the hamster wheel
Are you like me? Do you spend alot of time imagining the future, running through scenarios, and exploring every possible outcome? Do you make yourself crazy with anxiety and worry over situations you haven’t even encountered yet?
Do yourself a favor, and get off the hamster wheel! (That’s what I call it.) You’re going ’round and ’round trying to figure out the future, when you have absolutely no control over it!
I read an amazing passage from a great book about a year ago, and it has really stuck with me. It has kept me off the hamster wheel many times:
(This is God talking) “When I dwell with you, I do so in the present. I live in the present. Not the past, although much can be remembered and learned by looking back, but only for a visit, not an extended stay. And for sure, I do not dwell in the future you visualize or imagine.”
“Do you realize that your imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely, if ever, pictures Me there with you? “
“It is your desperate attempt to get some control over something you can’t. You try and play God, imagining the evil that you fear becoming reality, and then you try and make plans and contingencies to avoid what you fear.”
from The Shack by William P. Young
It’s about time that we start imagining the future with Jesus standing by our side. What will we have to fear then?
.
But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
Isaiah 43:1-5
Jamie, Thank you for your words. This is me I do it with out realizing it. I do have alot of fears. This word is a great comfort, because I am getting ready to go back to nursing school. My fear is that I will fail again. I know that I need to trust the Lord. I do in my head but in my heart of hearts I don’t know that I do.
I feel like I’m tied to that hamster wheel half of the time. I’m gonna have to get some scissors and cut myself loose. I can’t change the past but I can definitely make better choices that I hopefully won’t regret and make myself relive. Thanks for your posts. They really minister to me.