LISTENING OR TALKING BACK…-#5

August 6th, 2026

“We may hear our hearts say “it is hopeless” but we should argue back. We should say, “Well that depends what you were hoping in. Was that the right thing to put so much hope in?” Notice how the psalmist (Psalm 42) analyzes his own hopes—”Why are you so cast down oh my soul?” Notice how he admonishes himself. “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him”. The psalmist is talking back to his heart, telling it to God, telling it to look to God”. (Tim Keller, Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering)

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…..And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life. And why are you anxious about clothing…. Therefore do not be anxious, saying “what shall we eat?”…..Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself….” (excerpts of “anxious” from Matthew 6:25-34)

Started the day with a gnawing, gripping fear—-the kind that sits in your stomach—- unsettled and breathy. Night sweats on the heels of two separate dreams.  All about loss... loss of standing... loss of possession—-can’t even remember what was lost in the first dream; and the loss of a wallet in the other… a wallet…. have you ever lost your wallet? I lost it once—- harrowing. I wonder what’s been on my mind...security—-provision!

 Its a life long struggle really. It places everything in motion for the wrong reasons and sitting still only deepens the angst and makes the stomach churn just a bit more. “Be still and know that I am God” just isn’t cutting it—- my mind is whirring like the weed wacker that I hear outside. Trust is hard to muster…. so I fester—-and wait.

I’m waiting on a God who has never changed or wavered in promise and offers total assurance to my security. That doesn’t mean that there is an assurance that trouble won’t peak in— even regularly... but rather an assurance that places security in heaven, with Him...his promise, his timing...but there’s more. He knows our needs... and he answers them… without reservation. Do these answers always align with our expectations? No—- but then its a function of determining whether we are praying for what we want or what God deems best. These two don’t always align. Well, not for me anyway.

This means waiting... this means incomplete answers and gaps in understanding... this means angst, where “dialogue” starts to play out... in the headspace. The impetus is to grasp for control... to intervene... there is a battle; a conversation is going on... am I listening to my heart and my fear? Or am I talking back to it? 

Tim Keller in a dated sermon lists Matthew 6:24-34 as a pertinent illustration and an antidote. Interestingly in all the verses, Jesus doesn’t tell us to “snap out of it or toughen up” like much of our embedded upbringing is inclined to do. Instead he offers two things— First, “Do not be anxious”. He implores it on 5 different occasions... it’s a plea, not a command. Stop the habit, switch the gear, get out of the loop! Jesus recognizes that fear resides in imaging and repetition, so stop it! Then he adds color to the plea with the words “consider”. Think—- talk back to your fears, use your brain and look around.

First the birds... they don’t store or save or plan for retirement.... yet they live in a safe state...they just act like birds... it’s an act of expected provision..it’s right there for them.. what  they need and they exist just fine.

Then it’s the lilies.... flowers swaying too and fray... here today, gone tomorrow... adorned in all their beauty...its an act of embedded trust. In their purpose… in their action. All they do is simply exist in the way that God intended. And their attire? Greater than Solomon. Greater than the wardrobe of a king!

Then the kicker... if he can take care of birds and flowers wouldn’t he be inclined to take care of us—- of us who are “more valuable”?? Oh us of little faith!! 

Sure--- that makes way more sense than stewing in my fears...  but does it sink in long enough to embrace. That’s the challenge.

So I lay out a poem that seems fitting for this entry... wrote it not too long ago.

It’s fear that won the day Lord 

Fear had its way again 

The ever dark imaginings 

That stretch my hope so thin

I listen to my fears Lord 

They weave a hopeless tale

Filled with awful outcomes 

Of careful plans that fail 

The picture so distorted 

It’s filled with endless moans

And wringing hands of worry

The Spirit hears my groans 

But you say  just “consider” 

You implore to use our minds

As acts of faith and logic 

That trump these hopeless sighs

Gather up the courage 

To face the darkened yawn

Sunshine breaks horizon 

Reveals a sun filled dawn 

Spirit be awakened

A faith that is restored

Fear is now vanquished 

A victors rising sword 

Amen and amen….