Mistaking Annoyances for Agonies

One of my biggest issues in life is making mountains out of molehills.  So often, I nervously navigate through a day filled with back-to-back worries-of-the-moment that wreck my peace, each demanding my full attention.  This leads from days, to months, to years, and possibly a lifetime of constant worry.  There is no way this is what God intended for the Christian life! Yet how can I win these tiny battles that indeed are one big war?  And what is the root of this issue?  

The answer to these questions lies in a statement I heard made by Beth Moore.  It was so profound that I had to write it down and keep it in my journal.  She said, “The more detached and self-absorbed we become, the more we mistake annoyances for agonies.”  Now that is truth. Let that soak in. Allowing myself to become detached from God and from the real struggles of people around me because I am so self-absorbed; this is the source of my pain. I am looking at my world through "ME" lenses. I am the center of my universe. How many times have I let relatively minor issues consume my mind and destroy me? In fact, if my issue deserves either of these hashtags: #Firstworldproblems, #Thestruggleisreal; it is a sign that I have yet again made a big deal out of nothing. 

So now that I have admitted this problem, what is the next step? How do I get to a place of healing? My background tells me to search the scripture and find references to worry in the Bible.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

[6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, [2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

[5] We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

So in a nutshell:

1. Throw off those thoughts that hinder and refocus my attention on God through prayer and petition,  choosing to fix my eyes on him.

2. Thank Him for taking care of the issue.

3. When worry happens again, I repeat step 1 and 2, thereby taking every thought captive all day long.

Sounds simple right?  Lol. We all know that on my own power it will end in failure. How in the world do I fix my eyes on the invisible when the visible is screaming in my face?  The simple truth is that I can’t.  But I have a powerful Spirit living in me that can! 

Romans 8:5-6 NIV

[5] Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. [6] The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Yes! I need to call on that Power through daily prayer, and in every situation. Then I am not left to battle with my own ineffective tools. This cycle of worry can be broken by handing it to Him in prayer. This will be powered by the Holy Spirit living in me. I realize there will be times that my habits will win, but gradually the change will grow and transform this old girl.  

Here is another way to remember to take every annoyance to God.  Do you remember a time in your young life when something very unfair happened and you knew all you had to do was tell a certain trusted adult and they would restore justice?  You probably ran teary-eyed to him or her, dumped the problem, and then went off to play knowing it was going to be resolved. One approach when worrisome thoughts take my mind is to remember with a victorious attitude of “I’m going to tell my Dad.”  And before stopping to tell others who have no power to help resolve the problem, drop it in my Father’s lap, thanking him for taking care of it. 

Lord help me, I have so far to go. May I learn to fix my eyes on invisible You. Help me learn to lean on You.  This struggle will be conquered one battle at a time and only through your power. Thank you Dad. Now I can go play.  

Beloved

Beloved

I have a vivid memory of him standing at the pulpit, sweat dripping down, jowls swinging in emphasis as he addressed the listeners in the pews as “Beloved”.  That was my dad.  I often wondered why he chose this name for his congregation.  So I did a little research.  It means dearly loved or a much loved person.  The English Standard Version of the Bible has 104 verses with the term beloved.  The more popular New International Version changed the term to ‘dear friends’ and ‘one whom I love’.  Each time the term is used, it is a term of endearment like our ‘honey’, ‘sugar’, or in my husband’s family, ‘sweet thang’.  When you are called beloved, you are singled out as special.  

To truly understand a term, sometimes you have to look at it’s antonyms.  So here it is. Have you ever been trapped in a situation where you believed the person or people around you did not like you or even loathed you for some reason?  How did you feel?  How did you behave?  Was your behavior affected in any way?  Where did your thoughts go?  Did you become sullen and quiet or did you become rebellious, no longer caring?  Did your perspective shift to darkness?  Did you read something negative into every word your detractors uttered?  Did this belief shade your world for that period of time?  If you have never been in this situation, you are very fortunate.  Or maybe not.  This situation gives you an understanding that you could not have without it. 

Too often as a teacher, I saw students who lived their life in this way.  They acted as if they were despised by everyone.  They trusted no one and read evil into even the most benign statements.  Some were sullen and silent hoping to go unnoticed.  Many would act out and violate all rules. I cannot imagine the life of a child who lives feeling unloved or despised by everyone around them.  This is a sad existence.  

In Genesis 16 a story is told of a woman by the name of Hagar.  She lived her life as a slave, then bad went to worse when she was used in a plan devised by her owner, and in turn was mistreated.  So she ran away.  But God sent an angel to this woman to show her he loved her.  Her response is as follows.

Genesis 16:13 NIV

[13] She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me, ” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

She now had what she needed to return and stand tall in the face of her abusers. When she saw the love of her creator who cared enough to send an angel, she could live her life, however difficult, as one seen by God.  

What if we lived each day as a beloved child of God regardless of circumstances?  Is this even possible? Is this attitude sustainable in a life of ups and downs?  Ask yourself how God shows you that he loves you.  What if you kept your eyes on these love gifts.  God shows me his love in everything from soft p.j.’s to the color blue.  And it is most important that I stop to consider his love daily so that I operate from a stance of being loved.  

How do you act differently when you are around those who accept you and hold you in high esteem?  I stand a little taller and laugh a little louder.  I express myself and show my love toward others more freely. Make it your goal to uncover the ways God shows his love for you everyday.  Beloved, practice living from a stance of being dearly loved.