We often struggle beneath the weight of our burdens because we cannot see beyond our current reality. The pain is too deep, the heartache is too terrible and we cannot reason away the “whys” of our worst nightmares. If we change our thinking to focus on God’s power rather than on our problems, we will take the first step toward living in the presence of God’s power.

This week I heard of divorce, cancer, suicide, sexual abuse, hurt feelings, pornography, and deep struggles. People are walking all around us carrying great big, unbearable burdens. The burdens are powerful. They break the heart, the home and the hope that once seemed perfectly capable of carrying us through life.

Even a child can relate to the feelings of being overwhelmed by heartache. What is the most difficult thing you have ever experienced? We all have a story. Some have many that we could cry over and remember the devastating pain that still pierces the deepest places of the heart. You may be right in the middle of the most difficult experience of your life.

When life brings circumstances that shatter the soul and cut to the core of our beings, how are we to process, cope and move forward?

I do not know all the answers and I will not claim to have the magic solution to every problem, but I will share with you a little of what God has given me for broken hearts and shattered lives.

If I allow myself to remember, it’s easy to relive the difficult, defining moments of life, because it cuts so deep into who I am. The events of our lives are powerful. They shape us and affect how we do life, how we treat others and how we interact with God.

For me, my most difficult moments drive me toward or away from God. I wish I could say that I immediately run to God in every trial, but that would not be true. Sometimes hard times make me want to run away. I rationalize my behavior in my own selfish authority. I have the right to be angry. I have the right to stay angry. I am angry. I am hurt. I am lonely. No one understands. No one knows the truth of every detail. These events are powerful. They have the capability of controlling our lives. It’s terrifying when you think about it.

That thing, the one thing in your life you wish never happened, it can captivate you and keep you from what God has for you. It’s hard to accept because it seems so right to hold on to and allow it to continue to hurt. It does hurt. How do we break free?

Wow! Life is overwhelming isn’t it? I know. I have had those moments that completely paralyze my entire being mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I have not completely conquered and killed every ounce of anger in response to my circumstances. At times I do, but then the devil creeps in, in the most disguised ways and lures me back to that hurting, deep, dark place. I don’t like it there. I do escape a little quicker than I used to, and I don’t go there nearly as often. Why do I go there at all? Sin. I battle it. Sometimes it wins. My human mind convinces me that I have the right to feel like I do.

We all want to break free, right? We want to press forward without the baggage of a broken heart and life.

Last week in our “God-Centered Prayer” series we talked about God’s presence. We rested there all week long and remembered how much His presence has changed our lives. If you missed it, check it out HERE.

As we pray this week and press closer to the heart of God we are going to focus on God’s power. God’s power is bigger than our problems. Do you believe it or are you doubting beneath the weight of your circumstances?

Here is the one thing that keeps me going and gets me to the place where I can experience the power of God:

I focus my thoughts on God’s power. When I relive the difficult times over and over in my mind, I am setting myself up for destruction. The devil loves to make me rehash those terrible times. He wants you and me to live in turmoil. Instead of wasting our energy and mind on things that we cannot change or control, we should focus our minds on the power of God.

When I read and focus my heart on the stories in the Bible, I recall several instances of God’s power being so evident that there was no other explanation. What if we could experience that in our lives today? We can.

The same God who parted the Red Sea, healed the blind and lame, called Lazarus from his grave of death, cast out demons, delivered the Israelites, created the earth and everything in it, shut the mouths of lions, turned the water to wine, fed thousands with one little lunch…that God, the God of heaven and earth, His power is accessible to us today. Do you believe it? Have your burdens taken over and hidden hope from your view?

I want to encourage you to think on God’s power everyday this week. Rather than going to God with a list of needs, go to Him and admire His power. When I stop begging God for what I think I need, I see His power take care of the things I need without me even saying a word.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

If you want to experience God’s power in your life, focus on what He has done, what He can do, and what He will do in the future. Your life may be filled with tough stuff. Let God into those difficult places. His power will reveal His glory in ways you have never experienced. When you see it, and you will, you will know there is no other way to explain it… but God.

Join us this week as we focus on God’s power! He is amazing, beautiful, creator, deliverer, excellent, faithful and greater than anything or anyone I have ever known. Find the daily Prayer Guide below.

God-Centered Prayer – Week 2

In case you missed it, God’s Presence – Week 1.

Share this with someone you love.

Love & Blessings,

Micah