Relax? This IS me relaxed!
It’s so easy for me to get “wound up.” I seem to be wired for “anxious.” And I have my buttons and triggers, just like everyone else, things that make me stressed very quickly. I have dealt with this all my life.
Holding On / Letting Go
It’s not that I don’t trust the Lord in my mind and speaking in faith really keeps me grounded. But often, I hold my stress in my body. Even when I’m actively trying to trust and I’m praying and believing (perhaps even striving) for the answer, I’m holding my breath till God acts on my behalf. (And in His grace and faithfulness, He still comes through for me. He doesn’t berate me for a lack of trust. He just shows me His love again.) But there is an underlying tension that is hard for me to escape. Even if ¾ of my being is trusting, there is a stress factor of “holding on” in the other ¼ instead of “letting go.”
So, what a joy today is when I am experiencing the reality of trusting Jesus in my whole being.
Physical Peace
I have been thinking — He has met my needs before. He has been meeting them right along. He is going to continue to provide all that I need. He is not going to stop now. He won’t abandon me or strand me with no way home. He will help me. He always does. He will show me the way. He will send for me. He will rescue me. He is my peace. Aah, actual physical peace. (Breathe in and out.)
This Time
This time I’m going to trust Him while I wait for Him to show Himself magnificent. This time I’m going to relax and let Him take care of it. This time I will not worry while I wait. I will actually trust while I wait. This time I’m going to breathe and relax. My elevated stress level does not help God in any way. Holding my breath is not doing my part! I don’t need to feel anxious.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6).
That verse shows us the path to peace. Ask God. Give thanks. Trust and wait.
This time, I will trust Him with my whole being while I wait.
Is there something you need to trust God with today?
Erica Faraone 
Duffy Derks
/ April 24, 2010I’ve learned and am still learning that the journey being taken is often more important than the destination. Without the journey the destination will either won’t happen or be greatly diminished. Thanks for the great post on relaxing and enjoying all God has for you and those around you in the midst of the journey. I find my worry is often a reaction to something rather than a Godly response to something He is trying to do in my life.
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ericafaraone
/ April 24, 2010Good words, Duffy! Thanks for the comment. Exactly–enjoy the journey, because God has everything under control and everything will work out just fine according to His good plan.
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christybower
/ May 2, 2010Erica, thanks. I needed this. The other night I went to bed sleepy and began to pray until I drifted off to sleep. But I was praying about stresses I’m facing and I became so worked up that I was awake until 4am. So much for giving them to the Lord. I was trying to solve them myself and asking for His peace while I solved things. Duh.
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ericafaraone
/ May 4, 2010Christy, that’s a great way to put it. Are we releasing our concerns to Him or trying to solve it ourselves and asking Him for peace while we do?! The speaker at Ladies Retreat this weekend (Jodi Detrick) also quoted someone who said, “Quiet tension is not trust– it’s compressed anxiety.” Whoa. Real peace requires release. Much peace to you! 🙂
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