Some seasons of life are busier than others. Sometimes our cups are full and not necessarily in the negative sense. They can be full of good things, but even a cup full of good things needs careful handling.
When life is busy and there is no room left in that cup to fit anything else, distractions and unexpected demands such as car troubles, unexpected bills, extra demands on time, and changes in weather (like when you are planning an outdoor event and it’s raining), amongst other things, have the potential to overflow that cup and you find yourself juggling to catch what’s falling out the top!
Negative distractions can sap us of any energy we may have left, cause us to worry, and affect our health. But there are ways to deal with this and I am learning new skills as I go along.
Throw it forward
It’s times like these I like to take a little step back and throw myself into the future, picturing everything as being done and looking back on the season being a success. Will I want to remember these times as a time of stress, mess, and exhaustion? Definitely not. I will want my memories to be of a beautiful season of life, where love, warmth, and celebration triumph above all.
To ensure my memories are that of the latter, I need to take authority over the little ‘foxes’ trying to cause distraction and havoc in what should be a lovely time of the year. To do this, I am learning three main points which are very beneficial to coping.
1. Deal with what can be dealt with promptly. When unexpected problems crop up, they are best dealt with quickly and promptly. Sometimes this is not possible, but time spent correcting things that may otherwise sit heavy on the heart, take up space in our minds, or sap time and energy, is worth doing to preserve energy that will be needed for later.
2. Take your mind off what can’t be dealt with and give your attention to better things. When we focus on worries, it only weighs us down. God tells us throughout the Bible not to worry about anything, instead we are to focus on what is good. In Philippians chapter 4 verse 8, Paul tells us:
“…whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
And in verse 7 he explains that it is the ‘peace of God’ that will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
3. Keep your eye on the prize, keep your goals on track. Paul tells us again in Philippians chapter 3: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
In all these things, the most important thing is to stay close to God and remember that Jesus walks with us through the good and the bad. We can talk to Him about everything along the way and when we seek Him first, He gives us solutions, parts the waters, and gives us peace and joy. And joy is what we need to take with us on any journey. So, breathe, relax, and trust God. He will make the way.
‘Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”’ (Nehemiah chapter 8 verse 10)