I find myself, yet again, in a period of uncertainty!
COVID 19 has done that to many of us.
There are those who have lost loved ones and are navigating a way forward without them.
There are those who caught the virus early on and still feel the effects months after the initial symptoms. There are those who face financial uncertainty as jobs and businesses fall by the wayside.
There are those struggling to manage anxiety and depression as the months of lockdown take their toll. There are those battling to do difficult jobs while keeping safe the ones who are most vulnerable to the virus.
The list goes on and on...
When it comes to uncertainty, 2020 has taken things to the new level.
I let 2020 get the better of me today.
After an unsettled night's sleep, the uncertain future took hold of my thinking and wouldn’t let go.
What if?
What if?
What if?
What if?
What if?
I played every scenario out in detail, followed by my feeble attempts to make sure each outcome had a list of possible solutions ready to deploy.
Round and round and round...
All the usual strategies to kick my mind back into gear were ineffective so this evening I took decisive action. I shut out the hustle and bustle of family life, retreated to my office, and opened my Bible. Having previously given my battle to the Lord, I spent the weekend gradually taking back control of the situation as He wasn't providing the answers quickly enough for my liking! I assumed responsibility for the fighting on many fronts and, unsurprisingly, today I became overwhelmed.
I mentioned in a previous blog that the military uses the term ‘strategic withdrawal’ rather than ‘retreat’ when the troops face danger in battle.
“Strategic withdrawal captures the most positive connotations of the word retreat, namely that there are times when the better part of wisdom in combat is to withdraw for good reasons - which can apply to us as well. There are times when we to need to pull back from the battle line in our own lives rather than continuing to fight the same battles in the same old ways. We need to pull back from our busyness, from life in our culture, from other people’s expectations and compulsions, from whatever is not working in our lives.”
Ruth Haley Barton
In this year of uncertainty are you taking time to strategically withdraw from the battlefront?
Are you giving yourself breathing space to rest in the one who goes before you in every uncertain situation you face?
I encourage you to find a few moments, reflect on scripture, pray or simply sit in God's presence.
In all this uncertainty its the best strategy.
‘Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.’
Deuteronomy 31:8
Kay Moorby
Comments