Bible Verse Friday #36

"There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.  "If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt," they moaned.  "There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the breat we wanted.  But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death." ~Exodus 16:2-3

My NLT Life Application Study Bible says the following:

16:2,3  It happened again.  As the Israelites encountered danger, shortages, and inconvenience, they complained bitterly and longed to be back in Egypt.  But as always, God provided for their needs.  Difficult circumstances often lead to stress, and complaining is a natural response.  The Israelites didn't really want to be back in Egypt; they just wanted life to get a little easier.  In the pressure of the moment, they could not focus on the cause of their stress (in this case, lack of trust in God); they could only think about the quickest way to escape.  When pressure comes your way, resist the temptation to make a quick escape.  Instead, focus on God's power and wisdom to help you deal with the cause of your stress.

This past Monday taxes were due.

Did you file early?

Did you wait until the last minute?

Did you ask for an extension?

Are you hopeful when tax time comes around or do you fear it like the plague.

Despite getting a refund every year...I still walk into the process with a feeling of nervousness.

I always wonder, will this be the year that we have to pay?

I have already divulged the fact that Bud and I are working hard to pay off our student loans, rather aggressively.

Yet since right before we moved from Texas we have been putting more than enough money into repairs for our vehicle.

It's discouraging to watch bills accumulate when all you want to do is seem them diminish.

We finally had 'The Talk'.

You know the one....you have either had it with yourself, your spouse, or maybe your bank.

"It's time to get the finances under control".

Fortunately, this year we were blessed.

The refund paid for all the repairs on our vehicles which had been charged to our credit card *shudder*.

(I hate that credit card and for the record it is being frozen...seriously)

The benefit to paying it off was it meant we now have 2 free airline tickets for a trip to Texas that we thought we'd have to cancel....due to money.

But that didn't mean we were done with stress.

What it does mean is that we are going to be able to REALLY aggressively take on our student loans one at a time.

This next year our goal is to pay off all of my student loans.

It'll be hard work.

It'll be stressful, but the goal is to NOT MAKE A QUICK ESCAPE.

There is no quick escape here.

The pressure has moved in and it is time to tackle it head on.

We will be trusting God to help us make wise decisions.

We will be fervent in making our life debt free!

What things are you stressing over?

Money?

Love?

Illness?

Whatever it is focus on God's power and wisdom to help you deal with it.

It won't always be easy.

Heck...it hardly ever is easy.

But I think the hardness of it makes us stronger.

Makes us fully realize God's power.

If you need prayer for a stressor in your life, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or shoot me a private email.

We all need prayer.

We all have stress.

We all have God on our side!

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!