Our Walk

(Pastor’s Blog)

When worry comes knocking

 

 

Dear Friends:

Several people have asked me for ideas on dealing with anxiety and worry. My first advice is to pray. This is not a “please give me…” prayer so much as a conversation with a friend. “God, I am worried, scared, feeling powerless. Help me.” It’s in the vein of Anne Lammott, one of my very favorite authors, who writes that there are really only three prayers. “Thanks, help and wow.” You know those prayers thanking God that you were kept alive, or well or honest. And those prayers, “HELP. PLEASE GOD HELP.”

I have shared many ideas from psychology, wellness, and God’s Word that we can use to build skills to help stave off panic and anxiety. I discovered a new one recently that I really like and I have been using it myself this week when worry comes knocking at my door.

It goes like this: 5—4—3—2—1   [You can do this almost anywhere.]

Name [maybe even outloud if you can]:

5 things you see
4 things you are touching or can touch
3 things you are hearing right now
2 things you can smell right now
1 thing you can taste right now

The Pastor in me, being quite predictable, would you encourage you to do this as a prayer. Thank you God for the five things I see right now, and that I can see. Thank you God for the 4 things I can touch right now and thank you for working hands and fingers. Thank you God for the 3 things I hear right now and for my ears…well you get the idea.

This exercise takes us out of worry, distracts us yes, but focuses us on the positives.

May God bless you in your seeking,
Pastor Joanne