Three of My Closest Friends

Three of My Closest Friends
​
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Psalm 37:7

The anxiety in the building was palpable. Heads down, eyes darting back and forth as bodies scurried from one destination to the next, the strain of the spoken and unspoken expectations was visible on every face. It was Friday. The Friday before the first day of school and teachers were scrambling. The stress could be wrung out of the building like water from a wet rag. The sounds of it dripped in the hallways: “I’ll never get it all done.” “How can they expect me to do that too?” “I need a few more days to get everything ready.” “Summer went way too fast.” The feelings of it silently twisted inside: “Will I be effective this year?” “How am I going to meet the needs of this group of kids?” “I am overwhelmed.”

Worry. Anxiety. Fret. Three close friends to all of us. As women, especially those of us who are care givers, have a natural inclination to meet these friends on a regular basis. We tend to find it easier to hang out with them than the friends of patience, peace, and trust.
So, how do we deal with those pesky circumstances like misplaced car keys that lead us to fret?

First we need to be still. Both Psalm 37:10 and 46:10 start with “Be still.” Why? One we can know that he is God. Second, it calms us down. When we find ourselves fretting about something we need to stop, take a deep breath and calm down.

Next, we need to be patient. We need to learn to wait. We can’t do everything all at once or have everything be exactly the way we want it. Our circumstances won’t change overnight. Our problems can’t be solved in a minute. We have to trust the One who is truly in control to complete the work he has begun in us and in those around us (Philippians 1:6).

Third, we need to trust God’s plan and provision. If we are following him, we are right where we need to be right when we need to be there. We are not lost to him. We are not hidden from him. He knows the way we take (Job 23:10).

Last, we have to stop fretting. We have to stop worrying about “the other guy”. The neighbor with the better car, the friend with the smarter kids, the teacher with the cuter classroom, the gym instructor with the more defined shoulders and biceps. Personally, I had get off Pinterest because I felt inferior in my homemaking abilities as I scrolled through picture after beautiful picture on the trending home décor boards.

Ladies, it’s time for us to make new friends. Worry, anxiety, and fretting are not good for us. We need to stop hanging out with them and make new friends. We need to become friends with patience, peace, and trust. The best way to get to know them? Through the One who knows them best and loves to freely share them with others. So, sweet friends let’s spend some time with Him today and truly get to know His good friends.

Things to ponder: What are you fretting about that you need to give to Jesus? Pray about it. Be still for 5 minutes today just thinking about the good things God has done for you. Get rid of one thing today that causes you anxiety or worry.
 

---