Today's Prompt: Threat**
Fear-causing anxiety is rampant in our society, and we see the consequences of that in the news. Our body goes into fight or flight mode when faced with a threat. A prolonged threat can cause serious mental and physical health problems. An article in Psychology Today says that our brain tricks us into making three mistakes when facing a threat. We overestimate it and underestimate the opportunities to deal with it. And we can't see the resources we have for dealing with the situation and utilize what is available.
As a child of God, He never wants us to feel threatened. He wants us to remain as careless as a little child, trusting Him to care for us. By doing that, we won't make those mistakes. I wrote this several years ago in the spring. Since then, the Holy Spirit has reminded me often to stay careless in the care of God.
This morning, as I sit on my porch with my coffee, I am drawn to the birdhouse under the eves of our shed. I watch two birds going in and out of it, feeding their babies. One would fly off, come back with a worm, then the other would go out. Next, my eyes caught sight of a bunny, and I watched as a long blade of grass disappeared, bit by bit, as he ate it. After he hopped off, a squirrel stopped by. He scampers up the birdbath for a maple seed breakfast and a drink.
As I sit enjoying all these goings-on, I hear the Lord say, "Look at the birds, aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?" From where I'm sitting, I see a clematis vine filled with purple, the deep reds of the peonies against the greens of the hosta. I realize that Matthew 6 is being delightfully demonstrated right before my eyes! The Message Bible says it l like this:
Next, hear Him say, "Look at the truck." I noticed a branch had come down in the wind storm. That branch should have landed on the truck and damaged it. Instead, it was lying next to it as if placed there. I heard, "I take care of you in ways you do not see yet."
Sometimes, we get so caught up in the threats around us and what we need that we forget He is taking care of us. I'm learning that God is patient. He is waiting for us to stop worrying and relax like I did this morning.
Then we will notice the birds and hear Him say, "You are more valuable to Me than they are!" We see His grace and protection guiding a tree branch to miss the truck. We will see Him demonstrating His word so sweetly to us, as He did for me. He wants us to keep our attention on Him and trust Him with all our tomorrows.
Learning to live carelessly in the care of God takes practice and bold determination. Our human nature wants to be in control and know all the answers. But the life we can live being careless in the care of God will be more than we would ever think or hope for on our own. It is a life written by one who knows and loves us best. An adventurous life where dreams come true. It is the only kind of living that will truly satisfy.
As we face each threat carelessly, those around us will notice. That is how we can be salt and light to a fearful and anxiety-ridden world.
**This post is part of the #write28days Challenge, writing and posting EVERY DAY in February
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1 comment
I love the concept of living carelessly in the care of God! We don’t realize how much he cares for us in the little things and get freaked out about big things instead of resting in his care.