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Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -Philippians 4:6

Gratitude really is the path to happiness and also it helps to pull you away from anxiety. You won’t be future tripping and worrying about all the bad things that could (but probably won’t happen) if you’re focused on being thankful for what you have in the moment.

Laughing here, but I write these things partially to remind myself of the truth! Please don’t think I’m sitting up on high holding all the answers to life’s riddles. I don’t have all the answers, I just have full access to the One who does.

Many of us read that verse thinking it’s a key to getting what you want, and it is in part, sometimes, but it’s also a recipe on how to be at peace, at rest, relatively free of anxiety, and somewhat joyous. Believe it or not, getting what you want does not always deliver those things and when it does it is often fleeting.

It is no accident that there is an effort underway right now to try to ban Thanksgiving. People in a state of gratitude being thankful for what they have, are not ruled by fear. Double whammy on fear if you are feeling connected, in relationship with family and friends.

Danny Silk once said something akin to, there are only two states of being, connection and anxiety. We are all much like babies in that sense, being held, connected, and secure… or in distress.

The most powerful place you can be is connected to God, connected to friends and family, and with Thanksgiving……free of fear.

This year I’m really thankful for having found some like-mindedness. Sometimes you sure have to search far and wide to find it, but it is out there. We don’t have to agree on much of anything, but when we’re both standing on the beach, we’re going to need to agree that there is sand beneath our feet.

Faith is when you don’t see it anywhere, but with thanksgiving, you thank God for bringing some kind words, some like-mindedness into your world, and you receive it like it’s an Amazon package in the hands of Fed Ex. Not only are your new pajamas coming, God will put them on you and tuck you in.

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

I know how to stand alone. I know how to be separated and disconnected from everyone around me. I know how to lean into the Lord when you only have 3 friends in the world and they are named Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Pay attention to those 3 in the Bible, God is not so pleased with them.

Insanity-bytes is an avatar born of that sense of abandonment and rejection, that crazy-making-anxiety-ridden state of being, where everyone is calling you crazy, but God is just calling you His.

When God is calling you His, you’ve hit the jackpot. That’s the good news that brings great joy.