Thursday, December 15, 2022
“Anticipation and Anxiety”
So much for slowing things down this year. Starting tomorrow, I’ll (we’ll) be in the single digits for the Christmas countdown. I (we) really wish I (we) could slow things down, but Mr. Anticipation is coming quickly and Mrs. Anxiety is on his heels. It’s peculiar that those two adversaries, who are usually standing at opposite ends of the road, become running buddies for a few weeks.
If you’re like me (us), for the next two weeks, these two conflicting emotions will battle for supremacy, challenging my (our) heart, mind, and soul. At night when I (we) say my (our) prayers, I (we) reflect upon the day just completed and try to convince myself that I (we) didn’t act a fool as these two rallied for better positioning.
I’m (we’re) not completely sure why Anticipation and Anxiety are so dominating. Oh, I (we) get the Holiday thing of gifts, lots of yummy goodies, and endearing traditions, but when the day is over, I’m (we’re) often upset with myself (ourselves) regarding something that I (we) experienced. “I could’ve done better,” I (we) say to myself (ourselves). Yes, it is a pastor’s (caring person’s) nature (DNA) to be overly self-critical about my (our) actions, reactions, and statements, but still, one would think that I (we) could have a much better handle on it all.
But again, this may be why Christmas is so important. It’s not just that God assumed a huge undertaking in coming to this world, but also that he made himself vulnerable. He didn’t arrive an iron-plated, sword-wielding, demi-God (which would have fit their context in the 1st Century). Instead, the LORD came as a regular, without special treatment or protection. And because Jesus didn’t force the world into submission, I (we) can also assume that Jesus knows what it’s like to live between Anticipation and Anxiety.
God knows that we need all kinds of help, especially when it comes to issues of self-worth, self-doubt, plausible denial, overconfidence, impatience, depression, fear, anger, poverty, hunger, and of course, Anxiety and Anticipation, just to name a few. And even if I (we) didn’t know any other part of the story, I (we) would still consider sinking all of my (our) heart and mind into Christmas…If it all pans out the way we Anticipate, I’ll (we’ll) have no reason to be Anxious.
“Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, CEB).