Faith Over Fear
How did you make it this week or even today? Did you feel like the days were not long enough or too long? Were there moments it seemed as if everything was spiraling from all angles and directions? I hear you, sometimes you are left asking yourself, “Did I just go through a twilight zone? . . .This cannot be real.”
Fret not there is something within your soul being built to withstand all that literally and figuratively gives sentiments of an “attack”. Targets, tactics, and traps attempting to bring chaos while leaning into the “calm”. Beyond the trending phrase, “drinking your water and minding your business” ; it could appear situations and personalities are seeking the “need” to confront or “poke the lion” within to see what makes it roar. Counting down to ten, breathing in and out, keeping calm to not orbit. . .trying to remember those healthy therapy strategies for conflict. I laugh just thinking about it. Now this does not mean there is perfection on our end, quite the opposite. Yet it does show how you are able to lean into your faith and release the matter to God believing that He will fight every battle that is beyond as well as above you. Yes, sometimes we will have to confront a matter or face a conflict. Still, more than we may imagine God truly desires for us to learn to be at peace with all men as the necessity to “fight” may be a distraction or a way to pull us into a cycle that will not render peace or respect. The peace to not “fight” for an answer. The peace to “release” without hesitation to simply let it all be does takes courage.
The courage to negate forcing an explanation or demanding an answer beyond what our human mind often craves does not make one weak. Instead in an awkward way, your faith allows you to shine the light on yourself to work on how the issue has created disturbance for you from the inside out. We do not ignore the emotional impact of opposition and attacks, yet we lean into awareness and personal accountability to not hurt others with our hurt. The capacity along with willingness to navigate self-awareness for accountability will be personal for each of us. Maybe reflecting on the nature, source and root of the tense encounter(s) could be a start. Where does it stem from? An incredibly wise person has always encouraged me to “consider the source” from which opposition and attacks seem to form. Sometimes faith requires us to move out of the way or pull back. While remaining aware of how painful emotions can lead to blame within, but really needing to acknowledge the truth of how the opposition made you feel. Remember that does not make you weak nor overly sensitive. Knowing your emotional thermometer is essential to your well-being. . .and that truly requires healthy faith.
A form of faith to not shun feelings of hurt, betrayal, disappointment, or sadness. A form of faith that helps you not suppress your worth and confess what is tolerable or simply “too much” for your emotional radar. Yes, there are those wired with “short fuses” or as traditionally defined to be “short tempered”, but even that can not be an excuse for ignoring your emotional radar. Faith allows you to honor how God has wired you to deal with situations or understand what makes you feel happy, sad, manipulated and/or simply not taken seriously. Whatever your emotional radar reads for this season, be kind to yourself.
Give yourself space to navigate a healthy-balance that allows you to be true to you. Personally, the healthy-balance of boundaries and “dropping my rope” have been priceless. Letting you into our life for a brief moment *smile*. . .This healthy-balance has helped us gain strength to not “prove ourselves.” It is like an invisible way to conqueror the feelings and pressure of what anyone may claim you are “avoiding”; but in God’s way He is processing you privately to remain focused and not fall into the trap of attempting to please everybody. Yes, family, relatives, friends. . .people.
So in faith, ask God to show you the sentiments of your heart. The hurt. . .the pain. . .the relationship that will not receive closer. . .Ask God to give you a T.G.F.F. encounter. Then arise with a form of soulful tranquility that renders no explanation, yet a sense of personal awareness, forgiveness and trust experiencing God as the source of your strength and the strength of your life whom shall you fear. Let Psalm 27 be your calm.
Do not let anyone hold you by past misfortunes or misunderstandings. If new doors have opened walk into it. If favor greets you through fellowship in chapters only God has written for you, humbly follow His lead. But in the end know God has you and no weapon formed against you will prosper.
T.G.F.F.
~Corri Rose~