When fear knocks...

There was a really bad storm yesterday—it was so eerie; one of those that doesn’t last long but the sky makes you think it’s 10pm when it’s 2pm. The wind howls and it’s almost hard to just keep doing what you’re doing.
When this happened, Sledge was supposed to be napping and the thunder made it nearly impossible. My mother-in-law said he was having trouble settling down so she picked him up and they did what we do when fear knocks…

“Sledge, what was that?! Let’s talk about it.”

“That’s the thunder outside! Do you feel a little scared?”
RECOGNIZE it. What am I feeling? Sometimes fear is obvious, and other times, it materializes as the need for control, anger, confusion, sadness, and a million other things.

“That thunder is being LOUD but it’s just being silly! Look! It can’t come in the house! Silly thunder.”
ROOT it. This turns down the volume of the voices that feel loud, are irrational, and stimulate your senses to run, helping you take a breath.

“What does Jesus say about the thunder? Hold out your hand like this. Do you know who holds the world? You’ve seen storms before and they always pass by and get quieter.”
REDEFINE it. Place the filter of truth over your situation, over the circumstance, over the pouncing of the stimulant or the persuasiveness of the voice of fear and ask it, “What does the Good Shepherd say about you?”

“Let’s read the thunder a book. I bet it will calm down soon. Can you count to five on your fingers and then we will read?”
RESPOND + REALLOCATE your energy. There must be a redirection. Good intentions need helpful action or the water keeps traveling the same way. The same goes with our body, heart, soul, and mind.

And then, when this particular fear pops up again or maybe something else tries to make your heart beat a little fast or your mind to become scattered with uncertainty, come back to this process.
How did God help you?
Did comfort make its home in your heart?
Did it eventually pass?
Did God ever leave you?

Sure, some things seem elementary and for kids but honestly, maybe we as adults would really benefit from pausing, processing, and pacing this out with Jesus.

Peace—it is yours, even here 🤍