He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him.
— Psalm 112:7 (TLB)

Step out of your head,
it's loud in there, and
those voices allow you no rest . . .

What if this happens,
remember that, and
all the things they said?

Live in this moment.

Let go of the past,
pause the future, and
grasp the potential in hand.

See what's in front of your face.

Walk in what's true,
deal with what's real, and
change the way you feel.

You must know, always know, God will take care of you.

It’s Christmas time, when shopping for gifts, prepping food, and attending events crammed into an overcrowded schedule, threaten to steal the joy of the season.

In the middle of the chaos, I was surprised by the first real snow of the season. It’s not unusual for snow predictions to fall flat where I live. And now, in the middle of the Christmas fuss, it’s snowed more than once.

With each snowfall, the peace and calm of the white-covering-of-the-world-as-we-know-it has given an excuse to relax and enjoy the season. The snow issued an invitation to pause and reflect. It’s amazing how the white blanketed world makes everything okay. For a moment.

It’s not the actual buying of the gifts, cooking, or attending parties that cause me the most anxiety in December. It’s worrying about it: Will I be able to find the right gift and will they like it? Will the food work for everyone? Will I have time to get it all done . . . and should I do Christmas cards?

People pleasing ramps into high gear. Expectations, real or imagined, become stressors.

I heard *someone say recently that we can handle reality — where we are in the moment. It’s the chaos in our heads that we can’t handle. It’s too much! We need to come out of our heads and deal with reality. That much, we can do. And that’s all we really need to do.

Stewing over the past keeps us from dealing with reality. Regrets add extra weight that steals our energy and prevents us from focusing on current issues.

Worry over the future is just as wearisome. We fear bad news and possible negative outcomes. None of it is reality. Fear and dread rob our joy and steal our peace. When we give control to things that cause worry, we make our worries worse. It’s a downward spiral.

Takeaway: Step out of your head and put your feet on the ground in front of you. Keep your focus in the current moment and do what’s in front of your face. Let go the past, release the future, and reclaim the peace and joy of the season, one moment at a time.

Oh, Lord, let me know when my thoughts are going down a negative track. Help me to let go of the past, to forget about the future, and live in the present moment, embracing Your peace and joy. Thank You that You really will take care of me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer.
— Psalm 94:19 (TLB)

*Gary Sibcy, Ph. D., Managing Stress and Anxiety, Caring for People God's Way 101, Biblical Counseling & Psychology certification curriculum, Light University.