Feeling panicked?

Recently, I had a conversation with a friend of mine who shared that due to the pandemic, he believes the country will enter a period of shortage, especially where food supply is concerned.

He is not alone in his thinking. In fact, for several months now quite a few people have been sharing that there is a food shortage happening now and will happen in the future.

When we look around, we have seen where the pandemic has caused all sorts of shortage; from various household paper products such as toilet paper and paper towels, to food supplies such as flour and chicken. There has been a tremendous domino effect all round that has left our country running low on various supplies in nearly all markets.

I am from a fairly large family. For as far back as I can recall, our habit has always been to buy our grocery and household items in bulk. This has resulted in us being members of various wholesale stores. Instead of buying 5lbs of rice like the average person, we are the ones buying anywhere between 25-50lbs of rice in one setting. Our monthly grocery haul might include getting a keg of oil, a case of toilet paper (the ones with 48 rolls) and/or even a case of paper towel etc.

As I listened to my friend, my mind found itself into planning mode. “How quickly can I finish cooking dinner to head to the store? Which store would have what I needed? Maybe if I went to the Indian store for one item I can swing by another store close by and get the other item?” Thoughts like these swirled in my mind as I both listened to the conversation and cooked dinner.

Unfortunately, I did not finish cooking dinner in time to get to the store before closing. To say I felt disappointed was an understatement.

For some reason later that evening, I found myself in the pantry. Lo and behold was a keg of oil – unopened. Interestingly enough, about a few weeks prior I had gone to the store and purchased it.

I completely forgot about that purchase.

Right then and there Holy Spirit began dealing with my heart. He showed me that I had entered a zone of panic and fear.

“In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭RV1885‬‬

Lessons gleaned from this panic experience

• Panic invites fear and anxiety into my decision making process. Instead of responding from a posture of faith, I respond from one of anxiety and fear. According to an article by Psychology Today, “Anxiety disengages neurons in the prefrontal cortex linked to decision-making.“
• Acting from a place of panic does not show my trust in the Lord. It shows that I do not seek Him first, and neither do I depend on His wisdom and leading. Proverbs 4:7 admonishes to get wisdom and in all our getting, to get understanding too.
• When I’m operating in panic, I tend to be forgetful. Forgetful of the blessings I have, and the ones I’ve had. In the above case, I forgot about the oil in my pantry and was willing to spend unnecessarily to get what I did not need. Panic also caused me to forget about the past blessings of the Lord – have I ever gone to bed hungry?
• Panic causes rash decisions to be made and unnecessary actions to be taken. Why? Because I have trusted and leaned to my OWN understanding. Not His. Proverbs 3:5 states that we should acknowledge Him in all our ways.
• Panic robs me of His peace. Unless my mind is stayed on the Lord, I cannot expect me to walk in His peace. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us that unless our mind is stayed upon the Lord AND unless we trust in Him, we cannot be kept in perfect peace.

Are you feeling panicked about an issue today? Do you find yourself walking in anxiety and even fear? Do you feel robbed of His peace?

Turn to Jesus. Surrender your cares. Trust in His timing. Remember His attributes. Recall His many blessings of time gone by.

Our Lord is faithful and will perfect every part of our lives.

#thoughtfulthursday

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