Russell Media - Laurie

Last week was our kids’ Spring Break so, Mark and I took the week off and we all headed to Disneyland. Now to some this may sound more like torture than a vacation – especially when you consider that we drove there from Boise, ID (Yep…15 hours in the car each way!) But it was a great time.

I love Disney – it is the land of adventure but it’s also the land of meltdowns for both parent and child. Thousands of people corralled through a handful of entry points who then walk miles, only to wait in line for hours (in all kinds of weather), for a 30 second ride.

Expectations are high. Kids are over excited. All it takes is one little kink for one’s patience to implode and we’re over reacting and saying things we don’t really mean.

Talk about highs and lows of emotions.

Space Mountain was our kids’ favorite roller coaster and we rode it numerous times. On one occasion we were loaded up in our seats, ready to go when one of the workers casually stepped in front of our train and pulled us to another track and behind a curtain.

Initially we were all making jokes with other passengers but internally I was irritated. The ride before Mark and Noah had been stuck on another roller coaster for 40 minutes. It seemed like we were spending a lot of our time dealing with broken machinery.

Moments later another car pulled up next to us. It was a family of 4. In the front seat were the son and his mother. She was gray and unconscious. It was scary and emotional. Praise God she was okay but for a moment we were unsure.

Later that day Mark and I talked about how impressed we were with the Disney staff and the way they handled the situation. There was potential for panic to arise in a small area filled with hundreds of people. The staff remained calm and only a handful of people were aware of the medical emergency that took place.

The Disney employees knew what to do and immediately worked as a team to help this family in need. They were young and handling a situation most twenty-year-olds never face. They obviously had been trained well by Disney in what to do in this circumstance.

There are times when my daily life is interrupted and my reaction is not the best. I dramatize it only to regret it later. Many times this is due to my spirit not being properly trained or prepared for the day. When I neglect the time and focus needed to condition my heart to handle the trials of life, my response is often not glorifying to God.

But, when my heart is prepared with prayer and time communing with God, I have a peace that transcends all understanding. In the midst of chaos, there is an unexplainable calmness enabling me to meet the need at hand.

How do you find peace in the midst of the stress of life?

Do you have any stories of see God’s peace in the midst of trial?

I was planning out my month the other day and as I looked at the calendar I realized there are a good many hurdles ahead of me for the year. Immediately I felt overwhelmed and had to take a deep breath as anxiety worked hard to steal my confidence. I began doubting my ability to deliver the tasks at hand. My mind was then paralyzed from any constructive thought or action.

Later that morning I met with a friend who began sharing with me some books she had read on positive thinking and even lent me one of them. She’s a highly accomplished individual so I quickly began reading, trying to tap into any insights and encouragement I could find. The principles they taught had a great deal of wisdom behind them. I began applying some of it immediately and was amazed to find how much more I was able to accomplish.

This got me thinking about the many arguments I’ve heard in the past that such practices are “new age” and should be avoided. Is “positive thinking” really unbiblical – especially if we focus it on God and the work he wants to accomplish through us?

So I began flipping through the Bible, looking at the ways that God communicated action to his children. The first to stand out to me was God’s promise to Abram, “I will make you a great nation and I will bless you.” Strong words are given here. He didn’t say, “My plan or goal may be to bless you.” Nope – he use strong and positive wording.

In Joshua God tells him numerous times to be “strong and courageous.” God is going with him and will make him successful – and he was. Joshua was able to lead the Israelites into the promise land that had been promised to them. God didn’t send Joshua off into battle with a, “Hope you don’t get scared. It’s a great piece of property if you win.” God basically gave Joshua a mantra to quote in his head as he rushed into battle, “Be strong. Be courageous. God will make me successful.”

These were only a couple of the Old Testament examples and then I looked to Jesus’ words and found it too was full of positive commands. To summarize a few -  love God and you shall not perish (John 3:16); pick up your mat and walk (John 5:8); love one another (John 13:34); whoever has faith in Jesus will do even greater things (John 14:12); remain in him and you’ll bear much fruit (John 15); he is with you always (Mat. 28:20). There was no weak, “hope it turns out all right,” talk.

Now there is a time for correction and there are many where God rebuked man. However, when God called them to action he used strong and affirming words leaving no room for doubt. He is God. He will do what he says. We just have to believe it – so think it.

God doesn’t set us up for failure. Doubt and criticism are tools the enemy uses to stall us into stalemate and disobedience. When Peter walked on water Jesus told him, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” It takes courage to follow our powerful God because he doesn’t just ask us to follow behind him, he’s asked us to join him.

God is a God of positive thinking. When he calls us into action, he doesn’t do so by telling us what we “can’t” do. He calls into his work but sharing what he can do and what we will do if we allow him to do it through us.

Next time you’re plagued with negative thoughts, stop immediately, refocus on God and pray for him to empower you with his positive thinking.

Do you ever struggle with negative thoughts?

How do you deal with them?