Enough

Have you known days in life when you felt like you just wanted to run away? It’s been a veritable string of Monday’s; with too much month at the end of the money and out of eagerness to win approval every request made of you (whether good or bad) has been met with “sure, I can help with that”. Maybe you’ve been staying up too late or skipping responsibilities because you’re a grown up and you can make your own choices. You may be saying in your head “mind your own beeswax.” Regardless, there will be those days when you’ve had ENOUGH!

Truly I could not say any of this if I hadn’t already been in the same shoes. My choices were less than exemplary and I did whatever made me feel better for the moment. So, my goal is not to condemn but to share some hope that there is a better way. The struggle begins when there has been precious little time spent in prayer and even less in writing God’s ever-valuable Word on your heart. Allowing the world to dictate who you are instead of focusing on the plan God has for your life and being accountable to fellow believers. Emotionally your heart will reach empty and your life in a storm that’s headed for wipe out.

Let’s be honest, there are some current trend “go-to” methods for handling the circumstances you’re in; that seem pretty favorable at the moment. After all, what is a Generation X, Y or Z woman to do?

For starters you could keep running up debt on your credit card with more new threads, some sweet boots, and that long overdue hair appointment you deserve. How about gorging on double stuff Oreos and a bag of Doritos…

Why not hit the casino because your fortune cookie said your going to have a streak of good luck and it can’t get worse right?! Another common option is a pity party posting of your latest undeserved struggle on Facebook for the world to cry along with you. Certainly there is the ever-popular blast-in-a-glass method that will leave you with a splitting headache and possibly unsure about whom you were with or what you did last night. Are you catching the common theme in these means of dealing with difficulty? All of these modern day coping tools sadly leave your life, your wallet and your heart emptier than ever.

A quick fix is never the answer for long-term changes that will produce positive results and grant the peace that will remind you of how temporary storms are. Ladies, there is a better way, a healthier way and a non self-deprecating way to cope with your storms. Here are some practical tips to smooth out your day and get your focus back where it belongs.

Take a few moments to stop and pray. Get by yourself, close the door, bow your head and ask God to give you strength and courage to let go of the stress and to regain a calmer focus on what you can do for today. One day at a time is more than enough for any of us to tackle.

Read some scripture and write it down if you need to. One or two short verses will help remind you to keep your focus. (I’ve even written it on my palm before). A good one to use is Matthew 6:34 “Jesus said, ‘Do not worry about tomorrow. For tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Be responsible with your income. If credit cards are an issue, get yourself a budget that will keep your bills paid and start paying down any debt you owe. You will be surprised how quickly you can pay off debt when you stop spending on things that you did not budget for. Eat meals at home or brown bag it until you get your finances under control and can allocated funds to do things that should be considered a luxury. And yep I’m going to say it- first, give your tithe (10%) to God because it’s His anyway. He will bless you in ways you can’t imagine. Try it and you will see!!

Eat healthier. (Believe me, I struggle with this and have to remind myself to stop being lazy) It may not always be the easier thing to do and it takes effort to think about making a grocery list that includes healthy meals but you will reap great benefits from doing it. First of all you will spend less money on junk food, which your wallet and your body will appreciate. Secondly, it leaves less time for zoning out on social media and wishing your life was like the pictures you see on Pinterest and Facebook. Your life is what you make it not what other people strategically photograph and put out there for the world’s approval. Last of all your clothes fit better when you eat right.

Do whatever comes next. None of us get ourselves out of a rut or struggle without making effort, so DO SOMETHING. Get yourself moving; make a plan, clean a closet, do your homework, go for a walk, write a letter to someone to encourage them, read your Bible (daily), pay your bills, finish a project, do laundry, serve someone or do something nice that’s unexpected, pray (A LOT). ‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you’ (Is. 26:3)

Hang in there,

jayme