We tend to freak out when something goes wrong. Our hopes turn to doubts, our dreams to worries, and our thoughts to fears. Why do we go into panic mode when the slightest problem occurs?
A couple days ago, I was 35 minutes late to class. That was a huge deal for this prompt (in theory) kind of girl. All I could think about was how late I was going to be. When I finally arrived, all I could do was stare at my feet as I walked to my seat.
Do I want to get in the habit of being late to class? No, but things happen. Plans change.
If you have a perfect plan in mind, there’s always the risk of it falling apart. Sometimes this happens because our world is fallen and bad things just happen. But, sometimes, we’re the ones who cause our plans to get ruined…and stay ruined.
For example: A family planned a vacation for the end of June. Little Joey gets sick, and the family stays home. They have to postpone their vacation for a month because their hotel was booked by other vacationers. The family stays at home and does nothing for the next month.
That’s the family’s fault.
What could they have done instead? Lots! They could have gone out for ice cream, rented a movie, taken a bike ride, played a new game…and lots more.
We tend to blow things way out of proportion (especially females…ahem). We make things bigger than they are, which causes anxiety, fear, and dissatisfaction to pile up. Instead of trying to find a solution or somehow make the problem easier to deal with, we give up.
We are give-uppers. (Or is it giver-uppers? Giver-ups? Ugh, I give up.)
Simply put, we make mountains out of molehills.
Need some examples? (I’m sure you don’t, but I’m going to share some anyway.)
- Your calendar says you have a dentist appointment today, so you decide to go out shopping while you’re out. But the dentist office calls and says that the dentist became sick and can’t see you today. You hang up the phone, stay home from the shopping center, and eat a bag of sour gummy worms. (They are amazing, but unfortunately, they can’t do miracles.)
- Your friend and her family are coming over for dinner, and you want to make a good impression. You want to cook steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans. But the grocery store is out of your favorite brand of green beans, so you call your friend to tell her she and her family will have to come over on a different night.
- You’re late for work for the third time this month because the bus picked up your kids late for school. As you drive to work, you start tearing up because you can’t bear the embarrassment of being late again. You ask your friend to tell your boss that you aren’t feeling well and then stay at home in bed.
These problems are fixable. They’re little molehills.
Solutions?
- Go shopping anyway! Look at the new dresses. Try on the heels that are calling your name. Check out the accessories. Schedule the dentist appointment for a different day and roll with it.
- Buy a different brand of green beans or try a different vegetable recipe that you know is delicious. Or turn the whole night into a Mexican fiesta instead of a fancy meal. Refuse to bail on your friend even though you’ll need to modify your original meal plan.
- Go to work, keep your tears intact, and apologize to your boss for being late. Pray that everything goes smoothly tomorrow and move on with your day.
We turn simple into complicated. It’s not the end of the world when something goes wrong. And when something goes wrong, know that it was meant to be. (And if it’s meant to be, nothing went wrong. Something actually went right.)
There are some things you can change, but there are some things you simply can’t change. You can’t always do something to fix a tricky situation. But you can always give your concerns to God.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-8 NASB)
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 