When I find myself disquieted I go back...

to the time when GOD first made Himself real to me.

to the time when He sent angels to keep me from drowning.

to the time He enabled me to get several members out of a burning house. And then in a vision allowed me to see what happened to one who did not make it out.

to the time I got beat up after coming back to the Lord. How alone against many ( I deserved it) I grabbed the first person with a bat and buried my head in their stomach and "clinched". Someone got a chain around my neck. I passed out. When I woke up I heard the sirens and saw a police car coming lights flashing. And after it was all over went back to the same place it happened later that night and waited. When a van pulled up and the side door opened I told them I wanted to talk. They said get in. I told them about giving my heart back to Jesus. I told them how sorry I was for the things I had done. It was agreed they would drop their charges against me and I would do the same. A few months later I felt led of the Lord to go to the house where most of these people lived. Invited them to a christian concert. All refused except for my sister's ex-boyfriend, which is who most of the "drama" centered around. He got saved.

to the time I failed miserably. And yet GOD forgave.

to the adoption battle that we could not win...but did.

to the fight with the schools, juvenile justice and courts who were determined they knew what was best for a son. With the Red Sea in front of us and the Egyptian army behind we were about to have him removed from our home. Thru it all I maintained the integrity of my heart and trusted GOD. When it was definitely walking by faith and not sight because sight wasn't looking good at all. GOD made a way where there was no way and it all went away.

So when circumstances look bad and then bad gets worse
I just ignore when Job's wife tells me to at GOD curse

For I know the GOD of my past is the GOD of my future
I know that I am His child and that my salvation is sure

Sometimes my emotions try to take the place of my faith
And my mind focuses on fact instead of what GOD saith

But then I recall all the good GOD has done
And how each battle given to Him He has won

Not always how I wanted but just as He planned
GOD often works in ways I don't understand

Even when into the tempest my little vessel sails
I will cling to my trust in the One who never fails

Like a little child who was bitten or stung by a bee
I run to the One who has said, "Come unto Me."


When life gets to be more than I can handle I give it to my Father. Let Him deal with it.

Please know these words are written by one whose journey began about 40 years ago. I have struggled, failed, worried and tried to do things in my strength. Oh, what peace I forfeited for so many years by just refusing to let go of my life and let GOD truly be my heavenly Father.

One time Lucas, when he was three, maybe four, was getting out of the car when a big dog came up. It was a big friendly dog but Lucas had been terrified by a dog when he was younger so he was very frightened. I understood so I picked him up held him on my hip opposite the dog. And then I used my stern voice, "Dog, go away!" And then I hear Lucas repeating those words, in a much smaller voice. It was cute.

We all have things that terrify us. Or have hurt us deeply. Or an injury that never healed. We have a heavenly Father who understands. And who will lift us up and protect us and speak to our need. And then enable us to speak to it.

We all have heard repentance described as a U-turn. I have repented so much that my life path looks like an oval. The Cross is my start, my finish, and I've made plenty of "pit stops" along the way.

.....peace.....

I'll read scripture and sing too.  I also go dancing, which is my emotional reset button, and my happy place (East Coast Swing is my favorite, with Lindy Hop a close second).

Here's something I do that hasn't been mentioned:

I compare my situation to something Christ went through.  Let's say I'm rejected by someone, and it gets to me.  I just think about how Christ has been rejected by much of humanity.  I don't do this to "take my pain away", because Jesus wants me to live in the truth (I can't do that if I deny what I feel).  I do this to realize that Christ is someone who can relate to me.  This helps me tremendously.

I love The Sound of Music. I've thought of it in terms of positive thinking before but not as you have. Thank you for this post, it and the wonderful responses have caused me to appreciate that musical in a whole new way. I have been encouraged by reading what everyone had to say.

Let's see, what do I do when I hurt? Hmmm. Several things, really. I send an arrow message up to the Lord first, something real spiritual like, "Help! I hurt." Then I encourage myself with whatever appropriate scripture that I have hidden in my heart. Whenever I can, I  get before the Lord and open my heart to him. I think of it as "emptying my pockets" before him. Whatever I'm carrying I pray about that, again encouraing myself with His Word, usually singing and giving thanks mostly for my relationship with him until I sense a release that I've transferred the burden to him. Somewhere in here I take it to my husband and we pray about it together. (I am very blessed to have a wise godly husband!) If it's an ongoing thing I may also share with a godly friend. But I usually go before the Lord first and let him bring perspective to me.

Like Jess said, I don't deny how I feel. It's important to be real before the Lord.