a conversation with a friend forced me to re-engage a foundational element of life in the kingdom.
this friend’s been stewing over some things in his life… heavy responsibilities… overwhelming expectations… that sort of thing. we’ve all been there and most likely will be there again soon.
often… i find it’s the feeling of being there that’s the killer.
there’s ample advice for the “how to” of walking this kind of terrain.
…start someplace.
…just start.
…break it down into bite size chunks.
…tackle something easy first.
…swallow the hardest part and then everything else will be a breeze.
…on and on.
helpful. but not so much when overwhelming turns into anxiety. then advice just adds to the pressure.
and that’s where my friend is… so all my advice… quoting scripture… and motivational pep talks don’t help much. it reminded me of dealing with the same issue with my kids when they were dealing with worry when they were small and too little to understand big concepts like “trust.” you feel so helpless. of course just being with them is key.
but how do you get through to someone when they are so emotionally connected to the problem that logic isn’t helpful? that’s why quoting scripture isn’t usually helpful to people caught in their emotions. that’s when they have to experience the truth behind the scriptures.
i can remember so vividly sitting on their bed… thinking about 1 peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
and wondering how in the world i could help my emotionally distraught child understand? that’s when this idea came to mind. i’d like to think it was specially delivered.
i spotted a ball in the room and brought it over. i asked my child to try to imagine placing what they were worried about onto the ball. then i asked them to throw the ball to me.
it took awhile for all the layers to seep in to their little heart. but we eventually got there. and it helped that child sleep knowing that anytime they woke up in the night… all they had to do was look at the ball on the other side of the room… and imagine who was holding it.
this exercise was concrete enough that it gave them a taste of the freedom they were to experience as they gave their concern over to Jesus.
sometimes experiencing truth is more important that understanding it.
so… today the illustration still helps… for me as an adult... and for my friend.. and sometimes for my growing kids.
sure… it gets adjusted. for instance… it’s harder to imagine casting a care to Jesus when it’s your personal responsibility to deal with it. so… as i talked with my friend this week, i asked them to imagine putting all their concerns on the ball… handing it over to G*D… G*D putting his arm around my friend… and them walking forward to tackle those responsibilities together.
but the ball stays in Jesus’ hands the whole time. and Jesus (with all his wisdom and strength and peace) always remains “arm around your shoulder” close.
living now in the kingdom is all about living in the difference Jesus' presence makes in our reality.
i love it.
thanks G*D. and thanks for caring about us… even when we have trouble trusting.
Thanks Randy for this post! I just read it after walking into Kayla's room to find her crying. As I held her she began to share her fears regarding 2 suspicious moles that were removed last Monday. She has been following your journey and praying for you, and is afraid that she too may have melanoma. She finds out Friday...yet I have complete peace about the results being negative. Thanks for the example of the ball! This is such a great exercise to use with anyone who is struggling with Anxiety.I will go and share it with Kayla right now! I thank God for you and the wisdom he has given you. Thanks Friend!
Posted by: Donna | February 13, 2007 at 09:42 PM
That is a beautiful illustration. I love how simple things that are small enough for a child to grasp are still able enough to encapsule an idea so big.
Posted by: justin | February 14, 2007 at 05:10 PM