Dear Friend,
I don’t know what your situation is - maybe you have a pretty normal life, but a pretty chaotic brain; maybe you have loved ones with issues; maybe you have issues. (We’ve all got issues.) But I do know what it’s like to live with fear and anxiety, and to struggle to control everything to keep yourself from losing it.
You will get better. You will be ok. You have choices. I thought you might need to hear that.
Are you constantly thinking about how you can fix them? How you can rescue them? How you can save them?
You don’t have to. That’s their job.
Are you worrying about the future? What if they do this, what if they do that, what will happen to us?
You don’t have to. That’s God’s job. He’s got your back.
Are you reliving the past, replaying scenes and conversations in your head and thinking about what you wish you would’ve said or what you wish they would’ve done?
You don’t have to. All you can do is learn from it, forgive them and yourself, and move on.
Are you playing detective? Watching for signs and clues, piecing things together like a puzzle, trying to decide whether you want your greatest fears to be realized or squashed?
You don’t have to. You will find out anything you need to know at just the right time you need to know it.
Are you sweeping things under the rug? Pretending everything is great? Pasting on a happy smile and going through the motions of life?
You don’t have to. The truth will set you free. Talk about it and ask for help if you need it.
Are you walking on eggshells? Tiptoeing around them? Doing your best not to rock the boat?
You don’t have to. You can express your feelings with love. You can choose a new response. You don’t have to keep repeating the same unhealthy patterns.
Are you trying to prevent yourself from feeling anything? Pretending you don’t have any emotions other than happy ones? Or any emotions other than sad ones?
You don’t have to. It’s ok to feel sad, mad, happy, and anything in between. Feel your feelings and keep going.
Do you feel like you just can’t keep going? Like you might explode with anger or implode under the pressure?
You don’t have to. Do something good for yourself. And take things one day, one hour, one minute at a time.
Do you feel like every decision you have made up to this point has been wrong?
You don’t have to. You are right where you are supposed to be.
Do you feel responsible for everything and everyone? Are you letting everyone treat you like a doormat?
You don’t have to. You are responsible for you. Put up some boundaries and figure out what your responsibilities are.
Do you feel like you can never measure up to all the expectations?
You don’t have to. Start by figuring out what God’s expectations are, and then yours.
Friend, if this resonates deep inside you, know that you are not alone. Know that you can find peace and contentment. Know that there is help and hope.