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Forecasting

High of 75 AND snow? What?!High of 75 AND snow? What?!

I have a weather app on my phone that I check daily.  I am a planner and I like to have any and all information accessible that will aid me in my plans to be comfortable in the midst of what is to come.  So, if it is going to be 70 degrees and sunny (thank you Jesus!) I want to know that I can bust out a pair of shorts and my Cardinals hat for my afternoon walk with the dog.  And when it is going to snow and drop below freezing (again), I’ll need to hold off on that grass seed that I so badly want to apply to my patchy lawn.

There has been a lot of talk about the forecast over the past few months. What with the Polar Vortex reaching its frigid hand down and stealing away all signs of warmth and spring. With multiple winter storms bring loads of ice, sleet, and snow people have been keeping an eye on the weather.

The dog after a walk during one of our many winter weather events this seasonThe dog after a walk during one of our many winter weather events this season

Just 10 days ago most folks in my region were tuned in to the forecast – at one time calling for 10 inches of snow to hit on that Saturday night.  It’s an interesting thing what people do in response to the forecast.  When good weather hits you will see your neighbors working in their garage, walking the dog, and causing long lines at the car wash.  The mood is generally good and people are pleasant and chatty.  If there is an imminent snow storm at hand it is a totally different picture.  The moms are all abuzz on social media planning their comfort food menus and complaining about yet another snow day, the streets are full of people frantically trying to accomplish that last essential errand before mother nature shuts everything down, and the grocery stores, oh my, the grocery stores are full of angry people who are racing to get their hands on another gallon of milk, loaf of bread, and the last bunch of bananas in all of Columbia.  (I mean really people, bananas?  Do they have some magical anti-snow power that I am missing out on?)

My point here is that your future forecast affects your present priorities.  I find this to be especially true when you are waiting on a potential storm in your life.  Just like the anticipation before a snow storm, you anticipate what might happen – will we lose power? Will we be able to get out of the house?  Will we have enough bananas??  You look out into the unknown and you forecast fear.

I can think of a few friends in my life right now who are facing uncertainties.  Issues related to new jobs, unexplained health issues in kids, tensions in marriage…  Each of these situations provides ample opportunity for forecasting fear.  As a woman who likes to plan, likes to be comfortable, and likes to be in control, I know all too well that the fruit of forecasting fear is anxiety.  It is a certain rumbling of discontent and frustration when you just don’t know how it will turn out.  It is late nights of what if’s flying through your head and disturbing your sleep.  Maybe you pray (because that is what you’re supposed to do) but you definitely fret.  Forecasting fear sucks the joy right out of you.  It causes you to miss what God is doing now because of fear of what may happen then.  It robs you of opportunity to enjoy the rest that God gives to those He loves.

Let’s take a lesson from 1 Peter 5:6-7

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

When you have opportunity to forecast fear remember to do these two things:

1.  Be humble – you are not God.  You are not in control, and you are pretty much powerless to change the circumstances of your life

  1. Cast ALL your anxieties on him.  Not some or just the big things, but ALL your anxieties.

And remember to trust these two truths:

  1. God is mighty – He is in control and He is working all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8)

2.  God cares for you.  He cares about your marriage and your kids and your sanity.  He cares about you more than you could even fathom.