Leaning In
My husband once told me that as he watched me face physical crisis, it is as though I lean forward into it. I never thought of it like that, and he may not know this, but it was the biggest compliment he could have given me. Leaning into it is exactly what I want to do. It is not the same thing as accepting less than all of God’s promises for me. It is merely one leg of my journey. I don’t have any intention of camping out there permanently. I want to move quickly through it, learning any valuable lessons waiting for me to discover. I want to spend the energy available to me to the best of my ability. I don’t want to waste my time resisting, wrestling with something I am not able to control.
When we are internally upset or anxious, it has a negative effect on our bodies. Our own emotional reaction to other people and things around us can even change our body chemistry. That is the reason dogs will pick up on fear; somehow they can sense the chemical change in us. Anxiety, fear and stress can alter the normal functioning of our bodies and throw off our system. It is interesting that the word disease actually means dis-ease, which means “not at ease”, or “not at peace”. Wow. As people who follow the way of Jesus, the least we should be is at peace, or at ease. The Bible speaks about peace that is available to us. It isn’t the peace that comes when things are going great, it is a supernatural peace we can experience when our lives have been turned upside down and things feel like they’re going all wrong. It is what God has for us even when our life isn’t making sense and all does not seem right with the world. This type of peace is a gift provided for us through the blood of Jesus, and like all gifts, we must choose to receive it. Our part is to grab hold of this peace and make it our own.
John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful”
Accepting this gift is just the start! To experience this peace that surpasses understanding and makes it’s home in the midst of chaos, crisis and grief, we must learn to choose it. It is available to us now, even within reach. Paul provides some insight on how to cast off our anxiety and allow God’s gift of peace to be a guard over our heart and our mind.
Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Lean into Jesus this week and feel His presence as you rest your head on His chest and listen to His heartbeat. He loves you.
Blessing, Tami Gaupp
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