A frequent phrase my mom says to our Siamese cat when she is constantly whining for attention or for wet food when it’s dinner time.
And it got me thinking—how often do we whine for things? Not in meows, but in sighs, groans, and “Why today, Lord?” laments. We grumble when we’re forced to wait.
Our common response is to complain which does nothing but makes us more frustrated or angry than before.
But as His children, we’re invited into something counterintuitive. I am not saying that we will have a life free of stress and/or chaos, although that would be nice. What I am saying is that we can have a life that doesn’t have to be consumed by it.
Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
And 1 Peter 5:7 wraps this truth in saying:
Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
In other words, we are called to cast our worries to Him, and trust that the God who sees us is also guarding us. Not some of our worries, but all of them. He cares.
Calmness in the Chaos
Practice does not make perfect, but it does make a natural habit.
It is hard to do. I know. Took me a while to achieve this habit. Now it’s a common action. I usually take deep breaths or sing/hum a random song that pops in my head.
I trust that He is near and will deal with them in His own way.
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