Anyone ever felt panic?

That moment where you panic about the outcome.

What to do.

What not to do.

I know I have, despite my faith in God, in my humanness, there are times when panic creeps in.

Let me share a true story that will hopefully paint a picture, and will most likely make you giggle at me, but if the larger point is made that’s perfectly alright.

It was the weekend and my car needed to be cleaned. I washed it, vacuumed it, and decided to Windex the windows and Armor All it.

Productivity at its finest.

I started at the front of the car and moved to the back.

Literally the very back.

I’m sitting in my SUV with the hatch up, cleaning the side windows and think “I’ll be able to really clean the back window if I close the hatch.”

Without a second thought I hit the button that auto shuts the hatch.

I clean the back window, Armor All the back door and think “whew, done!”. I hit the button that auto shuts the hatch, because surely it will also auto open. Surely.

Imagine my surprise when it doesn’t work. The hatch doesn’t budge.

I sit for a second and think, “ok maybe my hubby will hear me if I holler.” Nope.

I hit the button again. Nothing.

At this point I start to slowly panic.

When it dawns on me “I can crawl over the backseat!”

However, once I’ve begun to do this, I realize my full figure self may actually get stuck between the roof of the car and the backseat.

Full on panic starts to creep in.

As I squirm, wiggle and quite frankly panic. I fall through the space bumping my hip and falling on my neck. It hurt!

I quickly open the backseat passenger door, get out, go in house, and try not to cry and laugh simultaneously as I recount the story to my husband.

Here’s the point of this true tale.

A few days later God spoke to me and said, “the answer was in front of you, but you panicked, this is how you and others go thru life sometimes.”

See in my moment of panic I didn’t see the answer.

There’s a second button.

One that when pushed will lay down the back seat. I could’ve easily slid out of the car. Instead, my panic gave way to me choosing the more difficult path. The one where I squirmed and wiggled and ended up getting hurt.

This is how we operate in our lives sometimes.

Panicking before pausing, and possibly missing what’s right in front of us.

God’s faithfulness and his answers.

Now I know there are areas of life deemed more serious than a woman being stuck in the back of her car for a short time.

Anyone lose a job?

Anyone with kids?

Anyone with grandkids?

Anyone with relationships?

Anyone have an ailing family member?

If you answered yes to any of these or numerous other areas, then you know there are more serious issues possible, but panic should not be our response to any of them.

Philippians 4:6 gives us instruction, saying, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.”

One translation says “Never worry…”

Never? Yes, never.

Why?

Because ultimately neither panic nor worry will change a single thing. God knew His children would struggle and that’s why He talks about it throughout the bible.

• “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:27

• “The seeds that were planted among thornbushes are people who hear the word, but as life goes on the worries, riches, and pleasures of life choke them. So they don’t produce anything good.” Luke 8:14

• “May the Lord of peace give you his peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

He also tells us that He is with us and gives us His peace. The rest is up to us. We must pause and not panic in order to see what is already right in front of us, his faithfulness and his answers.

Abba, thank you for wanting a relationship with each of us. When we find ourselves headed toward panic, may we pause and pray, seeking to exhale in your presence and listen to your guidance. Help us see what’s right in front of us and remember You are always with us, that You are faithful and already have the answers no matter what concerning situations we may find ourselves in. In Jesus Name. Amen.

This weeks playlist:

Never Been A Moment

Micah Tyler

You’re Gonna Be Ok

Brian and Jenn Johnson

Not Today

Hillsong