Do you ever get “all shook up”? I sure do. I get shook up when I look at my dry, scaly hands and feel ashamed as I sign my check at the grocery store. I feel so stupid and wonder why I can’t take the little bit of time needed to put lotion on my hands and keep them looking soft and smooth. I get shook up when I watch the news on TV and see all of the terrible things that people do to each other. Murder, kidnapping, assault, and so much more tempts me to lose my faith in humanity. I get all shook up when I receive criticism from my husband. He’s usually supportive and encouraging, but he’s not perfect – sometimes when he’s tired or frustrated he can really hurt me with his comments. I get all shook up when I notice the aches and pains I have. Am I just getting old, or do I have cancer? Maybe by worrying about it, I’m giving myself cancer! I get shook up when I can’t find something I need around the house – I feel inept as a homemaker and think everything should have a place and be in its place at all times. I get shook up when my children fight. I must be a bad mother, or my two year old wouldn’t bite his brother on the face when he gets mad, would he? When I see character flaws in my kids (especially the ones that I struggle with myself) I get all shook up.
Do you deal with this, too? I would guess that most people do feel “all shook up” at times. What we do with those feelings will determine how long we stay shook up and how much it will paralyze us and keep us from living and enjoying life.
There’s a verse from the Bible that really helps me to get my perspective back and feel less “shook up”. Psalm 116:7 says, “Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” When you feel “all shook up”, try to focus on those words and feel God’s peace wash over you.
My hands are dry and scaly…“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” I can start putting lotion on now and help them look better.
Bad news on TV…“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” I can remember the good things people have done for others in my community and around the world.
My husband criticizes me…“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” I can choose to focus on the times he has shown love to me and I can try to be loving and supportive even though he’s in a bad mood.
I have aches and pains…“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” I can remember times of healing God has brought me through in the past, and I can trust him with my future health – good or bad.
I can’t find something around the house…“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” I can pray as I search and clean, thanking him for a place to live and the things that he has provided for me and my family.
I worry about my kids…“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” I can thank Him for giving me my children and I can ask Him for patience, wisdom, and perseverance as I raise them to know and love Him.
There’s an old hymn that suggests: “Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” What good advice! Instead of getting “all shook up” about your current problems, think back on all of the ways God has blessed your life in the past. It just might help you to calm down and figure out what God wants you to do to make your current situation better.
“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.”
© Robyn Mulder 2003, therobynsnest.org