what do you do when everything is not okay?

What do you do when everything is not okay?

There's the story of a little boy who from birth had refused to speak, for 9 years, he had never spoken a word, up until that day his mom served him oatmeal for the 3rd morning in a row.

For 3 straight mornings he had eaten oatmeal - and finally on the 3rd morning, he couldn't stand it any more and he cried out, "I hate oatmeal!"

His  mother was overjoyed.  She said, "Son, you spoke, why haven't you spoken until now?"

"Up until now," the little boy responded, "everything has been okay."

What do you do when everything is not okay?

Let me summarize what I shared this past Sunday.

When everything is not okay:

Postpone major decisions until a crisis has passed, if at all possible.

When you are going through an extremely stressful time - that is not the time for a major move, a career change or any other life-altering choices.  Wait until things quiet down and you can look at thing objectively - and spend time in prayer.  "Knee jerk" reactions to stress are hardly ever in God's will.

Don't go into isolation.  This is huge.  Don't separate out yourself from the body of Christ.  Our first instinct when things are not going okay is to hunker down and be by ourselves.  Protect ourselves from further hurt.

I see this all the time in the kingdom of God.  "Well, George, I'll be back at the church when things quiet down and I get through this mess," people say.  My suggestion to you is that - that is exactly the time that you need the body of Christ.  Isolation breeds self-absorption which breeds more misery. 

Those around us can give us an objective, spiritual and godly perspective on our troubles that we wouldn't have otherwise.

Say no to fear, self-pity, and "if onlys."

Fear can paralyze.  What is fear?  Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real.  Sometimes we can think that if we are just fearful enough our problems will go away.  We need to embrace our fears rather than running away from them. 

I see people engaged in neurotic thinking in the face of stress - because neurosis is simply an attempt to avoid pain.  Sometimes in the attempt to avoid pain, the pain becomes greater than the actual experience of that pain itself.

Think positive, godly thoughts.  Think of those things that are pure, lovely and of a good report and Paul writes in Philippians.

Keep up with your routines.  Rest.  Exercise.  Eat right.  Spend time with family and friends.

Admit your feelings.  Revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing.  It is so important to find trustworthy people to talk to so that you can void stuffing your feelings down inside.  Reveal your feelings to God.  "Call upon God i the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."  Psalms 50:15

Remember who is in control.  Turn your "stuff" over to God who controls the universe and has only your best in mind.

Listen, I know that you've got hassles and pressures and disappointments, and there are a lot of us who know about hurt feelings and guilt and broken relationships.

Some of you have been accumulating a long list of gripes about life.  Things haven't been going right and people around you have let you down.

Will you look away from everyone else, and everything else, and right now look to Jesus?

Look away from your spouse, your friend, your enemy, and look to Jesus.  That is where you will find the peace that you need.