Find Joy in God's Commands

Do you find it hard to maintain your composure when the weight of the world is bearing down on you?  Whether it's pressures at work, cranky children, unmet emotional needs, financial strain, poor body image or marital strife, it’s during these struggles that we’re most likely to behave poorly, right?  But, as usual, the Bible has the solution.  Psalm 119:143 says “As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.”  In other words:

• When my children are driving me crazy, I remember that the Bible says parents, "don’t provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them” (Ephesians 6:4).  And when I obey that command, I find peace.
• When my deep longing to be loved is unmet, I remember that God says “I have loved you with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” (Jeremiah 31:3).  And when I rehearse this truth, I find rest in him.
• When the burden of making ends meet gets the best of me, I remember that the Bible says “My God will supply all my needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). And when I submissively release my fears to him, I find relief.
• When the image staring back at me in the mirror is not as I would like, I remember that the Bible says God considers me his “workmanship; his masterpiece" (Ephesians 2:10). And when I remind myself to embrace this fact, I can walk away from that mirror thankful.
• When my spouse approaches a project differently than I do, I remember that the Bible says “we prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.” (2 Corinthians 6:6).  And when I submit myself to these important precepts, my husband and I experience harmony.

Yes, joy is found during stressful times when we strive to implement and obey what the Bible says.  Try it…it works!