Slade McLendon, Vice President – Sunbelt Fire Inc.
FOR SURVIVAL OR GOD’S GLORY?!
Make sure you attack the problem and not the person
DO YOU ever feel as if you’re just surviving? When I do, the Lord gently reminds me of his promises in Matthew 6:31–34. God doesn’t want us to worry about what we will eat, drink, or wear. He explains that the pagans run after these things but God knows what we need. He urges us to seek his kingdom and his righteousness and when we do, “all these things will be given to [us] as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
If you’re like me, you forget this sometimes. When I do, worry creeps in. How about you? Are you ever overcome with worry?
At times when worry threatens to control my thoughts and actions, I’m thankful that God continually sends me reminders of the fact that I’m not in control on this journey of life—he is!
I love my family and we believe that our Father is sovereign and always in control. Even when it doesn’t feel like it, we know he has a plan at all times. Early in our marriage my wife was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (lung disease). We realized at that point how truly not in control of our lives we really are. Our first response was anxiety and fear of the unknown. In and of ourselves we couldn’t take the disease and knock it out. To date there is no cure, but we’re learning that this is the exact plan God has for our family.
I had a man give me some counsel years ago: “As you travel through life make sure you attack the problem and not the person.” I get this mixed up and have to stop at times and remember how valuable people are in my life. We need to not let the issues in life become the relationship. I’m learning this daily and sometimes not fast enough.
God’s plan doesn’t make sense to us at times, but his Scripture reminds us about his love for us.
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