You know that meme that has the little cartoon dog sitting drinking coffee saying, “Everything is fine,” in the midst of the house burning down? I know that I am not the only one who saw it, and I laughed at how relatable it seemed. Lately, there are times when I literally feel like that dog.
In our world, and specifically in our American culture, there is an emphasis on doing something on our own. I cannot count the number of times I have heard the phrase, “I am a capable individual and I don’t need help.” With this ingrained in our culture, no wonder we grew up thinking that we needed to figure out things on our own.
What if I told you there is someone that wants to take our troubles and worries? Someone who is always there wanting to help guide us through the difficulties. The Lord loves us so much, and He wants to do life with us. He is there in the good, in the bad, and in everything in between.
Living overseas, I cannot tell you how many times I have gone through situations where I should have been stressed and full of anxiety, but I had complete peace. A peace that only comes from God. When we come before the Lord with our struggles and worries instead of saying, “Everything is fine,” as it feels like they are burning everything down, He will take care of us. Working with international students, I am constantly reminding them of God’s goodness and love for us. When they feel like they’re all alone in their host country the Lord is with them.
Is there an area in your life where you’re struggling, but you’re acting like that cartoon dog? Maybe your situation is not quite that bad, but everyone still goes through hard things. The Lord is there to take everything…even if we think it is insignificant. Our God is always there for us. God could be calling you to reach out to someone around you that is going through their own fire. When we listen to the Father he will lead us where we need to be.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7