We’ve come to the end of another work week. It’s Friday, and many of you are thanking God for that fact. I’m thanking Him for getting me through another week. When you’re in the “golden years,” it supposed to be smooth sailing through the rest of your days – right? Well, as we all know, life isn’t like that no matter what age you are. There will always be stress – that is until our life ends, and we enter heaven. In the meantime, what do we do with that frazzle dazzle?

I could bore you with a day-by-day account of what’s happening in my life right now, but my job is to encourage and inspire – not discourage and expire. Life can be overwhelming at times. Some of those times are worse than others. If we let the tough times pile up, we’re left with a ton of baggage on our backs. When you get old, the weight of that baggage can drive you right into the ground – literally.

These golden days can quickly become tarnished and worthless. If you add all the life changing events that we face on a daily basis, there is bound to be stress. If you try to lighten that load by turning it over to Jesus, it can relieve the burden, but our human nature will eventually cause deeper problems. It isn’t easy to simply let go and let God do what He does best. It takes a great deal of courage to do so, but with His help you can do it.

l Peter 5:6-11  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

In other words, don’t sweat the small stuff – or the big stuff either, because God has this. He knows what we’re going through. He is right beside us all the way. His only Son, Jesus, experienced pain, suffering, humiliation, shame, degradation, torture and death. God loves you. He will not leave you. He will carry the burden for you. He won’t let you fall. He is your Redeemer and Comforter. Today you can be confident that He is in this with you. He will not let you suffer more than you can handle. Trust that promise. Give thanks for it. Oh, and by the way, did you know that the word, “stressed” spelled backwards is “desserts?” Go have a piece of chocolate cake.