Peace Even When Anxiety Comes in Like a Flood

I love the words of St. Francis' Prayer that goes "Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace". That is sincerely my prayer -- to be a peacemaker AND to live in that peace.

But, HELLO, anxiety! After two beautiful days in Tulsa, the finale was to be another first-weekend-of-November Sister Marie Pierre Retreat at Helmerich & Payne’s Cherokee Lodge in Hulbert, OK. It was on our calendars for more than a year. First, was the spring mini-retreat with Sister back in April. We thought maybe that might be the end, but Sister, at her almost 91 years, fragile, but with a no-quit spirit, reserved the lodge for us and game-plan was on. It was my joy to be her escort! I was bearing a huge responsibility seeing after this precious saint!

So, it’s 4:30 am on Saturday. I’m awake to pack up for heading to Austin after the retreat, get my blog posted, and pick up Sister by 7 am. I am in the moment. I get my phone to listen to my Bible readings as I get ready and….OH NO! My phone didn’t charge during the night. It is as dead as a doornail. I try the cord in another outlet. Nada. My mind begins to race. An Apple Store won’t open until 10 am in Tulsa and the retreat is in Hulbert OK – an hour away. My dilemma intensifies when I remember that I’m driving straight to Austin after the retreat ends at 3:30 pm. An 8-hour drive, as a single gal, in a car with over 130K miles on it, at night. My friends wake up because of the my debacle outside their bedroom door and proceed to help me resolve my conundrum. Then I remember I have a second charging cord in the car. I try it and whoa la! It starts to charge my phone. Now, I can be at peace, but I’m way behind schedule now in getting to Sister. As I hasten down the hall carrying my Yeti metal mug filled with ice and water, I slip on the floor runner and begin to fall forward but catching myself three times – not falling, but dropping the mug that opens and splashes water everywhere, including the gorgeous drapes. My friend quickly gets her hair dryer to dry the drapes while I’m using my towel to get up the water. Lord, have mercy! Anxiety overload!

I am finally out the door to pick up Sister and I’m fifteen minutes behind schedule. But, when I call her, it seems she, too, is having the same kind-of-morning. She says “If anything could go wrong, it has.” We’re finally on our way by 7:45 am We both survive this morning and it is by no means a surprise when Father Jack Gleason, the pastor we all loved for so many years, is speaking to us about the “Antidote to Anxiety” found in Luke 12:22-31. Imagine that!

“Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry….notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap….yet God feeds them. How much more important to you than birds? If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest? Notice how the flowers grow. They do not toil or spin. If God clothes the grass….” Father Jack explains that Jesus is trying to get us to look outward instead of inward. His antidote is found in creation. Birds – flowers – grass. All trusting in the providence of God. I receive his message loud and clear. Sister and I survive our early morning fiascoes because God is looking out for us – even in the midst of the anxiety that we both know came from the enemy of our souls to keep us in a frenzy about a day that would turn out to be glorious and spectacular in every way.

Sister Pierre follows later in the day with her own message of peace, resting in who God made us to be – beings, instead of doings. “God cannot not love you. He is always shining on you even when you feel like you’ve blown it. Rest in his peace and let anxiety go. Settle down.” Paul said in Philippians 4:6-8 "Do not be anxious about ANY-THING, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

St. Paul lived by example for you and me. He showed us how to trust God in all things….even in a prison cell or cell phone mishap or a slip and fall. He said "Do NOT be ANXIOUS about any-THING!" When we have the mindset “It’s nothing but a thing,” we take on a heavenly perspective and eliminate needless anxiety and can settle in to our confidence in God’s words in Romans 8:28 – “ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.”

Comfort and Coziness Can Be So Trivial

Getting a good night's sleep is high priority for me so having the just right room ambiance, cool temperature, white noise playing, and several pillows to accompany me are all on my "must have", nighttime list. Last night, as I laid down in my cozy and comfy bed, I realized how blessed I am as I thought about those who are displaced and even homeless because of the tremendous disaster of Hurricane Harvey and how, not just a bed of comfort, but food, clothing and a roof over their head is so wanted and needed.

Yesterday I received these words from dear friends in the Houston area: "We seek for your prayers to ask God to command the hurricane to stop moving inland and the rain to cease. Our little house in the Dickinson Bayou is under chest level water and now we are staying with my daughter in Pearland. Please pray for us and those who are in harms way. Thank you all. Lord, have mercy on us."

Suddenly, this disaster became so real because it was affecting dear friends. Shame on me for feeling so distant and taking my own comfort for granted.

I heard it quoted by the head of FEMA "This disaster is going to be a landmark event -- a storm that the United States has not seen yet." The National Weather Service describes the damage as "unprecedented" and "beyond anything experienced." Over 50 inches of rain is predicted in the Houston area -- the highest amount ever recorded in Texas. Thirteen million people are under flood watches stretching from Corpus Christi to New Orleans. A FEMA spokesman warns that "the recovery effort is going to be going on for weeks, months, and probably even years."

Though I responded back to my friends in an email with prayers and offering any tangible assistance we can give them, it seems so inadequate. I know God has already shown up in the prayers, support and hands-on responses to the needs that are there. It's one thing to go through storms, but it's a whole other thing to know we're not going through them alone.

Our Father promises us, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you" (Isaiah 43:2). His word assures us, "There is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).

Rescuers have saved thousands of people across the Texas Gulf Coast. Donations from across the country are supporting relief agencies. My heart was touched when my pastor shared how one of his fellow priests' church in Rockport was devastated, so I helped support the relief efforts. We can't do everything, but we can do something. We can pray fervently, asking God to redeem this tragedy by using the "body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27) to share the love of Christ with millions in need.

Today may seem so dark to those ravage-torn Texas families, but tomorrow will come and lives and homes will be rebuilt, the healing will come to families and life will carry on once again. Beauty will be found, even in tragedy. We may not know what the future holds.....but we do know, WHO holds the future -- and the future is still very bright!

Yes, we may not know what the future holds.....but we do know, WHO holds the future -- and the future is very bright!

A man from a small town on the Texas coast was interviewed as he unloaded his boat. A reporter asked him what he was going to do. "I'm gonna try to save some lives," the man responded. Let's join him.

Lord have mercy! We ask for sustaining courage for those who are suffering; wisdom and diligence among agencies and individuals assessing damage and directing relief efforts; and for generosity to flow as powerfully as rivers and streams, as we, your people, respond to the deep human needs that are being experienced in the wake of the storm. Lord, have mercy!

The Flood Effect

We've talked about the "ripple effect" and the trickle down effect, but God wants to release a "flood effect" of His power into our lives like we've never seen before. This means we may have difficulties that look extremely large, obstacles that appear impassable, or dreams that seem unattainable. But when God releases a flood of His power, nothing can stop it. If we'll pray bold prayers, and have bold and big faith, we can expect God to work in our lives. We can receive the flood of God's favor -- the flood of healing, the flood of financial blessings, the flood of wisdom, the flood of business opportunities, the flood of friends. God's "flood effect" is when we see Him do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond all we can ask or think! It's time to get on our hip waders and launch our boats......THE FLOOD IS COMING!!!