The world stage is just ablaze with sad headlines and upheaval. It tries to spark fear in us. Have you felt it? Jesus is no stranger to upheaval. In the midst of all of this, Jesus, who was afraid of nothing, speaks ever so gently to us saying--What are you really afraid of? You have turmoil because things are up in the air. But I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The only way we will persist through interruptions that will inevitably shake our plans is by embracing the life we find ourselves living, and embracing the change that follows rather than running from it. By opening our clenched fists, refusing to give our schedule the final word, and opening our hearts to the gifts that might be hiding inside the inconvenient. By being present to the presence of God with us.

The more we stuff our feelings, the more the ache will sting. We have to choose the hard work of processing through it or else our bodies will find another way to work out our wounds. This pain is not something to fear, but a gauge we can embrace. It’s an invitation to dig beneath the surface and see what is happening at the root of our loss.

With the internet and social media at our fingertips, we are constantly bombarded with notifications that interrupt us. We need to purposely tune out the world’s noise and intentionally focus on the Lord. We need to enter a time of silence and solitude, when our phones are on “do not disturb,” and distractions are nonexistent.

So how do we do this? We schedule it.

I’m in awe of how God wired us with the ability to see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. Yes, our senses help us navigate the world, but they can also help us draw closer to Him. Like a good father, God longs to connect with us throughout our day, and one way to cultivate this connectivity is by engaging our senses.

When we feel down, is God somehow absent, withholding divine pleasure from us? Is God frustrated with us for letting the weight of the world hinder our faith walk? No, He is present and active in our lives. But it doesn't fix these gloomy, depressed, stressed-out days. What can be done?

I needed to invite God into my world and give him the sacred space to reshape my identity. He lovingly led me into the pages of his word, where I found myself written all over his story.

Even after becoming a Christ follower at the age of twenty, I continued to worry constantly over what other people thought of me. I was easily offended and doubted anyone could truly love me. After many years now of a growing relationship with Jesus, I am learning how to deal with negative thoughts.

The God kind of love is so completely faithful and just and accepting that it has the ability to make us completely secure, and safe. So that we have no physical need for worry because there is nothing to worry about.

Prayer is often seen as a solitary task using our own internal voice to connect with God. In borrowed prayer, we join with fellow Christians in the greater longing for God. I have found that no matter how often I repeat the same prayer, I can find new depth of meaning in its words and a greater sense of calm with each reciting.

In a busy world full of distraction and constant pressure to be doing something and going somewhere, it can be nearly impossible to be present. In fact, it has become our normal to find ourselves rushing from one place to the next, overwhelmed by to-do lists.  But that’s not how God wants us to live. 

While there are extra holy moments with God, when we feel the divine presence closer than our breath, the reality is mundane most of the time. How can we keep our close feeling with God when ordinary times can leave us seemingly not even thinking about Him?

Sometimes it is the hidden fears that keep us from peace and limit our potential. They are like pets that we nurture and allow to become part of our identity, but with God’s help there is always hope to overcome.

Recently, I was brought through a situation that was riddled with sudden loss. Where I would normally find joy, I only felt despair. Yet something unexpected happened. While my soul was wrapped in sorrow, my spirit was suddenly filled with complete joy. This was truly a miracle, a a Jesus miracle, for He is the only one who can bring true joy within the depths of pain and melancholy.

I used to feel frustrated most mornings. I didn’t need a new schedule or a better planner. What I needed was a flexible routine, a series of habits that didn't have to look exactly the same each day in order to bless my life. I needed to let go of something I thought would be perfect and focus instead on small, doable actions that would breathe life into my whole day.