Woke up today with a bad case of the anxious Mondays.
It’s often what happens when I wake up before my alarm goes off, and my mind starts going through the day (and the week) in front of me.
As I was lying there in bed with the anxiety levels rising, I remembered a dream that I had just had that night.
(I know…super random. But just hang with me for a sec.)
I was in the ocean on a boogie board…and this huge wave was starting to form a little further out from where I was paddling.
And, I realized in that brief moment that I had to stare at the wave that it was either going to come crashing down on me…or I was going to ride it.
If you’ve ever been out in the ocean on a surfboard or a boogie board or even just body surfing, you probably have experienced the difference between a wave crashing down on you and catching one perfectly.
When a wave crashes down on you, it’s a helpless feeling.
You just end up getting thrown around in every direction until the wave decides it’s done with you.
Needless to say, it’s not a good feeling.
But, when you catch a wave perfectly and you are riding it the way a wave is meant to be surfed, it’s an amazing feeling.
The chaos the wave creates is still there, but it doesn’t affect you the same way it does when it’s crashing down on you.
Instead of feeling like you’ve been stuffed into a washing machine, you feel like you’re flying on water…which is probably why surfers risk so much to find the perfect wave.
Anyway, back to the dream.
I had two choices in the brief moment I had staring at that wave.
I could either sit there and do nothing and let it crash down on me…
Or, I could start paddling as hard as I could and try to ride it.
When you put it that way, it’s an easy choice…right?
So, I started paddling and paddling and paddling, but also bracing myself for that wave to come crashing down.
And, the next thing I knew…
I was riding the wave.
Even in the midst of so much force and power and water crashing around me, I was in the perfect spot to ride it out…and it was strangely peaceful.
Okay, so what’s the point?
Life is a lot like being in the ocean trying to catch a wave.
Sometimes, those “waves” come crashing down on you, and sometimes you find yourself riding the “wave.”
This morning, I had a choice to make.
I could either sit there and let the wave of anxiety that I woke up with come crashing down on me…or I could start paddling.
I chose to start paddling.
I started remembering specific promises of God that help me when I feel anxious.
I prayed through Philippians 4:6-7.
I spent time reading God’s Word.
And, the next thing I knew…
I was right where I needed to be…riding the wave, so to speak.
The day is still in front of me.
I still have anxious thoughts about the week.
But, they’re not crashing down on me anymore.
And, I’m starting my Monday in peace.
If you’re like me, and you woke up today with a bad case of the anxious Mondays, you can either sit there and do nothing…or you can start paddling.
Here’s a couple of verses to help you start moving…
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
3 You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
4 Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26:3-4
PJ's Monday Musings 