Kathy and I have
grandkids visiting us in Florida for 3 weeks.
Then we all return home. We recently had a conversation with our
granddaughter, Emma. She talked about
something she didn’t like, saying that she would “freak out.” Kathy and I, with the patience coming from
Kathy, discussed the problems of “freaking out,” or having a “panic attack,”
for every little frustration in life. I
suggested that “freaking out” may be immature.
Instead, I shared, it is mature behavior to instead face the issues that
arise in life. Relying on others to
rescue us all the time would make life difficult, or unpleasant, as an
adult. But, we have all over-reacted at
times. It’s good not to make this our
life’s pattern.
I had an
interesting day on Tuesday that some might consider a day of frustration. Our plan for the grandchildren all along had
been for me to take them fishing on Tuesday.
I’d like them to actually catch some fish. However, with Jake and Emma going to school
through virtual learning on their computers, there are some challenges. It seems they had gotten behind in their
school work. So, Kathy suggested they
stay home on Tuesday and do school work, and that I should go fishing. When your wife tells you to go fishing, who
can argue? (grin)
For the fishing
trip I had looked at “bite times and tide charts and had decided to take Jake
and Emma to a local river. When I got
there, by myself, I was surprised by how strong the current was on
Tuesday. High tide was supposed to be at
10:00 a.m., but there was foam on the river from the outflow of water. I decided to go upstream and to fish floating
downstream, but when fish bit my line, I didn’t have time to let them take the
bait. I was floating too fast with the river.
I finally caught a fish on a new pole I had, but, when I took the fish
off, I noticed my nice new pole was broken.
Anyway, I kept fishing. But moving upstream much of the day was taking a
toll on my battery. By the end of the
day my trolling battery was about dead.
Actually, the battery charger that night said “1%!” I docked the boat, backed the boat trailer
into the water, and took the boat out.
But, when I prepared the boat to go home, and cleaned it up, I left the
radio on in the car so I could listen to music, and I left my phone plugged in
to charge the battery. So then, when I
jumped into my vehicle to drive home, the car battery was dead, and no one else
was in the parking lot. I called my
sister and brother in law for help.
However, while they were on the way another person drove up and jumped my
battery and the car started. Alarmingly,
now my gas gage read “EMPTY!” Yes, I had
check the gas before I left. So, I
didn’t want to turn off my car now, in order to save gas, because I might not
be able to start it again. Thankfully,
after a few minutes my gas gage said I said I had a third of a tank of gas,
plenty to get home. I made it home
safely. The only damage for all this
frustration was a broken pole. And, I
did catch 4 fish!
When I shared with
my sister and brother in law about the day they responded, “You should have
stayed home.” When I did get home, my neighbor noticed that I had been fishing
and commented. I told her about the day
and her response was “That sounds frustrating!”
My response to her, and to my sister and brother in law was, “It’s an
adventure.” The trip truly was an
adventure. However, Kathy will tell you
I’m not always that calm, or patient, in times of frustration. There are times I can act impatiently, or
even in anger. Maybe that is how I freak
out.
Christians
can actually face all of life, even the issues that cause frustration, or
anger, or “freaking out,” with a calm spirit of peace. God inspired St. Paul to write this word of
encouragement to the believers in Philippi, “6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians
4:6-7) Paul tells us we don’t have to be
anxious, or worried, or frustrated, or angry, or “freaked out.” We can pray to the Lord who loves us. We can go to our heavenly Father who saved us
through Jesus’ life and death and resurrection.
We can petition God, and He promises to answer. We don’t have to be anxious, or worried, or
frustrated, or angry, or “freaked out.” Knowing
God’s presence, and love, and that after this life we have eternal life with
Him in heaven, even in the midst of life’s frustrations, we can instead give
thanks for the blessings we do have.
You might say that
you expect Paul to say that. But, he was
in prison when he wrote this letter. In
fact, right before Paul wrote these words about not being anxious, he called
the Philippians to joy. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:
Rejoice!” (Philippians
4:4) From
prison, Paul joyfully calls others to rejoice. Their joy is not found in their circumstances. Being “in the Lord,” and knowing the sure love
of God brings joy in the frustrations, and in the persecutions, and even in the
tragedies of life.
When a Christian becomes anxious, or “freaks out,”
they are acting like they do not have a choice about how to react to life’s
challenges. But, we do have a choice in
how to respond to life’s trials and challenges and adventures. When we know God loves us and saves us in
Jesus we can rejoice. We need not be anxious.
We can rejoice in the peace of God.
Is there some
frustration, or challenge, or tragedy you are facing that feels larger than you
are? Are you ready, like my
granddaughter, to freak out? Remember
Paul’s words. “6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Our challenge may be bigger than we are. It is not bigger than God’s saving love for
us in Jesus.
A Child of God, Trying
not to be Anxious, or Frustrated, or “Freaked Out,” but at Peace in Jesus,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Here are some pictures of time with our grandkids in FL this past
week and a half. https://photos.app.goo.gl/dCuN3C395ApAP6hC9
P.P.S. Of course I went fishing. The kids did not want to get up early, and
had homework, so I had two trips on my own.
Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/KxeLAfEf9ideGhdm9
*****
ABOUT
THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as senior
pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, AK. I was writing a weekly
devotion previously entitled, "Thoughts from the Pastor."
When I retired many asked me to continue writing these devotions. So I have continued writing. However, with life's changes I now call this
weekly devotion "Journeys Through Life as a Child of God."
Since
I am no longer senior pastor at St. John, I felt it right to only send this
message to those who asked to receive it. (Though I am now serving again
part-time at St. John as assistant to the pastor.) Perhaps you also know that I “killed” my
computer on November 7, 2020. In so
doing I lost, for a time at least, all my e-mail contacts. So, I was really goofed up. Many who were receiving this devotion each
week were no longer receiving it. I
tried to rebuild my distribution list, but I am not sure how accurate I have
been.
So, if you stopped receiving these
devotions and wondered why, now you understand.
And, if you are now receiving these devotions and do not wish to receive
them, please let me know, and I’ll gladly remove your name from my distribution
list. My e-mail address is
jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My prayer is that these devotions
help each of you in your daily walk with our Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan Rockey
Child of God
Husband, Father,
Son, Grandfather
Pastor Emeritus,
St. John Lutheran Church
E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net
cell phone -
907-841-4066
Home phone -
907-746-5131
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