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CLERGY CORNER Proactive or reactive?

Hanover Mariner - 9/15/2016

Are you a proactive or reactive person when it comes to taking care of your mind, body, and spirit? As we return from vacations and resume our busy fall schedules this is an important question to reflect on.

Psychologists claim we are more reactive than ever because of high anxiety levels. When we are anxious, we tend to be more reactive and less proactive. According to a study by the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18% of the population.

God knows we are an anxious and reactive people and desires we find peace. In some translations of the Bible, the word peace is used over 400 times. One of the most famous scriptures in the Bible is where Jesus tells his followers, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Matthew 6:34).” The Apostle Paul told a group of early Christians, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6-7).”

God desires that we not only find peace, but we embrace a proactive instead of reactive mindset. As people of faith, we are called to follow God’s lead and God is definitely proactive. God didn’t just create the world haphazardly. Literal and non-literal interpreters of scripture can agree the God of creation had a plan when the world was formed. Interpreters disagree on whether the plan unfolded in seven days or thousands of years, but they all agree there was a plan. Albert Einstein supported this claim when he said, “God does not play dice with the universe.”

God wants us to be less reactive and embrace the plan God has for our lives. In Jeremiah 29:11, it is written, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares God, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” What a relief to know that we don’t have to come up with a plan. God has a life plan already laid out for us; we just need to keep alert to God’s spirit working in our lives, which will enable us see the course we are to follow.

As we begin this fall season and are tempted to default into our old patterns of extreme busyness, anxiety, and reactivity, I challenge you to take a moment to reflect on ways you can proactively decrease the worry and tension in your life.

Remind yourself not to be uneasy about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Through prayer give your nervous thoughts to God, for God can handle any concern. Take some precious time to be thankful for the blessings in your life. Do something for someone else and you will forget for a while your own fears. Engage in proactive activities which will bring innumerable benefits to your mind, body, and spirit; such as participating in sport, community and faith based activities. Don’t forget to also strive to maintain a healthy body weight and get adequate sleep.

However, don’t worry if your plans to get all this done fall short. Ultimately our lives are in God’s hands. As Jesus reminds us, “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).”