Perhaps you can identify with my experience (wink-wink): I sent a mildly urgent text to someone the other day and she didn't reply in 36.224 seconds. After a respectable period of waiting (my timeline), my mind crafted a whole body of negative "evidence" to explain her neglect, rejection, and mean indifference. Knowing better, I repeatedly dismissed negative Nelly from my brain, but she kept cropping up. The next day, my friend sweetly replied, swamped herself.
That same day, I had recurring issues posting on social media. Let me tell you the conspiracy theory that cropped up in my pretty little noggin! (Although social media conspiracies aren't so far-fetched anymore.) The following day, that too was dissolved.
Sometimes, the "evidence" is indeed more ominous, like when I had to have an enlarged lymph node biopsied. I was planning my funeral and the woman I could pick to marry my ex and mother my kids. The test results proved harmless.
Sometimes what we fear does happen, but it turns out to be a good thing--even a great thing--like when I elected to have Isaac despite an ominous sonogram that indicated he might have Down syndrome. He's proven to be a bountiful and unique blessing, full of healing, wisdom, love, and laughter I so urgently needed.
Because it's all about me, dontcha know. Not, but my heavenly Father does love me. It's important to know that, especially when life is unpredictable, as it increasingly is.
Our minds can go into cruelly creative overdrive, weaving elaborate, negative, and actionable scenarios that suck the joy, peace, and productivity in the moment.
Mostly, I can combat this with reality-testing. Do I know what I fear is true? Do I really, really know? Of course, I seldom do, and whiling away the hours worrying and crafting elaborate solutions for problems that never happen is a terrible waste and...It's. A. Sin. There, I said it. Worrying, fear, being anxious is strictly prohibited.
Thankfully, St. Paul gives us clear instructions:
"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 (NIV)
Break it down:
Don't = A command
Anxious = "Experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome." (Oxford Dictionary)
Anything = ANYTHING
Every = Every last one
Prayer = Connecting with God, giving thanks, and asking for help
Petition = Humbly requesting, begging. A formal request, a written request
Thanksgiving = Gratefully
Seek and receive God's transcendent peace!
Even when the worst thing proves true, Christ overcomes it all.
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