“Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God–
Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.

I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!”

― Martin Luther

Have you ever slipped into a state of overanalyzing something you think you’ve done wrong?

Perhaps it could be a real mistake,

or perhaps not…

Maybe it was a real sin to repent of…

but instead of taking it straight to God to deal with quickly and move on from…

you churn for a while

you dwell on it

fret over it

worry over the “consequences”…

Obsessive scrupulosity.

I’m still gaining understanding,

but I see it as an overactive,

overly-sensitive conscience,

driven by anxiety and fear.

Not God.

This kind of fear is not God’s way. It’s is not the way of His heart.

It doesn’t lead to a healthy place of peace, or a sound mind, which is what He desires for us.

And to be honest, this is something that I face from time to time.

And I’m realizing,

that when I deal with feelings of guilt or shame or an “obsessive” over-concern about “something I’ve done wrong” (whether real or perceived),

there is this extreme “discomfort” that I feel about it…

It’s a discomfort that wants to compel me into a “fight or flight” response, or an unhealthy way of thinking it through, in attempt to process it all in my way of processing it.

But God is helping me to recognize, and to stop me in my tracks, “Be still…sit with Me for a moment…” when I begin to slip and spiral into into this unhealthy way of thinking.

It’s like within His way, within His process of teaching me to “be still” with Him… even if it’s uncomfortable in the moment, He is leading me out of slipping into this dangerous spiral. 🕊

“Be still, and know that I am God…”—Psalm 46:10

I am learning

to “be still…“

…that I can safely sit within the “discomfort” for a moment, with my Heavenly Father. ☀️

I can sit within the discomfort, with Him, no matter how uncomfortable it is.

And He will help me to sort it all out in His way. 💝

He reminds me of what is true,

He helps me to sort out “what is His way,” (which leads to a sound mind)

and what things are driven by “anxiety”…

Oh that fear, it can be so sneaky, can’t it?

We all face it in one way or another from time to time.

But as we deal with our thoughts and feelings in His midst, and within the LIGHT of His TRUTH,

we step out of the spiral, and we keep walking forward. 🏃🏻‍♀️

We

move

on. ☀️

We shake it off.

The enemy wants to cripple us and hinder our walk however he can,

and if he can’t do it one way, he will attempt to sneak into more subtle ways,

like guilt, condemnation, and shame.

…But God. 💝

Within His love, and in the light of His truth,

He gives me sight to see,

and He reminds me that He has given me,

not a spirit of fear…

but a sound mind…

and in Christ,

He has redeemed my life,

He delivers me, sets me free, and leads me into His peace. 🍃

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].”—2 Timothy 1:7

Thank You, Father. 💝

-Heather 🌺