by Anusha Atukorala
When my phone was new, the warning was given only when its charge was below 15% which was of course the right time to give it. Now obviously, something in the phone's power circuit has gone awry. I decided to humour my phone. Each time it starts to flash, I recharge it and pretty soon it’s well above 50%, and stops its urgent summons.
After 12 years of the illness, I discovered that I was unable to manage negative emotions – something I’d never had a problem with before. If triggered, I’d spiral downwards into a state of anxiety and fear, unable to think my way up again. Arrrgh! Thankfully … I was given an unexpected gift this year. From an unusual quarter too! Thank You God!
I was offered a place in a clinical trial conducted by the University of NSW. Researchers had discovered that the part of the brain that controls pain also controls emotional regulation. Now I knew why I’d easily sink down like a rock into the ocean and with no warning. It wasn't me. It was my little brain, depleted of its feel-good chemicals due to a large amount of stress hormones that chronic pain had unleased! Because I now knew what caused it, I could take action.
Eleven of us from all across Australia took part in the trial. We had 12 weeks of face to face Zoom meetings and were given an App to use daily to practice new skills– to help us manage our emotions better. They included mindfulness meditation (I turned it into Christian mindfulness), filling our emotional tanks using helpful activities, learning healthy ways of responding to stress and so on.
When my fear circuit gets activated, I am now able to use my new skills to reach a better place. Recently I decided that each time my brain goes into panic mode, to ask myself a simple question, the question being: ‘What did God say?’
Now, that was a good move … remembering God’s answers to my fearful thoughts is always soothing and brings quick relief - like a storm tossed boat reaching quiet waters and finding safe harbour.
God says ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’
God says ‘Don’t look at circumstances. Look at me.’
God says ‘I'll work everything out for your good.'
God says ‘All is well’.
And so today, I ask you dear writerly friend, on days when life gets
difficult, “What does God say to you?” About your writing. About your life.
About your walk with God? The Enemy of our souls is present and active and clever
at smearing our hearts and minds with murky unsubstantiated lies. Do not
believe him. Believe God instead. His Word is true. It is the only truth we can
depend on.
If God has asked you to write … go ahead. Write!
If God has said you are enough, you are.
Of course, you are!
If God has said your failures are pillars of success – then, believe Him.
You are a winner!
If God says ‘All is well’ then yes, all is well. You can rest!
If God calls you to write for Him ... He will use your words to achieve His eternal purposes.
And what could be more significant,
more magnificent, more thrilling than that?
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
The Lord God Almighty
Isaiah 55:10-11
Her first book Enjoying the Journey contains 75 little God stories that will bring you closer to your Creator. Her 2nd book ‘Dancing in the Rain’ brings you hope and comfort for life’s soggy seasons. Her 3rd book, Sharing the Journey’ is a sequel to 'Enjoying the Journey'.
She’d love to connect with you.
