I got a new laptop recently. My husband has graciously loaded many of the programs I use regularly on it and I’ve not started to use it. This morning I was trying to take notes while watching a video. Easy task, right? Not so when everything is new. This laptop uses a newer operating system than my old one. ()f course – anything older than a few months seems to use a new operating system – yes, I know I’m exaggerating, but consider this your first indication that things have not gone well.) Additionally, the hardware (i.e., the laptop itself) has many keys in different locations, along with a different touchpad and mouse configuration. Combine the two and chaos ensues.
It seemed that every time I started taking notes I would select many lines of text already on the screen and type over them. Ugh. In my attempt then to undo that mistake and move the mouse to the correct location I’d miss information as the video continued to play. So I’d click on the video to pause it. Instead of pausing, the video would go to full screen view and continue to play. Ugh. In my old operating system, clicking on the video would pause it. So I reduce the size of the video and then accidentally click the stop button instead of the pause button. Stopping the video takes it back to the beginning, so I’d have to find where I’m at in the video, which is a trial and error process. After finding my spot, I return to my Word file to make notes and the process starts over again. That’s why watching the 30 minute video this morning has taken me an hour. And that’s why I’m a bit jumpy.
Add to that miscommunications with my husband who is experiencing muscle spasms in his back this morning and I’m even more jumpy. So I set everything aside to talk with him only to have him say “you’re really stressed this morning.” Uh, yeah…
But I don’t want to be. So I asked him if we could put off our conversation for fifteen minutes and I returned to the Psalm I read during devotions this morning.
I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
Psalm 16:8 (NLT)
This verse wasn’t written about challenges with computers or husbands. It was written about the fear David faced as he was pursued by King Saul. Saul wanted to kill David. I’m only having a frustrating day with my new laptop. (Yes, I’m thankful for my laptop, right?)
Still, the words soothed my soul. The Lord is always at my right hand. He is always with me. He is always my shield and my Savior. He is my strength – even strength to overcome life’s frustrations when they seem extraordinarily frustrating.
2I said to the LORD, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”…
5LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. 6The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!
7I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
Psalm 16:2, 5-8 (NLT)
I began writing this blog fifteen minutes ago. And I can tell you this: my attitude now is miles away from when I started. Stress evaporates in the light of the Lord if we allow it. Don’t hold on to it. Take it to Him.
The truth is, my stress evaporated within about a minute when I turned to this Psalm. The other fourteen minutes were spent telling you about it! Everyone has a minute. Everyone. Don’t let the enemy convince you otherwise. If you’re stressed – or frustrated or annoyed or angry or depressed or anything other than at peace – take a minute to let God reorient your thinking. Don’t let this world shake you. God is by your side.
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