during times of trial and hardships? We allow discouragement and the overwhelming pressures of life suck the joy and strength right out of us. We go into “survival mode” of just going through the motions, getting the job done and alienating those closest to us; including the Lord. So if scripture is true (which I believe it is) then we need to go after joy with everything in us, otherwise, we grow weak and weary.

Which brings me to the next scripture that the Lord laid on my heart…..

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

So, to summarize these two verses, I hear that IF/when I come to Him when I am burdened He will give me rest and taking it a step further, that His joy will be my strength….then why do I run in the opposite direction? I can’t speak for others, but I certainly have to admit for myself that maybe it’s because:

1. I think I can handle the situation all by myself and that I can’t “really” trust God to handle it.
2. Maybe I shouldn’t bother Him with this.
3. This one I hate to admit, but it’s because I am pouting. Things aren’t going my way or I am not getting the results I thought I should, so I withdraw my affections from Him. I punish Him. I give Him the silent treatment. Better said, I act like a brat!

By the way, all of the above scenarios are nothing more than pride issues; which also I believe is a trust issue. Because trust requires us to let go and believe Him and His word and honestly sometimes I just don’t trust Him, after all how can He care as much as I do about the results in my life?? That’s what the enemy would have us believe anyway.

However, He tells us to come to Him and He will give us rest, so I have to know that when I am not at peace, it’s probably because I am not trusting Him and I am taking on the burdens of my life and this world all by myself….He didn’t ask us to carry any of it. He came that we may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10)….so why am I settling for less than that? I would say it is high time that I humble myself and give my burdens to Him. How about you friend?