Do you ever get frustrated or anxious?(i cannot sleep well these days, idon't know why,however, i can strongly feel too much pressure, as soon as i lay on the bed i just cannot help thinking ,thinking about everthing,and finally i can fall asleep after 4:00 am,how terrible!Today , i find out the materials friend posted to me and read the words below ,however , i feel much better althou i don't know if i can have a sound sleep tonight)

it's hard sometimes ,isn't it ,to have peace when your circumstances are difficult...to have joy when your heart is filled with anxiety ?

Circumstances, as well as our frustration and anxiety about the concerns of life, can rob us of our joy.

the apostrle Paul was well aware of this as he wrote to the believers at Philippi, for he himself was living under house arrest as prisoner of the Roman Empire.His circumstances were were less than ideal! yet, listen to his words:

"i have learned to be content in whatever circumstances ia am. i know how to get along with humble means, and i also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance i have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need, i can do all things through Him who strenghens me"(Philippians 4:11-13)

when you are worried or anxious

if you will learn what kept Paul in peace and contentment despite his circumstances, if you will learn how he handled the anxieties of life, you will have a biblical example and pattern to follow in your own life.Philippians 4 lays out several precepts which, if adhered to, will grant us the same victory Paul experienced.

First,Paul rejoiced in every circumstance--no matter what it was:

"rejoice in the Lord always; again i will say, rejoice !""(Philippians 4-4)

here is a command that, i fobeyed, will bring victory and peace in the midst of any situation. why? because the minute you begin rejoicing, your circumstances cease to control you, and you find yourself living above your circumstances as more than a conqueror.

it is crucial to understand ,however,that the cimmand to rejoice does not mean rejoicing in your circumstances; it means rejoicing in your Savior who is Lord over every circumstances of life. you could not be in the predicament you are in without the Lord's foreknowledge.

God is sovereign: He rules over all; nothing happens without His permission (Danied 4:34-35)

Rejoicing is a matter of  obedience --an obedience that will start you on the road to peace and contentment.

At this point you may be saying ,"but,Kay, i cannot rejoice."i am just not able! My circumstances are too horrible!"

i understand the overwhelming emotion of such feelings. however this is where faith enters the picture.

we are to live by faith, not feelings, then like paul , we can handle anything...becayse of Jesus . listen to God's word through the apostle again:"i can do all things through Him who strenghthens me""(Philippians 4-13)

or , to paraphrase it :"i can keep on bearing all things through Him who constantly infuses His strengh into me."