I don’t know why I expected my faith journey to be like learning to ride a bike. I must have imagined myself first setting out on wobbling training wheels until one day I found myself speeding along, “Look, Mom! No hands!” However, it turns out that faithful living isn’t something one practices, perfects, and lives out the rest of her days from pure muscle memory.
Take captivating my thoughts, for example. The concept seems simple enough. When doubts, anxieties, and fears creep in, I have learned I need to replace those thoughts with God’s truths. Our wonderful Father God has given us a beautiful message of love in His Holy Word. And within the pages of my Bible, I find a treasure trove of verses of truth, life, and hope. I have learned to write out passages on sticky notes and post them where I can see them. I have chosen short verses to fill my mind with when negative thoughts creep in. I have created charts and lists of Scriptures to study and memorize in times of darkness.
And still, I forget. I begin to wonder why anxiety is heavy in my heart, why God seems distant, why I see uncertainty and confusion instead of peace and joy. And that’s when a friend, a Bible passage, or a sermon reminds me that I have given my thought life over to the enemy rather than keeping it focused on the truth that sustains.
Learning to keep my thoughts trained on truth isn’t like riding a bike. Once mastered, I don’t coast along life’s road functioning without effort. No, this part of my faith journey requires a daily strapping on of my running shoes. Some days, I must stop and shake loose pebbles out of those shoes. Sometimes I discover I have backtracked and need to point myself back in the right direction. Other days I realize I have set off barefoot—and a loved one loans me their sneakers until I get mine laced up again.
Dear One, if you find yourself overwhelmed with negative thoughts in this confusing, tumultuous, stressful world, don’t forget your running shoes. If your thought life has gotten off course, allow me to loan you a pair of mine in the form of these three simple truths, perfect for proclaiming when negative thoughts crowd your mind:
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You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3
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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34
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The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10
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Dear Lord, help us keep our minds and thoughts focused on You and the goodness, peace, strength, and love that You provide. Amen.
Thanks for sharing Mom!
I’ve been reading in Hosea lately and today I was on chapter 12. The whole chapter is about Israel’s sins, so not super fun, but verse 6 stuck out to me:
“But you must return to your God;
maintain love and justice,
and wait for your God always.”
Return, maintain, wait– action words I’m not good at! They aren’t super heroic or glamorous. I’m glad that God calls us back to Himself and tells us in scripture that there will be times when we are reliant on His timing, not our own. 🙂
Thank you for sharing, Nikki! Waiting is so difficult, isn’t it? In waiting and trusting, we get to see God’s faithfulness! Love you! ❤️