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Our Church is doing a class for young adults using the book “Anxious for Nothing Finding Calm in a Chaotic World” by Max Lucado. Mom found the book at Hobby Lobby and bought it so we could read it ahead of time. Honestly, I was a little leery of both the book and the class…
So often the tendency for dealing with anxiety or stress is to either blow it off or toss around Bible verses and cute Christian sayings as the answer to every fear. “Don’t worry God is with you and He’s got a plan. It’s all gonna work out. Don’t worry.” This is not to say that the Bible doesn’t have all the answers–it does. However, when someone is truly stressed and worried about something oftentimes these kinds of answers are like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound. It doesn’t really help.
But this book is different. While he quotes Bible verses frequently he shows you how to apply them in your real life. As I continued to read the book I was struck by this particular comment.
“Resist the urge to exaggerate, overstate, or amplify. Focus on the facts, nothing more.” P. 125
Personally, though I have struggled with anxiety in the past THIS is more of what I’m prone to. Exaggerating, overstating, and amplifying EVERYTHING. The good is great and the bad is worse. For me, it can be as simple as waking up in the morning with a stiff neck and diagnosing myself with a brain tumor. Or exercising and pulling a muscle that I didn’t know I had and convincing myself I’m dying. The same can be said for all the good things.
If there’s any way to exaggerate, overstate, or amplify something I’ve done it…more than once…
And in full transparency, it takes me days to come back down to reality. Hours of discussion, hashing out what happened, or what could have happened, and every possible outcome several times. Honestly, it turns my life into a rollercoaster. Mostly of my own making. Climbing up in fear and anxiousness, realizing everything’s okay, and then coming crashing back down into reality, exhausted. Again and again.
When I read this particular chapter I was struck by how simple it was. “Focus on the facts”. What really happened? I woke up and my neck is sore. There is a bruise on my leg. It’s that simple. Sticking to the facts is NOT easy…This is something that I need to be reminded of constantly. And while I’m still pages away from finishing the book I really liked what he said. It’s given me a place to start. When I start to exaggerate, overstate or amplify a situation I can stop and remind myself to “Focus on the facts, nothing more.”
This phrase has been on my mind a lot this week and it often helps me to process things if I can write them down. I’m hoping that by my sharing a few thoughts and processing my own life it’ll help you too!
Until next time,
Bailey Sue
