The Little Troll

 

I have found that most of the stuff necessary for raising kids has an astonishing ability to hide in the smallest cracks and crevices of the home. There is an assortment of sticky, spiky, smelly, and squishy things I’ve found under my sofa cushions and car seats, in dryer filters and clothing pockets. Once, I laughed aloud when I stumbled over an ugly, squeezable troll doll with fuzzy hair sticking straight up. When I squeezed his tummy, his eyes bugged out, his ears popped out, and his face flared out.  The kids and I found it funny to watch his fingers and toes inflate like those tiny link sausages when we packed on the pressure.

We laugh when the pressure implodes a kid’s toy; but the humor fades when our circumstances apply direct, unending pressure to our hearts. The suffocating squeeze constricts my neck muscles, resulting in throbbing migraines. Grief or sorrow squeezes my heart, drawing tears from my eyes. Anxiety tightens my stomach, distracting my mental focus from truth. The worst pain takes me captive with an arresting, unyielding hold.  In extreme moments, even breathing feels impossible.

However, I know I have hope in the midst of these pressures. Second Timothy 3:16–17 reminds me,

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

The pressure dissipates when I turn to God’s Word. God’s truth brings refreshment and relief, reminding me that rest is promised in the midst of life’s problems.

Feeling like a little troll? The book of Psalms offers comfort to weary hearts. Today, you may find that Psalms 1, 23, 37, 40, and 121 offer a needed dose of encouragement.

Your circumstances may not change immediately, but your spirit will soar and your bindings will be released as you focus on God’s truth.