How do you react when an unexpected experience lands in your lap? How do you keep going when you are completely overwhelmed? When do you let your burdens weigh you down until you feel you can’t handle anymore? There is an answer. Once you learn this secret, you will know how to handle anything that comes your way.
I went to meet a friend at Starbucks for us to catch up and talk about the Bible study class we were in. We settled in with our coffee and no idea what was about to happen. Her cell phone rang and I excused myself to the bathroom. All of the sudden, I heard her screaming and crying. I hurried out of the bathroom to see her wailing while hanging onto her phone. I was able to pick up that her son had just been in a horrible car accident. He was in the process of being air lifted to the hospital with head injuries. We had no idea which hospital he was headed to, and no more information was given. My friend was hysterical, and I stood there with no idea what to do. In that moment I concluded, all we had to rely on was God.
I stopped her and grabbed both of her hands and said, “Let’s pray.”
I immediately witnessed the calming effect. We put our heads together and started furiously dialing information and police headquarters to try to figure out where her son was. Within fifteen minutes we had the name of the hospital and the phone number. He was in critical condition, but the doctors said he was going to make it.
When you find yourself in a difficult situation, recline in God’s La-Z-Boy. You will be amazed when you watch God at work, rather then you. My friend’s son was ejected out the front window. The car rolled five times and stopped right beside his body. God protected this child before we ever uttered a prayer. We found out after the fact, but God knew all along.
We all have burdens that fly into our lives unexpectantly. The secret is crawling into God’s La-
Z-Boy and trusting him to handle your burdens. It is hard to do, but we cannot control our circumstances, no matter how hard we try. It is futile.
One of my mentors is a lady I greatly admire. She has three sons, and two out of the three are drug addicts. They have been in countless rehab centers and in and out of hospitals. Before they discovered how much they were enabling and trying to save them on their own, they had to file bankruptcy. Just last year, she was forced to remove her three grandchildren from the dangerous situation. During the same time, her mother became very ill, and had to be put in a nursing home. Her and her husband handle all of this with very demanding jobs. She shared during one of her devotionals that she wakes up and tells God she cannot do it, but sits up and hands everything over to God. If you met her, you would have no idea of all the pain and chaos in her life. She has a contagious smile and laugh that she uses often. She always makes time for anyone that needs her, even the smallest thing. I have asked her many times, how do you do it?
She simply says, “I don’t.”
She knows how to live in God’s La-Z-Boy. She utilizes the scripture, Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) where Jesus says: “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.”
If this was an infomercial, I would say, “Order God’s La-Z-Boy today. It is completely free, and no shipping is required. It can be delivered to your door immediately. It is guaranteed for the rest of your life. You will be amazed at how relaxed you feel as you sit reclining, when everything around you might be whirling like a tornado of chaos. The only warning is that once you sit in this chair, you will find yourself spending a lot of time there.”
Michelle Rocker
Michelle is thirty-four years old, married for fourteen years, and has four children. She says Jesus has been her Savior since she was two years old. Her passions include music and writing. She has had over 30 stories/articles published in magazines including Chicken Soup for the Grandma’s Soul, a youth devotional, and a national poetry book. She is currently working on getting two books published, and finishing up a novel as well as two children church curriculums. She continues to write to glorify God, and reach others who need to know about our “amazing heavenly Father”. Please contact Michelle here: Michelle Rocker
February 26th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I love to read your stories, Michelle. I relate to them so much. In fact, I was right there at the bank drive-thru with you. It could easily have been me. Judy