It happens so fast. One minute your child’s hand is in yours and the next they are swept away in the crowd. Your eyes frantically search above heads looking for the familiar face, coat, shoes, anything. Eyes darting back and forth your heart starts to race and suddenly the loud beating is the only thing you can hear in your ears, until….there they are. Standing with the same look on their face that mirrors your own. Fear. Wondering. Looking. Reaching. Wanting. You walk toward each other, wrap each other up, exchange words, kisses and when your heart returns to normal all you can think is that you are so grateful to have found one another again.
I feel a little like this with God right now. I’m the child holding on to God’s hand and then all of a sudden, without any warning I’m swept off into the sea around me looking frantically for God’s stability.
We have so much distraction, worry, anxiety – in daily life, over the election, over health concerns, over the future. Real stuff. Important stuff. But, here’s the thing we might be missing. In those moments, when we know we are about to step into the fray (because sometimes we have to), we need to cling tighter than ever before to our Father. Isn’t that what we tell our children? Hold on tight. He will lead us through it all.
It’s hard, don’t you think, to prepare ourselves. Here are a few things to stay focused on as the world swirls on around you and you begin to feel the pull.
- Stay in the Word – Get some consistent Bible Reading in your schedule. Apps like She Reads Truth and First 5 make it easy to start your day out right. As First 5 says: “We must exchange whispers with God before shouts with the world.” – Lysa TerKeurst. Write down some of your favorite scriptures, keep them on notecards in your bag, on your desk and at home to constantly keep your head in the Word.
- Pray – The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. What does this mean? Don’t stop! Wake up praying, pray in the middle and then go to bed praying. Little stuff. Big stuff. Keep the communication lines open. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
- Accountability – Need a listening ear? Don’t be shy to ask for help. Talk to a trusted friend or a pastor at your church. We are not meant to do life alone.
- Shut It Down, Turn It Off, Throw It Away – There are times we have to walk away from things that are causing us distress. It’s not easy, but start to recognize the things in your life filling you up and focus on those rather than the things tearing your down.
Here is what I know to be true, God doesn’t move. Hold on tight and he promises that, as the storm swirls on around you, he will be right there, always good, always strong, always for you. Always.
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