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Under Pressure?
by Annagail Lynes "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life ... But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God." 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 Think about this Scripture for a moment. How many times have you been under great pressure? Felt like you were going through something far beyond your ability to endure? So much so that you thought the only way out might be through death? I have been there. I haven't been through losing a child or a spouse. I haven't had cancer or any deliberating diseases. Only I have been through taking care of a mentally ill parent, a parent so stuck in her own pain that she manipulated and controlled me--and everyone around her--to get her way. When she didn't get her way, she would do crazy things. Trying to stop her from doing incredibly outrageous things became a full-time job. She made it impossible for me to be me. She made it seem like there was something wrong with me, that I was a weakling. She striped me of my identity and my voice as all great abusers do. Throughout my childhood, throughout my adulthood, she did this. People ask me: why did I stay to take care of her? I am an only child. I felt obligated because I was the only person she hadn't alienated. For me, it seemed more than I could bear. It seemed like the only way out of the situation would be death. It seemed that nothing I did mattered, and my life would be on hold permanently. Only I kept praying. I kept asking for God's help and surrendering the situation to Him. If it hadn't been for my time in the Word, for my time praying, for my time writing devotionals and books, I would have gone insane...literally. Then one night, it all came to an end. We have to come to the end of ourselves. We have to rely on God to bring us through those storms as only He can. We, in our own strength, are powerless to change circumstances or move mountains. With God, and in His timing, though, we can move mountains out of our path. We can trust that with God, all things will work out for our good (Romans 8:28). Do your part and surrender the rest to God. He is well able to handle it! Annagail Lynes is a pharmacy technician, certified life coach and ordained minister. She is helping people move forward after trauma by helping them discover their purpose. Follow her blog at 316counseling.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |