As we continue to refocus our minds on Christ, lets look at the second and third way we can do that.
2. Cast
1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
After Jon passed, I struggled with anxiety. At times, it was hard to have a reasonable thought, and little things would cause my heart to race and my body to go into flight mode. Sleep was difficult because my mind would race, noises would startle me, and my heart pounded with worry. So many things put me on edge, and I was constantly worried about the future. It wasn’t until I cast my anxiety on the Lord, that I began to experience relief.
Casting is an active verb. It’s continuous. It’s not once and done. It’s a day by day, moment by moment action that takes practice, patience and perseverance. My anxiety didn’t disappear the first time I cast it on the Lord. I had to continually give it back to Him because my default was to take it back, worry and try to take control. However, the more I intentionally left it at His feet, the easier it got, and His peace gradually and completely settled in my heart.
3. Choose
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
We can choose what we think about. We can choose to let our thoughts wallow in anxiety and worry, or we can choose to claim God’s peace and rest. The world will tell us that we deserve to be miserable, that we are justified in blaming others for our circumstances, and that losing our spouse is the end of our life. It certainly feels like that, and I don’t want to minimize the trauma and heartache.
But we have a choice. We can choose to let our minds be renewed by the power of Christ. We can choose to focus on His promises, His love, and His faithfulness even in the midst of our deepest pain. Choosing to focus on truth and letting God's promises guide us can help us live in His rest and peace, even in the difficulty of grief.
As you navigate through your grief, remember to take Captive, to Cast, and to Choose. Take every thought captive by aligning it with Christ. Continuously cast your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. And choose to renew your mind daily with His truth.
If you ever feel overwhelmed, remember you're not alone. Reach out to a friend, a family member or your community, spend time in prayer, and set your mind on Christ. Your healing journey is personal and unique, but with Christ’s love and strength, you can find hope and healing.
This blog post was inspired by a fitness podcast episode I recently listened to. Click here to listen to the episode.
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