Have you ever been in a situation in which you did not know what to expect, and it made you feel unsettled or even upset? Or, are you now experiencing a time in your life when you are afraid of what lies ahead? Well, you are not alone. Many people feel that way right now especially after the passage of the recent hurricanes.
It seems like we are living in a new era where things have certainly changed. Slow economic development, loss of vital infrastructure, loss of homes, loss of jobs, and loss of the necessary vehicles that provide revenue to move the country forward. These, no doubt, will cause us to face strange paths, go through new experiences, and travel along new territories that we have never ever seen before. Life, as we know it, will never be the same again.
It is during these times that we need the most encouragement. It would be good and helpful for us if someone casts a vision, explains the way forward and tells us what will happen and what we can expect, or even do, in such times. This will help to clear our minds and enable us to chart a new course for our lives – for when we do not understand what is happening we tend become afraid and become hopeless, and to lose hope is a serious matter. This could result in suicide or mental health issues that can be detrimental.
During times of crisis, therefore, special attention must be paid to the mental health wellbeing of the populace. Most people understand the importance of having a healthy body. Many people, though, overlook the value of mental health. Having good mental health can make life more enjoyable. It can also promote better physical health and endurance. Therefore it is vitally important that we take care of both our bodies and minds to be truly healthy.
Just as physical fitness helps our bodies to stay strong, mental fitness helps us to achieve and sustain a state of good mental health. When we are mentally healthy, we enjoy our life and environment, and the people in it. We can be creative, learn, try new things, and take risks. We are better able to cope with difficult times in our personal and professional lives.
Hence, as we stand in a place that we have never been before, and are about to embark upon an untrodden way that we have never been, there is a danger that we can become anxious and fretful, and the fear of the unknown can grip our hearts and our lives. But we have no need to fear. God is in control of all things. The children of Israel too also feared the unknown when they left Egypt during the Exodos. Many a time they fretted, they worried, they became anxious, they stepped back from the brink of crossing over into God’s land of promise, they ran away from it – that’s why it took them 40 years, a journey that should have taken a matter of weeks or even, at the very longest, months. We need not do the same. We must move on in faith, believing God will sustain us.
As the people of Israel stood before the Jordan, God said to them: “Ye have not passed this way heretofore”. He was letting them know that he was aware of where they were. They had no need to fear. It was important that they placed their faith and trust in God. We need to know and understand that as well, for the beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. God comforted them in their time of crisis. He assured them that all will be well, and he is saying that to us also.
So, as we draw near the Christmas season, let us remind ourselves that God is with us. We have absolutely nothing to fear. Whenever we feel confused and frightened, let us remember that nothing can happen to us except it first passes through the hands of God. Perhaps, too, it would help us to remember what the angel, Gabriel, said to Mary when she was frightened: “The Lord is with you.” She trusted God and said, “Be it to me according to your word”. Let us say the same thing as well.
The unknown is full of haunting “what ifs.” Yet God often calls us to chart unknown territory as we follow Him. The fear of the unknown could cripple our capacity to follow God’s leading through the days ahead. So, like Mary, let us cling to the One who knows all things. We are in good hands—regardless of where He leads.
May God be with us, as we sojourn into the unknown!
May we seek comfort and inspiration from the Hymn :–
All Will Be Well
Through the love of God our Savior, All will be well
Free and changeless is His favor, All is well
Precious is the blood that healed us
Perfect is the grace that sealed us
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us
All must be well
Though we pass through tribulation, All will be well
Ours is such a full salvation, All is well
Happy still in God confiding
Fruitful if in Christ abiding
Steadfast through the Spirit’s guiding
All must be well
We expect a bright tomorrow; All will be well
Faith can sing through days of sorrow, All is well
On our Father’s love relying
Jesus every need supplying
Yes in living or in dying
All must be well
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in the Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only and has now published Positive Living Volume 2. Contact information: 476-3517 or email:marilynb@anguillanet.com. www.facebook.com/axawellnesscentre
