What to do when troubles pile up.

Hubby lied to me. And I love him for it. Crazy, I know, but I think you’ll agree with me.

We decided to host three foreign students for a month. Fun experience. But that required me to clean closets; a task that for the last decade, I avoided like the plague. Each was jammed with clothes, old items and junk belonging to each of the seven members of our family—from football jerseys to my wedding dress. We’re talking stuff stored from probably the Middle Ages.

“Here’s the plan,” I said to hubby. “You bring all hanging clothes downstairs and my Mom and I will segregate them for donation.

Dumb idea.

The more we separated, the more clothes and junk hubby brought down. Ugh! Will this ever end? He made umpteenth trips downstairs with armfuls and armfuls of clothes. But fueled with resolve, my mom and I worked non-stop. We separated, chose and packed.

Hours later, tongue hanging out, sweat pouring, fingers and hands sore, I placed the last item in the bag and asked hubby, “How much more is left in each closet?”

“Oh, all this was only one closet. We have two more to go.”

I froze. What? I wanted to scream. What was I thinking to take on this project? I plopped on the couch, leaned my sweaty head back, hands limp to my sides. “No way!”

After a moment of silence, he gave a sardonic laugh. “Only kidding. All three closets are empty. There’s no more.”

I gave him a loving look. “There’s no more” were sweet words for this chica.

Amigos, you might identify. You might be in the middle of a mountain of troubles, wondering if they’ll ever end. And with no energy left, you see how they keep on coming. Your heart aches and you ask God, “How much more, Lord? I’m exhausted with the pile of troubles. I see more and more of the same; will you let me see the end? When will I have relief?”

But the end does come. It does because God, almighty and just, knows the quantity we can endure. He’s aware of the strength He will give. And He’s already planned the moment we’ll see the light at the end of the dark closet of stress.

That’s because God has His own closet of answers. And although hubby told a white lie to surprise me, God tells us the absolute truth to satisfy our soul because “…he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help” (Psalm 72:12).

So, make your way to the couch of His promise. Take a deep breath while your heart repeats “…I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 59:16).

Father, how foolish I’ve been to think I can face those mountains of troubles on my own. At times, I’ve been drained; I lose my focus. But your Word lifts me up and makes the task possible. You will be my stronghold. You will be my fortress and my strength to sustain me during exhausted moments and difficult days. In Jesus’ name I thank you. Amen.

• What is overwhelming you today”?
• Is there a closet in your life that needs cleaning?
• What results did you have when you tried to resolve those piles of trouble on your own?

Janet