MY BLOG POSTS

Lately, it seems, according to my social media accounts, there are A LOT of people who are very passionate about A LOT of topics. I’ve never in my life seen so many people so angry and vocal about their anger, so intensely upset with those who don’t agree with them. Whether it’s politics, public health, masks, schooling…people are speaking up and speaking out.

As I’ve read and listened to the various opinions, I’ve been conflicted. Of course, there are very important issues that I need to consider. The world is in chaos, and we all want that chaos to recede. However, it seems that the focus is not where it should be. We are looking for salvation, redemption, and freedom. But we are looking in the wrong places. Those won’t come through an election or through congress or through a vaccine.

What we are looking for is what we have: Jesus! I’m not saying the simplistic Sunday school answer kids give. I mean that deep in the core of who we are as humans, what we long for is what He offers: salvation, redemption, and freedom.

And yet, how many of us are proclaiming that on our social media sites? Or in conversations with friends? Where are we expending our energies? Our passions? Is there really any benefit from all this name-calling and shaming and screaming? We can have opinions – and those opinions can be different – but we can still be kind. We can still seek the best for one another. And we can still keep our priorities where they should be.

This world, friends, has a expiration date. The perfection we long for – the place with no war or violence or poverty or hate – will not be found here. God has given us a longing for our true home – Heaven! And He tells us that our focus should be there, our treasure should be there, our eyes should be there. We have a responsibility here, of course, to love others, to care for His creation, to seek to be at peace with all men. But we do that best when our eyes are on Him.

Too many of us are looking for heaven on earth. When we do that, we are disappointed at best, angry at worst. Let’s keep our eyes on what is promised, what is true, and what is good. This is a difficult time, no doubt. But let’s allow this time to make us long for our true Home.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4

I woke up this morning feeling so anxious. Typically, I’m fairly calm, so waking up anxious is not normal for me. But when it does happen, it’s ugly. I usually go down a path that creates more anxiety: I think about worst-case scenarios for whatever it is that’s worrying me. Then I think about what I would say or do in those worst-case scenarios, what others would say or do (they always make things worse, btw). Then I imagine the worst-worst case scenario – which, for me, usually involves being hated by everyone around me.

Today, though, before I could go down that trail, my husband found me in the living room, stressing out. He reminded me that most of what was worrying me were things over which I have no control. Therefore, what’s the point in worrying? God is control – not me – and I can trust Him. Then, after we talked, I texted a couple prayer partners, confessing my worry and asking for some extra prayers today. Then I spent some time in prayer – confessing all my fears and anxieties to God, acknowledging that I can’t do anything about any of it, but He can. I surrendered to His will, His guidance, I lay my burdens at His feet and begged Him to take them because they were just too heavy for me to carry.

I didn’t immediately feel relieved from my anxiety. I had to make a conscious effort to reject the temptation to go down my worst-scenario trails. Those thoughts came, and I had to battle them back. But, after a little while, those feelings faded. The worst-case scenarios disappeared. I have no doubt there is a great deal of spiritual warfare involved in battling anxiety — Satan loves nothing more than keeping a Christian’s mind off Christ and on him/herself. But “greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world”. (I John 4:4)

Maybe you’re struggling with anxiety. Maybe it’s more than just occasional. Let me encourage you — talk to someone! Don’t try and “deal with it” on your own. Just the act of sharing our concerns with someone else frees us from the burdens we carry. And if you feel like your anxiety is controlling you, rather than the other way around, consider seeing a Christian counselor or pastor. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help. We all have weaknesses. We’re human! And there are plenty of godly men and women who love to help others in their struggles, to show them how God’s “power is perfected in weakness.” (II Cor. 12:9)

If you are battling with anxiety, know that you’re not alone! Especially in these difficult times. Talk to someone TODAY. Spend time with the Lord in prayer and in His word. He delights in you, and He is with you.

I was driving on the highway the other day, I forget where, and way down on the other side, I saw a really long line of cars. There must have been an accident or road work. I’m not sure. But when we drove past, the road was just starting to clear and cars were moving.

We drove maybe half a mile, around a curve, and I noticed that a few cars were peeling off, driving through the grass median separating their highway from ours. I wanted to stop them and yell, “Don’t go!! Cars are moving. You’ll be on your way in just a minute!” But, of course, I couldn’t.

I understood the sentiment. Those cars had likely been sitting there for a while, waiting, not knowing when they’d move again. Gas was probably running low. Tempers too. Somehow, sitting stuck in traffic for even ten minutes is worse than driving at the speed limit for an hour. So I watched as cars turned around to go in the opposite direction, when their way was clear just around the next bend.

I thought, How often have I done that with God? He leads me down a path, and it seems fine, then BAM. I’m stuck. I get cranky, frustrated, confused. I decide I don’t want that path anymore. It’s too hard. Maybe it’s a difficult friendship, a cruel coworker, an illness or injury…and I just want OUT.

And, I’ll admit, I’ve driven over that median and turned around more than I care to admit. I don’t like difficulties. I really don’t like waiting. But what if some of those times, the end was right around the corner? What if, instead of leaving that friendship behind, I had pushed through? Maybe the bond would have been stronger in the end. What if I had shown that cruel coworker compassion? Maybe forgiveness would have come in days instead of months. What if, as the beautiful song says, our blessings come through raindrops, our healing through tears? What if running away or turning back prevents us from blessings God planned for us when He placed us on that path?

Friends, I don’t know what kind of obstacles are in your path right now. But I do know that, if God put you there, He is with you. Don’t turn around, don’t run away, don’t miss out on what He is trying to do. We may not see the end, but He does. We can trust Him.

And, if you already turned around — it’s not too late to go back. God is waiting for you. He loves you. He doesn’t promise that our lives will be easy, but He does promise to never leave us. Follow Him. He always knows the best routes.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ~Prov. 3:5-6