Stop Stirring

A big storm rolled through yesterday, and I watched from my window, praying my flower pot and yard art babies would survive.

I'm happy to report that all are safe and accounted for.

Thanks to the meteorologists' updates every five minutes and numerous alerts on my phone and electronic devices, I knew the storm was coming and could prepare adequately.

Am I the only one who gets slightly annoyed when they freak me out and nothing happens?

I'm almost disappointed when the storm passes, and it wasn't that big of a deal.

Oh well. Now that that's over let's move on and gear up for the next terrible thing.

We live in a time of constant messaging of fear and worry.  

Anticipatory fear gets us all stirred up before anything even happens - if it even does.

It's great we can now predict things so much better than in the past, and as much as I love to stick my head in the sand, being informed is important.

But getting information doesn’t always equal being accurately informed. It doesn’t take long for me to google or scroll my way into a frenzy.

And what good does this do?

The constant barrage of awfulness and the resulting stirring up of fear are impacting our psyche.

Incessant evil foreboding is keeping us imprisoned in fear.

Foreboding is defined as an omen, prediction, or presentiment, especially of coming evil.

I must confess I spend too much time in my head stirring up my fears and filling my thoughts with evil forebodings.

Most of which never come to pass.

That doesn't feel like freedom to me.

Hope, faith, trust. Those are the words written on the flags of freedom.

So every time those clouds of fearful thoughts start forming in my mind, I will scream, "STOP STIRRING."  

I have hope that things will work out, and I will do what I can to be of service.

I have faith that good things will come and that whatever struggles I must face, I will be all the wiser and stronger from the lessons learned.

I have trust in God that He will guide and protect me and He has it all figured out.

It reminds me once again of the poem I wrote when my kids were little, and they were feeling scared or worried:

"Don't worry about what's happening next; enjoy what's happening now.

Don't worry about what might happen; trust God; he's in control anyhow."

Stay in the moment, my fellow stirrer.  

Turn off the TV and put your phone down. Take some deep breaths, exercise, bake me some pies, read a book, play a game, or talk to God.

Do whatever works for you to stop the stirring and foreboding.

Keep your eyes on God and fill your mind and heart with thoughts of hope, faith, and trust.

Everything is going to be okay.

It will.

I mean it.  

Proverbs 15:15

 All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Philippians 4: 4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 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.