Welcome to Throwback Thursday
Today we are revisiting a post by Josephine-Anne Griffiths which is very appropriate for today. It was first posted November 2018.
Frequently I carefully plan what I wish to write about in a blog post, then in the blink of an eye my focus changes. Either God is behind this change of direction, or I am easily distracted. So here we go again along a different path, but I feel it’s an important one, and something that we all ought to discuss or at least give some thought to. I know I need to be more mindful of this topic.
The topic in question is FEAR.
Last Friday I went down to our local Rowers’ Club here near the beautiful Nepean River. A group of us ladies (friends from Church) meets up every second Friday for lunch. We call ourselves the Golden Girls as we are all over fifty years of age, and we would like to think that firstly, we have entered our golden years and secondly that through our public displays of humour and happiness, we would spread some golden threads of joy to all of those whose paths we cross along the way.
Sometimes the conversation isn’t so ‘golden’ (in my opinion) … in fact it can be darn right depressing. I know that people always mean well, but last Friday our conversation took a turn for the worst. I don’t know how it started, but before we knew it we found ourselves discussing such negative things. For example politics, both here and overseas. The short-term and long-term effects certain things would have on our lives, and the lives of our children and grandchildren. Violence at home and abroad, and so on. The main theme seemed to be that everyone felt fearful. Fearful for ourselves. Fearful for our children and grandchildren. Fearful for what may or not happen in our lives in general.
I don’t take psychoactive drugs anymore – praise Jesus! However, this meant that my emotions were on high alert. I bid everyone farewell and made my way home. I had enjoyed the company, so what was wrong with me? I was a little depressed and anxious.
Once back at home I sat quietly for a while and thought back over the conversations. Some were relevant and reasonable, especially where people had personal issues to solve or face, and just needed a sounding-board, and some calm compassion. But other conversations were ridiculous. Ridiculous because our fears are unfounded. What is the point of discussing things at length that are upsetting, and that we ourselves have no solution for? We cannot solve the problems of the world. And neither should we try. That is why we have our Father in heaven. He is the SOLUTION. He won’t solve all of our perceived problems immediately. Some problems will never be solved to our satisfaction, but He has our backs and He knows what He is doing.
‘Because for every matter there is a time and judgment,though the misery of man increases greatly.’~ Ecclesiastes 8:6 (NKJV)
Just as the Bible frequently mentions the importance of love, it also focuses on the importance of having faith and trusting in God completely – never needing to be afraid.
‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ ~ John 14:27 (NKJV)
And so I sat there for a while longer, reading my Bible, looking for encouraging and comforting words … of course they were all there, because as we know God is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIGHT. I didn’t feel sad anymore and my anxiety had almost diminished. I did however, make myself a promise to discuss with the other ladies what had happened that day, the effect it had on me and my emotions, and even if they didn’t realise it immediately, the discussions of the day would have been detrimental to everyone who attended lunch.
We all know that our fears are futile, and pointless because God has got this, right down to the very last detail. But human nature is so powerful that we forget whose Hands we are in and where our futures lie.
What about you? Have you ever found yourself worrying needlessly? Have you been involved in a negative conversation, which ultimately goes nowhere, but leaves you feeling anxious?
I would love to hear some of your thoughts.
May God bless you all as you journey through the rest of this week and the remainder of this year. Yes, the world has become an ugly place, but let’s not colour our view by the actions of a few. There are lots of lovely people out there in the world waiting to share with us some fearless love.
