Agitated, but not undone

"Here comes Trouble, with a capital T". Trouble is different for everyone - there is no set definition of trouble because it can morph into so many different paths depending on the individuals involved. Some of us seem to "find it" without even looking - it is like we are a magnet and trouble is some form of metal. Others seem to "make it" as though it were some natural outcome of everything they put their minds to doing. Still others seem to do everything they can to "avoid it", regardless of the cost - sometimes even avoiding all manner of living because if they didn't, it would find them. Trouble cannot be avoided sometimes - but we can find a good way to deal with it when it comes!

Take a good look at my trouble, and help me—I haven't forgotten your revelation. Take my side and get me out of this; give me back my life, just as you promised. (Psalm 119:153-154)

To trouble something or someone is to disturb the mental calm or contentment of that person or thing; to worry it and bring it distress; or agitate it so as to no longer allow it to be still. In the Hebrew language of old, we'd put a "Selah" after this so as to "stop and consider" what this says to us. The idea of 'trouble' really is one of making sure there is 'unrest' - the lack of some form of stillness or rest. When we sense "trouble" coming our way, or having already arrived on our doorsteps, we have the sense that our mental "calm" is being attacked. We just begin to "feel" the stress of the "trouble" bringing a lack of peace, working on our pleasant state of contentment we had come to enjoy so much. Here's what I have learned: We don't need to open the door! Trouble only has access to our mental state when we "open the door" to it!

If we leave someone on the doorstep of our home, they don't have the ability to create havoc on those of us on the inside! Oh, they can keep pounding on the door, trying to gain access, but in a while, their continual efforts will prove only to have created a little unwanted "noise" in our lives! It is much easier to filter out the "noise" of trouble than to deal with the "setting right" of the mental anguish it creates! Some of us just need to apply a few more filters when around those who would like nothing more than to disturb our contentment. How do we "not open the door" to trouble's play on our minds? In moments when we are feeling like we are beginning to "wind up" or "lose our peace", we need to pull into those things that "re-create" peace in our lives. I find the times I spend in the Word, listening to good music, and reflecting on God's care over my life as "peace-producing". You may just find the effort of keeping the door "closed" to the mental anguish of trouble is easiest when you are listening to the voice of God's peace-producing Spirit!

When we find "trouble" in our circumstances, there comes a moment when we begin to feel the "stress" of the trouble. Stress serves a purpose in our lives, but only when it is recognized and utilized to full advantage! That which is stressed is that which can be proven strong. If we embrace trouble's distress - the punishment it wishes to inflict on our lives - we probably have not gone to God for his "de-stressing" in our lives! Trouble works hard to agitate our calm. In the disturbance of our calm, "muck and mire" is allowed to bubble to the surface. Sometimes this is not a bad thing because exposure of what has "settled" into the recesses of our mind or emotions can actually be a benefit. In the discovery of what lays hidden below, we often can be released from those things. Water is actually "filtered" through an "agitation" process. If you ever were in the scouts, military, or just hiked/camped a lot, someone told you about drinking from the fast moving streams, not the slow, lolly-gagging ones. Why? Water in the fast-moving stream was "freer" of impurities! So, agitation serves a purpose! Embraced for its designed purpose, there is a benefit to the agitation of trouble! Just sayin!

Get off the burner!

⁸ People who won't settle down, wandering hither and yon,
   are like restless birds, flitting to and fro. 

(Proverbs 27:8)

We might call this person who absolutely refuses to "settle down" a "restless" individual.  Restless people have a tendency to drive us nuts just because of their constant activity.  We find it unsettling to constantly be in a state of "flux", so we avoid these individuals.  Restless people are in a position of missing the "good stuff" in life because their activity of heart, mind, and body keeps them so busy that they miss the "stuff" that comes by being settled, relaxed, and available.

There are several characteristics of a restless individual - the first being that they just don't enjoy any "ease" in their spirit or heart.  In other words, they are in a position of constantly "redoing" their decisions - reworking the plan.  Do you know that feeling that comes when you finally "settle into" a plan and you begin to see it start working for you?  The peace that produces is quite remarkable.  Unfortunately, restless individuals just never get to that place of "peace" or "ease" in their lives.

Second, the restless individual is in a state of perpetual agitation.  Think of this as being in a pot of boiling water - the higher the temperature rises, the more the "stuff" in the water is agitated.  The same is true of those with a restless character - they just keep "feeling" the heat rising, so they respond with continual activity and agitation.  Agitation is really a state of struggle and inner conflict.  There is much stress created by this agitation - personally and for those around this individual.

Third, the restless spirit actually finds that they cannot rest.  They have an aversion to inactivity.  There is a little "alarm" that sounds when they find their lives coming to a place of rest and the immediate response is to increase the activity!  It is like a hamster on a wheel - as long as it is moving, they are happy, but slow down the wheel and they just don't know what to do with themselves.  The problem here is that God speaks best to us in the quiet times of our lives.  If we are not comfortable being "still", God has little opportunity to speak into our lives!

For a restless soul, there is actually a point where they feel "deprived" when the activity ceases!  It is like they are being starved!  The restless soul actually "feeds" off the activity.  The problem is that their "diet" is unable to bring the nourishment of spirit they earnestly need.  

God reminds us of the benefits of "inactivity" or "peacefulness" in our lives when he allows words to be penned like:

Be still and know that I am God.  (Ps. 46:9)

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.  (Ps. 4:7-8)

Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.  (Ps. 119:165)

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  

(John 14:27)

It is only when we recognize the "agitation" of our restlessness that we can fully appreciate the "comfort" of resting in the grace of our Lord.  In the stillness of his care we are enveloped in his rest, freed from our anxiety, settled in our agitation.  Flitting to and fro becomes a thing of the past.  

If we find ourselves so caught up in the activity of the "heat" of life, it might just be time to take the pot off the stove!  Maybe we feel like we lack the ability to do this ourselves - don't worry, Jesus knows!  Maybe we feel like we cannot live without the constant "heat" of life - don't fret, Jesus gives us more than we need to fill our days.  

Be still!  And KNOW - really get to know - your God!  You will be amazed at what you hear and learn in the peacefulness of rest!