War, terrorism, refugees, famine, climate change, political polarity, shootings, road rage, dictators, (insert your own nightmares here) all tangled up in our consciousness like roots in mangrove swamp, \making our walk torturous and dangerous.
Inside of me is a resigned paralysis. I am bewildered, not just by the outward circumstances, but by the murmuring of my anxious heart that seems arrhythmic right now, and worse, by the strong, even violent, unChristlike thoughts and emotions that overwhelm me at times.
I responded: “No. But a great idea! I will start thinking about it. I think it’s a process of resting in God every time the anxiety registers at a conscious level. I mean deliberately and then persisting. You got any ideas? Some scriptures spring to mind: Phil 4 (be anxious for nothing); 1 Peter (casting all your care on Him); Can you by thought add a cubit to your stature – consider the lilies (Jesus in Sermon on Mount). Maybe something on how to love them that hate you as well as those who distress you. How to turn worry into relaxed concern? “
Inside of me is a resigned paralysis. I am bewildered, not just by the outward circumstances, but by the murmuring of my anxious heart that seems arrhythmic right now, and worse, by the strong, even violent, unChristlike thoughts and emotions that overwhelm me at timesJoan Kruger wrote: “So Anton, have you thought about doing a series on how to let go of one’s rising anxiety level during this election? Would help a whole lot of people!”
Joan: “You made me laugh. What really got me going was the Habakkuk study. Totally paraphrasing. God why aren’t you doing anything with these evil people. God, I’m using them to bring you back to me. And guess what, you ain’t seen anything yet. My point is more that God is using the world’s turmoil for our good and to advance His kingdom but turmoil, even for our good, can be painful.””
So with Joan as a collaborator, here we go.
A Map of the Journey
Entering a wilderness without a map is lunacy. It is dangerous lunacy, survival is at stake.
It is my prayer that these articles will provide a map so that we can gain insight and grow. I do not think we will ever fully understand, always seeing through glass, coated with sticky smoke from the wildfires, until we see Him Face to face in glory, but distress is dealt with in numerous ways that will hopefully provide secure stepping stones through the quicksands.
Let’s keep our concentration on these scriptural stones.
Habakkuk says he rushed to the Temple to await God’s response, and Asaph the Psalmist was deeply distressed by the prosperity of the wicked until … he entered the temple:
Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, (not sure pure of heart) my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.
All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments.
When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply…
… UNTIL
Until … I entered the sanctuary of God (Psalm 73 NIV)
Always, The First Response, Always
Set the problem to one side, and go straight into the Presence of God. He will enable you “to be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). This is so important, because it immediately changes the context, putting the issue into the background and God in the forefront. Now the problem is no longer free to float in the frame of your life with its limitations, but is placed in the orbit of God’s infinite care. You can heave a sigh of relief and let go while you figure out the next step with your Heavenly Guide navigating the map of God’s Word.
HINDS FEET ON HIGH PLACES
Earlier Habakkuk said:
“ … will climb up to my watchtower
and stand at my guardpost.
There I will wait to see what the Lord says
and how he[a] will answer my complaint.” (Hab 2:1 NLT)
concludes in a similar way:
YET
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights. (Hab 3:18 NLT)
Life is not lived from an armchair, it is a journey, sometimes in a jolting stagecoach through rough terrain with masked bandits committing life threatening hold ups.
A map with an experienced guide is getting the best of two worlds.
May these meditations be like oasis’ on the map, and may the Holy Spirit be your guide.
progressingpeople 