Give PEACE a Chance
As humans, when faced with crises, we tend to respond in patterned ways — usually by how we were raised. Sometimes our response is tempered, or heated up by our current circumstances, “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” for example.
Most of us pick one of two ways – we over-react or we under-react. And of course couples tend to be attracted to persons who have the opposite response!
Know who you are.
Are you one who leans toward minimizing and not doing enough because the reality of the situation is too much, or overwhelming to look at squarely in the eye? Do you find yourself wanting to judge those who panic? Do you shy away from them because you feel they make it harder for you to stay calm?
Or, are you one who is inclined to panic? Do you find your thoughts always go to the worst possible outcome and it is hard for you to think about anything else? Do you silently judge those who seem not to care or do nothing?
Or do you oscillate between the two? Both are reactions that are emotional even if it seems the one who minimizes is dispassionate. One is afraid to feel and the other afraid not to feel.
We can all own our emotional state before God. The Psalms can help us navigate the emotions and pray to eventually make a conscious response grounded in trust. For the under-reactors, we can face truth and still be OK. For the over-reactors, we can face the truth and still be OK. David shows us the way over and over in the Psalms.
May you find comfort in these words in the Psalms, and in the Prayers and Guidelines in the drop-down menu. Peace and Heath be with you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:27