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Words for Worrying Times
Rachael Newham, author of Learning to Breathe has provided some encouraging words to reflect upon during these challenging times.
Words for Worrying Times
In the uncertainty and fear,
The panic and the path ahead unclear.
Breathe in for seven,
Breathe out for eleven.
It’s okay to be unsure and frightened.
And yet.
Philippians 4.6 used to be my least favourite verse, it felt patronising, heaped shame upon pain.
But then I learned that anxiety isn’t a sin, it’s a way to keep us safe. This verse isn’t telling our bodies not the respond to danger, but telling our minds to rest in the midst of the panic. The JB Philips translation puts it like this:
“Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.”
It’s not a call to shame, but a reminder that all our fear and pain can be brought to Christ. Christ whose sweat was tinged with blood (an anxiety reaction), Christ who endured the worst so we may have hope. Our situations may not change – but let us breathe in the peace of God, the assurance of His mercy and care.
God’s peace is not incompatible with common sense – it’s at the heart of it.
Trust in the Lord and follow public health advice.
Take necessary precautions for yourself, the vulnerable and those you love.
Allow the unfailing peace of God to hold you and your fear. Let your worries turn to prayers and know that they are heard.
This blog post was originally posted on Rachael's own blog, of which we have reshared with her permission.
Learning to Breathe is Rachael’s story of her journey into, and out of, the darkness of depression. With unflinching realism and complete honesty, she shows us what it looks like to live with mental illness, and how God can find us and rescue us even in the most desperate of places.
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