In my last post I discussed how I am learning to be more comfortable with the phrase, “I don’t know.” I discussed that knowing why something is happening is not as important as following the Truth. Then I dropped the mic and walked off. It all sounds great, but what in the world does that even look like. Since I didn’t want to leave you hanging, I’m back on stage picking up the mic for an encore. I want to dive into a few practical things I do to put this into practice. I’m by no means great at this or have arrived but I am learning how to get better at them.
Worship
You can call it cliche but it’s a great place for me to start. The easiest way for me to get my mind off of wondering why things are going on around me is by worshipping Jesus. As I said in my last post, John 14:6 tells us that Jesus is the truth. When I focus on Him and His truths, the other worries start to fade away.
Do For Others
Another way I can get myself from constantly thinking about the why questions is to do something for someone else. It can be as simple as a text or phone call to check on someone. One of Angela and my go-tos is mowing lawns for neighbors. Thinking about others can be one of the easiest ways to not think about ourselves. It can help put a lot of things in perspective.
Limiting Media
I think this is a good idea in general. The mainstream media is garbage right now. Social media is a train wreck in most cases. Most of it serves to feed your fears and worries. I’ve cut almost all of it out of my life this year. I’ve found the less I consume the easier it is for me to not be stressed about why things are happening.
Seek Wisdom
No matter who you are, there is always someone smarter than you. Seeking wisdom from a spiritual leader in your life can help put things back into perspective. There are a handful of people that I know I can turn to and they will help calm my nerves. Sometimes it is words that help me look at things in a different light. Sometimes it is more of a parent disciplining a child and telling them to stop. Either way it is helpful. If you don’t have someone that will do that for you, I encourage you to seek them out.
There will always be things in life that cause us to ask why. Many of those questions will go unanswered. Even so, God will never change and His truths remain the same. Let’s not get so focused on the why that we forget about the who.
until next time…