Situational Anxiety
You have your plans all laid out for Monday morning, and then overnight you wake up to 10 inches of snow on the ground and unplowed streets. What do you do when you feel stranded, your kids are off of school today and you still have to go in to work? In Phillipians 4.5-7 you will find a verse that will carry you through many times when you feel you are scrambling. “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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.” This word is a combination of surrender and action.
Surrender looks like bringing your concerns to God instead of running around in circles:
Take a deep breath! count to 4 inhaling slowly and then exhale to the count of 4. There are actually exercises online that will help you center on breathing and being still, you may find this is helpful. https://soundcloud.com/dennis-tirch-phd/soothing-rhythm-breathing
Being still carries into “Be still and know that I am God.” When you read a devotional or the Scriptures and a word stand out; perhaps this is the time to meditate on that word or phrase. Set a timer (https://insighttimer.com/) and be still. Listen for what the Holy Spirit brings up.
Ask for what you need. Even the small things matter to God. The simplest prayer is for His perfect will and the strength to do your part.
Prayer brings you into a place where you can be grateful for all you have been given, including your children, your transportation, your work and the place you live for starters. You can also be grateful that when you pray; God is listening. He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8.28).
Praise is acknowledging who God is - that He is present with you, He cares, knows all that is happening and is the Provider. He will strengthen you. He can help you draw on your resources, provide the childcare you need, or a way to be there for your children. Speak the words, “I trust you Jesus,” as a step towards Him.
When action follows prayer, you are more likely to get insights that are better than what you would have come up with on your own. Action can be based on past successes. Remember what you did to deal with similar challenges to your plans. If developing flexibility is a growth area for you, ask the Lord to help you be open His way of moving forward and to give you strength.
