Day 7 - Do Not be Troubled

As we lie asleep in our boat of life, we must not be troubled. We may feel the boat tossing. We may hear the wind’s strength. Yet we need to remain untroubled, knowing that our heavenly father has all the days of our life in the care of his hands.

Know that there is nothing which will happen that you won't be able to deal with, survive or endure. Know that you will never be pushed beyond the limits set out for you. Know that you are in safe hands, even when the world around you doesn't feel or look safe. Know that you can crawl into the sanctuary of God's being and find rest and solace and comfort there. Yes, you can still hear and feel the storms all around you, but this sanctuary is the place of calm within your very inner being.

How does one find that place of calm within? Firstly, you need to still your mind. All your fears and worries come from your mind. Your mind is the boat rocking upon the stormy seas. It first has to come into a calm harbour, where it knows that it is safe. That harbour is God’s love. When we are resting in the waters of God’s love, there can be no fear, for our minds are at peace. So, when you are troubled, take your mind to that safe harbour. Still it for a few minutes, thinking of nothing but allowing yourself to be embraced by God’s love.

Your mind doesn’t want to be still as if feels it has to be in control. Yet you must realise as you see the ferociousness of the waves and the strength of the gale force winds surrounding you that nothing your mind can do will save you. It is a false illusion. You can make as many plans and take as many precautions as you like, but you are as a gnat upon the waters of life. There is only one who can keep you safe. There is only one who can rescue you. There is only one who can give you the strength and the courage needed to take one day at a time.

And that is all you can do. Live today without worrying about tomorrow. Tomorrow will take care of itself in the same way as yesterday did and the day before that did and the day before that. All your worrying didn’t change even one day of your past life and it certainly won’t change a day of your future one. The best and kindest thing you can do is to trust the one who created you and breathed life into your body to take care of you.

His ways are not our ways and what to our natural eye might seem unfamiliar, strange and fearful, may be the very thing that will liberate many from the tombs they are enclosed within. He is a faithful Father who only ever wants the very, very best for his children. Only he knows what he’s doing. Everything he does is to free you and others in order to become the very best you that you can be.

Many have locks on the doors of their hearts, minds, souls and spirits. For as long as they remain, they can never be free. God wants you free. He comes to release you from everything holding you back, blinding and containing you. He has come to set you free so that your boat can survive any storm or inclement weather. It is only one who truly trusts in God the Father who can ride out the storms whilst still remaining at peace.

Use these times not to fret and panic and be fearful. Learn to overcome your fears by stilling your heart, mind, soul and spirit and resting in God's safe and loving arms. You are safe there. No harm can come to you there. Just rest there and all will be well.

How do you usually react during the storms of life? Are you overtaken with fear or can you still your mind?

Try today to find little oases of time in your day, 5 or 10 minutes, when you tell your mind to be quiet and still. Every time you have a thought, let it go and once more embrace stillness and quietness. How did you feel during these times? What did they teach you?

What holds you back from living a freer and more peaceful life?

What one thing could you do to rest your mind and self in God’s deep love for you?