Refuse the What If Moments to Break the Darkness
You can break the darkness and defeat the what-if moments no matter how bad the storm may be or how challenging the moment feels. It takes a little bit of doing and a little bit of going and a little bit of change in focus to make the difference.
The little bits may not look like a lot alone, but the little bits add up to make a big difference in changing the tone of your journey.
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Inspiration and Hope
March 25, 2020
Daily Dash of Twisted Encouragement
Breaking the Darkness
The question of the day seems to be “what worries you most about this moment.”
Anyone who has chatted with me for any length of time will tell you that worry and I do not get along. When worry comes to town, I head to the hills. I just don’t have time for what worry has to offer.
Last night, a storm came through the area. In the pitch black of night, I could do nothing but rely on what the officials on the weather stations offered – and the radar revealed. When the wind changed and the sound was something other than expected, I could only hope.
Worry tried to get in the door. Hope kept the door bolted shut.
This morning, the light of the sun has just begun to break through the trees – painting the sky with soft orange. The storm has gone. A new day waits.
But worry still knocks.
It’s not the chaos and craziness of the storm that gives worry a foothold in my life. It is not knowing that creates the cracks for worry to work on. When you can’t see the storm you can imagine all sorts of troubles. When there is no light, it’s easy to be dragged down into despair.
The thing that bothers me most (because I still don’t want to let worry think it stands a chance) about this time is the “what if” that lingers with every breath. They don’t know and what they do know differs from the next they that comes along.
Breaking the cycle of darkness starts with what is right in front of you. Know what you know. Hold tight to that knowing. Move one little bit more with what you know.
Breaking the Darkness
You need light to break the darkness and you need to change your focus from the “what if” moments if you are going to make a way for the light to shine in.
- Laugh, smile, share some joy. Nothing scares away the worries faster than a good laugh. Smiles are the perfect barrier against the worry invasion. Joy spreads faster than worry ever could. The key lies in the sharing. Do something right now that makes you laugh, smile, or overflow with joy.
- Evaluate the investments. Look at how you have spent your time in the last several hours. Knowing what you are putting into your eyes and ears will help you understand the amount of light (or lack of light) around you. Want to break the darkness? Invest in the light. Yes, you need to stay informed, but not every second of the day.
- Do something. You may not be in a position to do all you want, but you are positioned to do something. You may not be able to do anything about what is going on around you, but you can do something. Do what you can and you will be amazed at how being invested in doing can make a difference in the light around you.
- Find the positives – because there ARE positives. Look for the good things around you that you may have missed otherwise. Be intentional in finding the hope and you will find even more hope than you imagined possible. Worry will never be able to win when hope takes a stand.
- Put the good things you find to work for your benefit. If you aren’t going in and out of the house, start watching and identifying the wildlife outside your window. If you do go out for a walk, slow down to appreciate the local flora and fauna. You might even stop to smell the roses (or whatever may be blooming at the moment). Use the extra time together to play games, do crafts, and share meals.
- Turn off the noise. Put down the constant feed of negatives and distractions and focus on what matters most. No matter what is going on around you, a shift in focus will make all the difference in your world.
- Actively participate in praise and thanksgivings. Make a list of all the things, moments, blessings and good you have in your life. Verbalize your thanksgiving for all you have. The more your praise and give things – even for the small things – the more you will find to praise and give thanks for.
Things are happening, but things are always going to be happening. Most of the time the thing happening are beyond your control. If you focus on what you can’t do then worry will get a foothold – and worry left to grow will create a darkness that drives you down into despair.
Focus on what you can do. Focus on what you do know. Focus on the hope.
When you change your focus, you will change your world and in doing so you create the mindset that breaks the darkness and fosters possibility living.
How will you change your focus today?
Focus to Break the Darkness
The more you grow encouragement the more light you let into your life. The more light in your life, the easier it becomes to break the darkness.
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Challenge for Intentional Actions
Break the Darkness
Share some joy.
Evaluate the investments.
Do something.
Find the positives.
Put the good things to work.
Turn off the noise.
Be active in praise and thanksgiving.
A little shift in focus and a little bit of light will add up to break the darkness. When you focus on the what-if moments then you make room for the darkness and worries to set roots. When you focus on the possibilities and the positives, then you spread light.
Be a light spreader.
Quote of the Day
“Inspiration and hope can come from any place you are willing to look.” – Kathryn Lang
It’s not where you look that matters as much as the focus with which you are looking. When you look for worries, they will be their (and they will multiple like gremlins in a pool). When you look for inspiration and hope, they will be their (and the light that shines from them will chase away even the most determined gremlin).
Be invested in inspiration and hope and you will find that inspiration and hope are blooming all around you.
What Others Say
Scripture Focus
Today’s Readings:
Acts 25
1 Thessalonians 4 – 5
Revelations 17 – 18
John 4 – 6
Scripture Focus:
“The Spirit gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words I (Jesus) speak to you are Spirit and therefore are life.” – John 6:63
Ponder Point:
The place where you invest will be the garden you grow. When you review your day, are you investing in the Spirit and in Life?
Share Moment:
When was a time you were invested in the Spirit and how did that make a difference?
Study Question
Dig in deeper to the Word to grow a closer relationship with the Word.
When you are focused on and envious of the “boastful man” then you are focused on the flesh.
How can you make the shift to focus on and invest in your relationship with God?
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