Be Still: 30 Devotions for the Hopeful HeartExemplo

Stop Freaking Out

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. II CORINTHIANS 10:5 NIV

Beth Moore made this brilliant statement: “You can go ahead and freak out, or you might just choose to believe that God is going to be faithful.”

It is brilliant because every single one of us can relate. And if we are being honest, we often choose the first option of freaking out, don’t we? Something goes awry and we are in a tailspin before we even understand what it all means. We jump to conclusions, assume the worst, allow irrational thoughts to cloud our judgment, and let our emotions tell us what’s next.

When we freak out, we miss so much that is right in front of our eyes. It’s like we take on tunnel vision, only permitting our memory to retain the negative. We forget in just one situation what the Lord has already done for us. Is that all it took—something going wrong—for us to assume that He is not in control and we need to put matters into our own hands? Our “plans” were interrupted, and instead of viewing this as an opportunity for God to do His thing, we question whether God is even present.

Believe it or not, we always have a choice. Even in the stickiest situations or when our backs are so hard-pressed against a wall that we can’t see anything else, we can still choose to trust God.

Will it make sense in our little box of normality or comfort? Will it be easy? Will it fix itself immediately? Probably not, to all these.

But aren’t these the very moments we were created for? To be warriors of faith? To pick the side of trust and stay on the battlefield? He has never failed us. Ever. He does not lead us into traps; He guides us in His truth. His promises are secure.

So let’s chill a little bit. And when we want to freak out, vent, or worry, let’s reel it in. Let’s remind ourselves of who we serve and remember His track record: He is always faithful.

Dear Jesus, thank You for being a calming Father. When we feel ourselves getting overwhelmed, can You remind us of Your faithfulness? Reserve our energy for what matters and give us the wisdom to consult You first and foremost. In Jesus’s name, amen.