As I write this, we are still the uncertain days of the COVID-19 pandemic. I also write as we anticipate, for the second Sunday in a row, severe storms to move through our area. Suffice it to say, many people understandably are feeling a great bit of anxiety.
Recently, my friend Bobby Simpson, wrote in his “Thought for Tuesday” about a concept he calls “our reaction to our reaction.” Anxiety is a natural reaction a pandemic threatens our life’s normalcy or a storm threatens our safety. But the key is not to act on our first reaction. We do better to consider a positive reaction to our reaction.
Thermometer or Thermostat
I’ve written before about our feelings and our thoughts being like a thermometer and thermostat. (Here and more recently here). A thermometer measures the environment that surrounds it. Anxiety is a feeling that hints to us that our circumstances may be less than optimal. We cannot keep from feeling anxiety at times any more than we can keep from feeling a chill when cold.
The key is that we do not have to ACT on what we feel. Instead we can choose to believe what we know. One caveat is important, however. We have to know the right things. Specifically we have to recalibrate our feelings (thermometers) according to a standard of truth. That standard is what we know about God, His purposes, and His ways.
Calibrating Our Feelings
For instance, when bad weather comes it is natural to be a little afraid. But what if we recognized our fear (reaction) and used it to shift our thinking to faith (the reaction to reaction)? What if when we begin to feel the storm anxiety, we go to the thermostat of our knowledge and remind ourselves of God’s sovereignty? Or His power, goodness, and love toward us?
Rather than fearing what will happen if we get COVID, what if we thanked God that we do not have it? Or what if we thank God that if we should get it, we can get treatment? Instead of letting a natural reaction like anxiety paralyze us, we can let it turn our attention to the ONE who is in control.
Choose Faith and Move Forward
We still do not know the eventual outcomes of the pandemic. Many have already lost their lives; maybe even some people you know. Some have lost jobs, others have lost financial reserves, and all have suffered in some way.
Tonight’s storms are yet to come. I do not know what will happen to us or our property. People I know and love may get hurt or suffer loss.
There is a lot I do not know. If I choose to dwell on what I do not know, anxiety and fear will cripple me. But if I choose to dwell on the ONE whom I know, I can rest in His providential care. Below are some Scriptures I commend to you. Read them. Heed them. Memorize them. They will serve you well as you choose your reactions to your reactions.
Philippians 4:8 – think on things that are real and positive, not the negative “what ifs”.
Romans 8:28 – good, bad, indifferent; God is at work in all of our circumstances
Romans 8:31-39 – God loves you and there is nothing that will change that.
Let me encourage you also to check out Bobby Simpson’s Higher Ground Softball page. On the Higher Ground page you will find a link to his Thoughts for Tuesday. You will not be disappointed if you subscribe.