Releasing the Worry

Hey there!  

As to be expected this year, the state of Minnesota recently enforced some temporary restrictions due to Covid. The Governor announced a 4 week restriction of youth sports, fitness centers, theatres,  and some other businesses. Well, my son plays college basketball and was advised they could go home until the last week of December due to all classes being online.  The college gym was closed until after Thanksgiving due to Covid cenerns as well.  My son planned on getting a gym membership for the time he was home, but with the new restrictions he could not.  He decided it would make more sense for him to go back to college in Iowa so he could at least continue individual workouts over the next few weeks as the official season begins in mid-January.

This resulted in an unexpected trip to Iowa this past Sunday to drop him off again.  During the trip I was planning on “talking” with him about a few things.  You know, advising of an area or two he could improve on.  Boy was in for a shock!  In the middle of the night, God reminded me of a shortcoming I needed to address instead.  Normally, when we drive long distances, I do all the driving. All!   There are a few reasons for this.  The first being I simply want to be in control of how fast we’re going and I’m more experienced. Secondly, what if I were to fall asleep and he misses an exit, doesn’t know how to navigate or just gets nervous due to inexperience.  Lastly, I get fearful for him and the police.  I worry he may  be pulled over out for being a young black male.  One time a couple of years ago, we were driving home from a basketball game.  I was driving and he was in the passenger seat with his black hoodie on.  About a mile from our home a police car decided to follow us until we were a couple of blocks from our house.  This experience made me very nervous for him and it took a long time for me to trust God with my son driving alone.  Of course I’d be in the car this time, but still.  To make me even more afraid, he got his hair twisted the day before we left so his current look doesn’t necessarily conform with what makes people feel “comfortable”

Did I have enough fear and worry for you?! Whew! I told my son the day before he’d be driving during the trip this time.  He wasn’t too thrilled about it, but I told him he really needed to begin learning these skills.

The next day before the trip began, I apologized to him.  I explained I was not serving him as I should because of some control, fear and anxiety I was experiencing. I advised he needed to learn these skills in order to gain experience and so he would no longer be spoiled to it. I told him about driving in the right lane unless he wanted to pass so he would be following the rules of the road per se.  I started as the driver on the  trip  and had him take over the more challenging piece.  He’d have to get in the correct lane and hit 3 exits in a short time span.  And guess what, he did just fine.  He turned on Google Maps on his iphone and got us there safely.  Now, I still needed to ask him to slow down a few times, but that’s just an age thing. Lol

God in his infinite grace had lovingly corrected me in an area he knew I needed to improve upon.  As a result, I’m now able to trust my son to take over more of the long distance driving responsibilities and most importantly I no longer have to hold tightly to control because of my fear and anxiety in this area.

So today, I ask you, want are you holding onto too tightly in order to stay in control?  What is causing fear and anxiety, holding you back from your blessing.  The word says in 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God does not give us the Spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.  In Phillpians 4:6, it goes on to say, “Do not be anxious for anything; instead pray about EVERYTHING.  Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.”

My prayer is that you will allow God to help you this week by releasing your current challenges to him. I pray you will be blessed as a result of your obedience.

Have a great week!

~Felicia