anxiety

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. — Ephesians 3:20-21


Lord, I am struggling with the sin within me. And it causes my heart rate to race, and I can't sleep, and I feel very anxious. But You are able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within me.

I pray for peace. I pray that You will quiet my heart. 

Betsy sent an email that angered me. Type A, take charge, steam-roll over me. She wants us to take a proactive role in Joey's rehabilitation.

I struggle with my reaction. Joey is Your child, Your disobedient, rebellious child, and I struggle to love him. I pray first and foremost for Your power to help me love him, to change the way I see him, to fill me with tender feelings for him. I ask for the same filling of Your power when it comes to how I see Betsy. I pray that I would look at her and love her and not feel threatened.

I will speak to Cindy today. Please fill my end of this conversation with Your love. I want to tell Cindy...

Joey is a little boy who has impulse control issues. This may be partly a spiritual problem, but I also believe there's biology at play here. I think removing Micah back into the other room would help things immensely.

As for Betsy, she is so passionate and earnest and she loves to tackle problems. I think she'll see that we'll do our best, and then we need to rely on God, and the class isn't going to go as smoothly as we would like. That doesn't mean that God isn't at work. Sometimes it looks messy.

Betsy's approach is intense, and my approach is laid back. This is good, we complement each other. Some kids do better with an intense teacher, other kids do better with a laid back teacher. We can learn from each other.

I disagree with the idea of bringing Joey outside every time he yells out, or gets out of control, because we'd be bringing him into the hall every other minute. I question whether he is ABLE to listen quietly for longer than a minute or two. But I do think that our God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that's at work within us. All we have to do is lovingly correct Joey, and trust that God will do what He will do.

Lord, please take this queasy feeling away from me. I hate being anxious. I pray for Your peace. You are able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to Your power within me. I want to rest in that power. Even this I need to ask You to do for me--enable me to rest in Your power, and fill me with love for You, for the people around me. 

I want to go into this next challenge seeing it through Your eyes, and to go about it as if I am serving You. I want to keep my eyes on You, and do my best for You. This is between You and me, and all else flows from that.

Let's see what Cindy has to say when she weighs in. I will respond to her as one who belongs to You and is serving You.

In Your son's name I pray.

Amen