Planned Panicking

I tend to worry. Over the years when a family went to the hospital, my sister Gail and I would share our concerns. Often, we fed on each other’s worries. She would say something like “what if it is or that …?” Then I would contribute, adding worse scenarios. 

On our worst panicking days, this exchange of woes continued back and forth for a while. At some point, we laughed, referring to our frets as planned panicking. We thought, if we prepared for the worst and the worst came true, we would not have far to fall with our emotions, thinking it was the best way for us to handle the stress of the trials of life.

The Unknown

For me, my most difficult trials are usually the ones that accompany a large unknown element, which leave me wondering: what, when, where, and how.

The unrevealed path looms ahead, and I struggle with navigating it. Thus, planned panicking seems to help. I visualize, directing myself through the worst-case scenario, knowing I could walk anything pertaining to it. 

None of us can live without facing trials. Perhaps, these trials are as simple as spilling something on your shirt right before a big meeting or being late due to traffic. Other times, the trials can be life altering: loss, illness, death, finances, betrayal, moves, disappointment, and unwanted change.

Hardships require us to make some choices, whether we want to or not. The bigger the trial, the bigger the effects on our lives. If we stand still, the tidal wave of change can knock us over. So, I see two choices. 

World’s Way or God’s Way

Looking for a path, the world’s way will often tell us to hate our way through, find revengeful actions to retaliate, or perhaps reach for a substance to deal with the pain. We can easily view these choice actions in response to the daily hits of the situation. Click on the television, look at social media, check-out the headlines on magazines.

We can also allow sadness to develop into depression. Satan loves this worldly way, and he is good at throwing exaggerations our way: it is always or it will never. These falsehoods can throw us into a tornado of negative thinking, which can be dangerously difficult to recover from. 

God’s way is more difficult to find because it is hidden among overgrown weeds of this world. However, if we push back the briars, we can find His hand. Then unknowns become less frightening. 

While our world changes rapidly, God never changes. He wants to comfort, strengthen, and guide us. His principles are timeless; His ways bring healing and peace. 

Planned Preparation 

I am thankful that along the bumpy roads of our lives, Gail and I have matured in our faith. His goodness was, is, and will always be. He is there to hold us when we cry, help us stand again, and light the path ahead. Still, while we cannot understand all the whys of this world, God’s guidance allows us to navigate the way we should walk the unexplainable paths His way, helping with the whens, wheres, whats, and hows.  

Abiding in His Word helps prepare for the rains and storms. Seeking Godly wisdom from sound-Christian friends, provides an earthly crutch through the debris of the trials. Making a mental or written list of how He has carried me through previously troubled times, builds my confidence, allowing trust to breed and take flight over hardships. Planned preparation is not as easy as planned panicking because it takes time, but it brings peace!

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in troubles. Psalms 46:1