Not The Boss Of UsSample

Day Six

See It—Say It

Scripture: Isaiah 61:3

Even though there’s no easy fix, reframing and reminding ourselves of Truth can go a long way. How do we make that happen? I call it the See It/Say It approach: 

See It—recognize that something heavy is weighing in and threatening to steal the moment. 

Say It—call out Life’s Overwhelmed and reframe it by countering the world’s messaging with Truth. 

I recently had coffee with a friend whose marital situation was living hard days of unmet expectations and loads of heart-hurt both for herself and her daughter since her husband left. 

Even though I’m not traveling the same road, I understand. We all have life-twists that can leave us weak and wondering—territory that should never be entered alone.

While I grabbed our order, she glanced through her phone. 

By the time I got to the table with our steaming hot, heart-foam–laden lattes, she looked a bit down, feeling overwhelmed. 

“I just saw a pic, and I have to say my heart aches.” She couldn’t stop herself from allowing a picture of smiling happy couples to inform her situation. “It’s ridiculous, I know, but I look at them and want to be them. And am reminded that I’m not.”

Rather than let the threatening thoughts take root, we talked aloud about Truth—that is equally at hand—opting instead to be overwhelmed by life-giving perspective. 

Overwhelmed begins to be reframed by Truth. Truth that the people in those pictures matter, that they’re just people who feel the same way we all do. Truth that what is going on in someone else’s life isn’t informing or defining ours. Truth that we are seen, known, and loved by those who walk alongside us. Truth that solid footing can be found even on shaky ground. 

In the most beautiful way, my friend takes it home—beyond the picture to hope. 

“I’ve read,” she said, “that God takes ashes and makes them beautiful. And, I guess I’m getting to see it happen even in our seemingly horrible circumstances.” 

Dare we look beyond hardship to see hope? I loved that my friend was fighting to do just that. 

Why give Overwhelmed more ground than it deserves when we can be overwhelmed by Truth, grace, and hope? The things that actually are the boss of us. 

Use the See It/Say It approach with a friend for one situation in your life right now.