When your world is turned upside-down with worry of an unknown future, right here is how I cling to religion in uncertainty and lean into God throughout these seasons.
I awoke this morning and every little thing was superb.
I’m 38 1/2 weeks pregnant with our wholesome, energetic child boy. The solar was shining and birds have been chirping as Boots and I went on our regular morning stroll.
We’d simply arrived again residence and I used to be sitting on the entrance steps, having fun with the attractive Colorado morning after I received a name from my husband, Adam.
The primary phrases out of his mouth have been, “I’ve some unlucky information.”
And, instantly, I braced myself for no matter can be coming subsequent.
“The corporate is doing momentary lay-offs efficient tomorrow and I used to be the final one on the listing to be laid off.”
This was utterly out of the blue. There had been no discussions about finances cuts or anything. There was no warning in any respect earlier than this.
My coronary heart began beating sooner and my thoughts began racing.
“So…what does that imply so far as well being insurance coverage?” I requested.
“It could be terminated instantly,” he reluctantly replied.
And my coronary heart sank.
Shedding medical insurance and his revenue every week and a half earlier than my due date was not in our plans!
There isn’t any timeline for these “momentary” lay-offs. They might final 2 weeks, 2 months, or a yr. No person is aware of proper now.
Happily, that wasn’t the tip of our story right now. As a result of he was the final on the listing to be let go, he was provided one accessible place they’d accessible in Wyoming. There will probably be a pay lower and a commute concerned, however he’ll nonetheless have a job and we are going to nonetheless have medical insurance.
I used to be so grateful, however, even with ultimately getting that excellent news, my feelings had already been despatched right into a tailspin.
Sinking Into The What-Ifs Vs Staying Rooted In The What-Is
I understand how lucky we’re. There have been 8 different males on his crew alone (and plenty of extra throughout the state) who simply misplaced their jobs with none discover in any respect.
However, truthfully, I didn’t really feel lucky in that second.
I felt scared.
My thoughts was reeling with the entire what-ifs.
What would we now have executed shedding medical insurance after I may ship at any time? Would I nonetheless have the ability to see my physician? Would we have the ability to afford the supply and care we would want on the hospital? Will we even have the time to determine any of those solutions out?
It was so annoying to think about the entire potentialities.
However I had sunk into the what-ifs as a substitute of staying rooted within the actuality of what-is.
Was it scary to think about the potential of shedding his revenue and advantages in a cut up second? In fact it was!
However that wasn’t my actuality. That wasn’t my reality.
Certain, there are modifications that we’re going to want to regulate to. We don’t even know what all of these modifications will probably be but!
However the reality is, he nonetheless has his job. He nonetheless has advantages.
Worrying about what may have occurred isn’t serving to anybody proper now.
So, I had a selection. I may maintain letting myself spiral or I could possibly be extra proactive about my response.
I’ve confronted this dilemma earlier than. Within the uncertainty of an emotionally abusive marriage and ultimately a divorce, I had many alternatives to decide on religion or worry.
Proper after Adam and I received married, we handled a automotive accident, surprising medical payments, debt, and a job loss. As a lot as I want it have been, life isn’t all the time secure or predictable.
I haven’t all the time chosen nicely in uncertainty, however I do attempt my finest to cling to religion.
How I Cling To Religion in Uncertainty
#1 – Flip To God
My enterprise associate, Sara, has been doing an exquisite sequence referred to as Religion Over Worry with every day Bible readings and movies this month.
As quickly as I hung up the telephone with Adam, I pulled up her video for the morning as a result of I may really feel myself spiraling a bit and I knew I wanted some Reality to hold onto.
I’m not saying that was a straightforward or pure first step.
Sure, I knew I wanted some Reality, however what I felt like doing was going again to mattress, letting my thoughts go haywire, calling buddies to complain and get sympathy, and grabbing a bag of chocolate (sure, at 7:30am…even after shedding 100 kilos and sustaining it for years, working to meals for consolation and distraction continues to be a temptation!).
However I do know myself nicely sufficient to know that simply permitting myself to observe what I really feel like doing within the second may do extra hurt than good and lead me to self-destruction.
I didn’t get to decide on our scenario, however I do get to decide on how I reply to it.
What I did as a substitute to show to God:
- I learn Scripture. I watched Sara’s Religion Over Worry video and skim Psalm 121 alongside along with her.
- I wrote down 5 issues I’m grateful for. I attempt to do that each single morning, nevertheless it was particularly essential to redirect my ideas right now. (Should you want some additional assist getting began, I’ve 31 gratitude journal prompts right here.)
- I poured out my coronary heart to God in a written prayer in my journal. I’ve all the time been an enormous feeler, feeling feelings very, very strongly. I’ve needed to be very intentional about permitting myself to completely really feel my emotions, but additionally not permitting them to overhaul me or information my choices. It’s a fragile steadiness that I don’t all the time get proper, however that’s all the time my objective! (I’ve journal prompts on your quiet time, too!)
- I took my ideas captive. It didn’t occur instantly, however I began recognizing after I was needlessly worrying or believing issues that simply weren’t true. Once I began imagining the what-ifs and drifting off into future ideas of how issues may worsen, I reeled my ideas again in and deliberately redirected them. (I take advantage of these 5 steps to take my ideas captive)
Throughout my prayer time, one thing in my coronary heart shifted.
The place my prayer began considerably frantic and fairly self-focused, it ended with an extended prayer and a deeply real coronary heart of compassion for the opposite males in his firm getting laid off with none discover and for the care of their households.
That always occurs in my time with the Lord – my focus is shifted off of myself and onto others.
#2 – Lean Into Neighborhood
I discussed earlier that one among my temptations was to name my buddies to complain about our scenario.
However after the heart-shift that occurs in my time with God, my objective is not to complain or achieve sympathy (that’s why I very deliberately select to show to God BEFORE reaching out to family and friends!).
My objective is to truthfully and brazenly share the scenario with the folks closest to me in order that we are able to stroll by it collectively.
In these moments of uncertainty, folks in my life provide me:
- Prayer. That is essentially the most treasured present to me. I imagine within the energy of prayer and when my very own mind feels too scattered to hope, I do know I’ve folks providing up requests to the Lord on my behalf.
- Help/encouraging phrases. I’m a phrases of affirmation particular person, so listening to phrases of assist and encouragement lifts me up in methods I can’t even describe. It not solely modifications my temper, however my complete perspective on a scenario.
- Stability. Understanding that I’ve “my” folks there’s such a consolation to me. When issues are altering and shifting and really feel unsure, it’s so reassuring to know that I’ve folks there – typically providing to satisfy my bodily wants and typically simply saying, “I’m right here if it’s essential speak.”
#3 – Do What You Can & Let That Be Sufficient
In instances of uncertainty, there’s a temptation to take the burden of your complete scenario in your shoulders. I really feel it each time.
I find yourself feeling like a failure after I can’t sort things which might be completely out of my management.
After I’ve turned to God and introduced in my assist system, I do my finest to separate the issues which might be inside my management from the issues which might be out of my management.
Then I do my finest to focus my time and efforts on the sensible issues I can management.
Issues Like:
- My angle (that is most likely the largest one for me!)
- My schedule
- My finances
- My consuming
Something that I can select to alter to enhance the scenario, I’ll.
On the finish of the day, I can solely give my finest and that’s adequate.
Letting go of the issues which might be out of your management (like surprising job lay-offs) can relieve a lot of your burden.
And, if you happen to’re something like me, these issues are going to maintain sneaking into your ideas, so keep on guard and don’t enable your self to tackle the burden of issues that you are able to do nothing to alter (sadly, worrying doesn’t repair issues!).
After I’m going by these three steps, I do them time and again, as typically as I have to. It positively takes intentionality, however it’s so price it to expertise the peace, consolation, and freedom that comes from leaning into the Lord throughout these instances.
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