Have you ever felt like ‘anxious’ is the most sincere response you could give to the common question, “how are you today?” I would bet my last dollar (which is the bank’s dollar anyway) that your response to that question was not an honest “anxious” but instead the typical response, “fine” with a sugar-coated smile to complete your fakery. I know this because I have done it too, and I think we all have. It is so very difficult to be honest about the things that we worry and fret about.
Anxiety, worry, fear … those are all common feelings to us all. They can rip at our very being, taking over our every thought, controlling our every moment, and even putting our physical health at risk.
Just last night I read the following:
“Do not be calm about anything,
but in everything,
continuing to grasp at control and busyness,
with an entitled attitude,
keep your worry to yourself.
And the stress and anxiety
that overwhelms and suffocates
will eat away at your
heart, mind and very existence.”
Now I do not know if this is original by my friend Jenn, or if she was quoting someone else, but, it really made me stop, and wonder, is that me? Is that how I, really and truly, live my life? Is that who I am in my most furthest place from “fine”, my truest me?
I asked myself, those questions and quickly replied to myself (yes, I do sometimes converse with myself … there is no mind reading in those conversations), “no, not me” … echos of “fine” ringing in my ears.
Then I thought of the day before;
- I was not calm, but I had so much to get done
- grasping at control and busyness, but I had to because things needed to get done
- with an entitled attitude, but they needed to get done right, and that (of course) meant that I needed to do them!
- I kept my worry to myself, but, well, what good does it do to burden someone else with my problems?
- my heart, mind and existence were … occupied, full and frazzled … but, but …
What my friend had written was the opposite, or flipped version of one of the most encouraging, strengthening, empowering and freeing messages of God to us in our broken, stress-filled, anxiety-ridden world and lives.
“Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation,
by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
Why would we choose to allow:
“the stress and anxiety that overwhelms and suffocates to eat away at our hearts, minds and very existence”
over
“the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus?”
Thank-you Jenn, for flipping my thinking!
itsawonderfilledlife 