Tag Archives: fear

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Encouragement For Today

Two people are facing a difficult day today. A day that has been a long time coming. Now it is here.

I sent this email to them in the hopes that it could be an encouragement. I thought I would post it here. Perhaps you need some encouragement and some assurance that He is a good God and loves you, and that “His will governs all.”

Good morning,

Praying for a real sense of God’s abiding presence in you today—filling you, and leading you each step of the way.

May you go forth with humility, courage and boldness, and with the assurance that “His will governs all.”

It’s time to step into this day with confidence that you’ve done all you have been asked to do.
I know that all you have done, every step along the way, has been bathed in deep and serious prayer.
You are ready.

You are not alone today.
You have a host of warriors at your right hand and your left.
You have an army of people standing with you in prayer, both in this life and in the life-to-come.

Don’t forget that this is the Lord’s battle. It is not “up to you.”
Open your heart, wide, and trust Him to fill it and direct you.

May God’s great love overshadow all you do and say today.

Rest. Trust. Be at peace.
Rest in His providence and in His righteousness.
“He IS a good God who loves mankind.”

Remember:

“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knows them that trust in Him.”
Nahum 1:7

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1

May God’s good and perfect will be done in the lives of all.

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Look At Your Feet: Five Steps for Living in the Present Moment

I got a phone call last week from a friend who wanted to talk. Not meet for a visit, but talk. There was a tone of seriousness in her voice.

I hadn’t seen her for a long time. Why would she be calling me now, out of the clear blue? She didn’t want to talk over the phone, she wanted to meet me face to face. She didn’t tell me what she wanted and I was afraid to ask.

Immediately my mind went to all of our past encounters. Had I offended her somehow? Was that why we hadn’t talked for so long? Was she mad at me? Had I been completely blind to something? What had I done?

Was she going to deliver some really bad news to me? Or was she going to tell me about some grand scheme of hers? Was she wanting me to do something with her? Did she want me to bail her out of some bind? Had she come to some kind of monumental decision?

How was I going to respond? What if I got mad? What if I couldn’t help her or support her?

What if I cried?

My mind wanted to stay in the past. Asking questions. It wanted to jump to the future. Asking questions. But both were unattainable to me.

The time came. I arrived at our favorite coffee shop ten minutes early. I looked around and scoped out the room for the perfect table. The one in the back right corner. I made sure my back was to the room so if I cried no one would notice. I had no idea what to expect. I couldn’t prepare. So I waited.

While I waited I noticed how nervous I was. Thankfully, I was able to have a little talk with myself before my friend arrived.

“Self, you can’t change anything in the past,” I said matter-of-factly.

“There is no way you can predict what is to come,” I said, almost scolding myself.

I knew better.

“All you have is right now. All you have is this present moment. And you don’t know what it holds. Look at your feet.”

In the past few years I have developed an exercise for bringing me back into the present moment.

I am trying to remember that the present moment is the only place where I can encounter the living God.

I want him to lead me.

I want to hear from him and talk with him.

I want to walk with him, moment by moment, day by day.

I want to be found faithful as I make my journey through life.

I can’t do that yesterday, and tomorrow is no guarantee.

Connecting with him is only possible right here, right now.

As I sat in that coffee shop I realized that I needed to meet him right then. I needed him to help me. So I began by looking at my feet.

Here is what I said to myself:

1. “Look at your feet.”

Notice exactly where I am at this exact moment.
Look around.
Where am I?
Whom am I with?
Who am I talking to?
What am I doing?

2. Say, “I am here.”

Not somewhere else. I am right here, at this moment. This is the only place that matters. This person is the only one that matters. This situation is the only one that matters. Right now is all that matters.

This present moment is the only one which can be affected.

The past is gone. Done. The future is not yet here.

I only have this moment and this place to make a difference.

3. Say, “God is with me.”

He is.

It’s true.

He is everywhere present and filling all things.

He will never leave me. He is right here. He is with me.

Meditate on that for a minute. Accept it.

4. Ask, “What now, Lord?”

What is God asking from me right now?

Be still. Listen.
Really listen.
Shhhh.

Listen.

6. Now act. Obey. Do it.

By the time my friend joined me at the table, I was able to be fully present to her.

I wasn’t worried or afraid.

I just abandoned myself to our time together, all the while continuing to be alert, to listen and respond to what I believed the Lord was saying to me.

We had a difficult but delightful time together. Our friendship was beautifully deepened.

I won’t share with you the substance of our conversation because it doesn’t really matter. It’s in the past.

What matters is right now.

Question: Where are you right now? Look at your feet.

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Wait To Worry: Procrastination at Its Best

Don’t ask me how I got this way, but I just don’t struggle with worry. I know it’s a gift and I am eternally grateful for it. I don’t struggle with fear. My mind doesn’t immediately run to the “worst case scenario.”

Maybe it’s because my folks weren’t big worriers. I grew up in a family with a lot of love and a lot of security. (What a gift to give to your kids!) My folks had a great trust-relationship with God and they with each other. I just didn’t learn to worry.

Whenever there was real cause to worry, the worst-case rarely came to pass. In fact, I’m not sure it ever really did. Not the WORST case.

Sadly, there are people in my life for whom worry is their besetting sin—is it a sin? You may struggle with this.

I wish I could take it away for you. Worry is so destructive. It creates all kinds of problems. It wreaks havoc on our health causing headaches, skin rashes, back pain, digestive disorders, insomnia, dental problems, high blood pressure, just to name a few. It also effects relationships, makes people fearful, anxious, and irritable. It effects one’s ability to trust.

As a mom, when my girls go to a place of worry, I do the only thing I know to do. Since I can’t take it from them, I encourage them to “wait to worry.” Just postpone it. This is procrastination at its best.

“Wait to worry” has become one of my own mother’s modus operandi. The implied message is, “You may have very good reason to worry. The worst-case may indeed come to pass. But … not today. Just wait to worry. There’s plenty of time for that. But not right now. Just wait to worry.”

“But Mom, what if I don’t get that job?”
—Wait to worry.
“Mom, what if we can’t pay our electric bill?”
—Wait to worry.
“What if her fever doesn’t go away?”
—Wait to worry.
“What if this medicine doesn’t work?”
“What if he doesn’t ever call me again?”
“What if she won’t listen to me?”
“What if …”
“What if …”

Wait to worry.

Worry tomorrow, but not today.

Question: Have you ever been glad you waited to worry?