Proverbs 3:13-14 “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver and her wages are better than gold” (NLT).
Recently an online post caught my eye. It reads something like this, “To be able to chill on the floor, munch goldfish crackers, and guzzle juice boxes would be everything. This adulting thing is overrated.” I would have to agree that life often feels that way. Sometimes. Adult life is filled with responsibilities, bills, and decisions. Then there are the many distractions that constantly pull us in various directions. Sometimes, the distractions are personal relationships. Sometimes, those distractions are bills and obligations. For me, the most challenging issue with my distractions is fear.
Although I gravitate to the idea of being fearless, I constantly battle fear—fear of loss, rejection, and failure. My biggest fear is not having enough money. This fear causes me to make financial decisions slowly. As part of my move to Florida, I became responsible for the upkeep of a home. There’s yard work, plumbing issues, bugs, heating/AC, and general home maintenance.
Take, for instance, the other day. I noticed a crack in the brick exterior of my home. Within the week, the damage seemed to have spread exponentially. I went into panic mode. “What’s causing the crack? How do I get it fixed? Who do I call? ” I mentioned the problem to a co-worker, who gave me the name of a foundation repair company. Once I answered the question of who, I thought, “How much will it cost? Will I be able to pay out of pocket? Or will I need to charge this? ” I got stuck with the questions. I got stuck in fear.
When fear distracts us, we can mimic what tv watchers do when they dislike a program—change the channel. I find that when we tune into God, He’ll keep fear from getting us stuck. If we suffer doubt, then we can change to the faith channel. We can tune into God’s peace when chaos arises. If confusion overwhelms us, we can seek God’s channel of wisdom.
We can tune into God’s word—the Bible- for every challenge. God’s Word reminds us to seek His Kingdom in several places. Colossians 3:1-2 says that we should set our minds on the things which are above. Again in Philippians 4:8, Paul encourages us to think about those things which are pure, honest, and of a good report. Proverbs 15:22 reminds me, "Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success (NLT).
After checking with the foundation company, I wanted another opinion. I gathered the courage to seek the advice of a neighbor I’d observed completing repairs to his home. He studied the crack for several minutes, rattling off a viable solution. He promised to check with a contractor, he knew. A ten-minute conversation brought joy and relief from fear. The scripture that came to mind at that moment was Proverbs 3:13-14 “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver and her wages are better than gold” (NLT). God brought me joy as I moved forward in an adulting moment.
The crack is still not fixed, but I promise I do have a plan.
Prayer: Jesus, when negative emotions, distractions, and fear attack me, please give me wisdom. Please help me change the anxiety channels that may plague me and turn them into victory. Amen!
Your Turn: Where do you need to “change the channel” in your life? We'd love to hear from you.