Running in Circles

As a mother of young kids, I often find completing one simple task can take hours. For example, adding that sock to the laundry I remembered seeing under Jake's bed can take half a day. That is, by the time I get a drink for Kayla, clean up the PBJ sandwich Jake thought he could make by himself, re-make PBJ sandwiches for hungry kids, peel carrots, slice an apple, pour milk, prepare some parts of dinner because I'm in the kitchen anyway, make a list of needed ingredients I thought I already had for dinner tomorrow, pick up the Connect Four game I trip over walking to the stairs, move all the living room furniture to find the lost yellow Connect Four piece, not actually find it, but instead discover a list of new supplies Kayla needs for her art project at school, scramble to gather the supplies, go back and try to find my list of needed ingredients to add red beads and glitter glue for Kayla's project, finally go to Jake's room and remember that I still need to wash his sheets because he uncharacteristically wet his bed last night, bring the sheets to the washer, then remember that I need to go get that sock I saw under Jake's bed. So begins round two.

This example is not too far from the truth many days. By the end of the day, I am exhausted from running in circles. I get so distracted by other pressing "needs" that I seem to get nothing accomplished. Or maybe I accomplish everything besides what I actually intend to do. The distraction affects not only accomplishing tasks, but extends to living life as a godly wife, mother, friend and child of God.

I had a particularly rough day recently. I was torn emotionally. By the evening I was pulled in so many directions, and as a result I felt I was not fulfilling my role of wife, mother, business partner or any other roles in any suitable way. 

The "demon" on my shoulder was whispering, "You're a failure. Why do you even try? You can't do anything well. You are doing more harm than good. You, You, You..." The devil always draws focus on me, myself, my inadequacy.

The evil one wants to distract my focus and skew my true identity in Christ. If I focus on what I can (or cannot) do rather than what my Great God wants to accomplish by His own power through me, I will always feel overwhelmed, defeated and discouraged.

In tears, I wrote in my prayer journal expressing my thoughts to God. He gently reminded me, "Cast your cares on me, because I care for you." I later looked up the word translated cares in the original Greek.

Read below the definition of the word the Greek word, merimna, translated care or anxiety in 1 Peter 5:7. What a blessed discovery this was for me!

Care (Noun and Verb), Careful, Carefully, Carefulness

[ A-1,Noun,G3308, merimna ] 

probably connected with merizo, to draw in different directions, distract," hence signifies "that which causes this, a care, especially an anxious care,"Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19; Luke 8:14; Luke 21:34; 2 Corinthians 11:28 (RV, "anxiety for"); 1 Peter 5:7 (RV, "anxiety"). See ANXIETY.  (Vine's: Care)

Distract. Draw in different directions. 

The definition of care, the very Greek word in 1 Peter 5:7, exactly matched the anxiety I was facing. I literally felt pulled in so many opposing directions. This tension left me feeling inadequate and unproductive. 

I love God's word! I love how God speaks to me in such precise ways through the Scripture. I love how I can read and study one single phrase many, many times, yet still discover a hidden treasure therein at just the needed moment!

So I got my head on straight, submitted my anxieties to God, and told the demon on my shoulder, "God in me is the Ruler and Creator of the Universe. Through Him I have been given 'everything I need for life and godliness.' I have purpose and have been called to 'participate in His divine nature;' I have been given direction and purpose through His overflowing glory and goodness!" (see 2 Pe 2:1-4).

The demon fled quickly, and I think he was limping! Or he might have just tripped on that lost Connect Four token!