The Cure for Anxiety

Recently, I’ve been putting my cooking classes to the test. This makes the second batch of caramel candies I’m attempting in a week. The first portion were bite-sized and these are about the size of a square quarter (1” x 1” approx.). While I was melting the chocolate, I simply used chocolate chips instead of bakers chocolate (mistake #1) and it was thick. Then I was like, well how the heck do I thin it out? In class, we learned that water is chocolates enemy, so I can’t add water. It seemed to already have so much thickness I thought it was from the fat content, so adding butter or oil was out.  Thankfully, I still had some heavy cream around and decided to add it to thin it, just trying to figure something out while it’s on the stove melting/heating and a process you can’t stop watching or walk away from. (And no, you shouldn’t walk away from anything on the stove). 

After I seeded it to cool it down, I decide it was “good enough” and would give it a rest to see if the temper is where it needs to be… and allow mine to get where it needs to be as well. Making chocolates is not stressful, it’s just a bit of problem solving in the moment I found myself having to contemplate quickly. So as I walk out of my kitchen to take a short break, I’m looking out the open window and see a little family of geese all in a row, walking down the middle of the street. Mama bird, then six little waddlers and the caboose Papa Bird keeping everyone on pace. It was so precious in the moment, it simply melted my heart to see them. 

This goes along with my latest learnings of God’s pleasures; how I don’t see much of what He has created to bring Himself glory. And it’s these little moments like this that remind me He sees everything. He cares about everything. He is taking care of EVERYTHING. 

I was reminded of a verse in Matthew chapter 6, beginning with verse 25 ending with verse 34 (ESV):
[emphasis mine]

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]? 

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

My morning began by hearing of a dear friend of mine who is in the hospital, and they are unsure exactly what is going on. She was having seizures, and they cannot control them. She is also diabetic. She is currently fully sedated with her family surrounded. I would be lying if I didn’t say it’s concerned me and has sort of kept me on edge a bit today, however, I know that God is in control of everything. He not only sees it all, but He takes care of it all. He plans things perfectly, putting people in our paths which can speak to us in ways He has prepared well in advance. He allows us to connect with people and make friends, leads us along paths to grow us and teach us; all the while, making sure the universe stays in perfect sync; governing the night and day and everything in between. He is very aware of it all. Although I may question Him on somethings, I know He knows my heart and wants good for me and all who belong to Him. I must trust Him completely, always.

Leaving things in His hands is difficult for me. I want to, and I do—I simply struggle with trying to pick things back up. I know God is near; He always seems to be. Even when I couldn’t sense Him through a recent challenging period of my life I could clearly see Him at work in me and through me (only to later affirm what He was, indeed, teaching me about Him and myself). God has provided me with a confidence—not in me, but in HIM ALONE.

I had a gathering this evening of meeting new people and often, I found myself withdrawing to just be in awe of nature; of the flowers that God so intricately designed on the hydrangea bushes nearby, and the fluffy cloud formations in the beautiful spring sky this evening. The light breeze, flowing through the trees and bushes, allowing them to sing out in praise for God’s glory was more of what I wanted to take in than the event itself. 

The world around us is so beautiful, so ornately designed and we as humans are so caught up in our daily endeavors that we often fail to stop and appreciate the beauty all around us. I’m so very thankful for the moments God provides me to appreciate the family of geese and the gradient colors of the flowers in bloom. I find myself ever longing to be sitting at his feet, learning from Him, listening to Him, being completely immersed in his presence. All that we see is merely a reflection of Him. He is truly AWE-some. 

 
As I go,  (because I have candies to finish) I leave with Phil 4:8 (ESV): 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

What joy there is in focusing on God and the beauty of His creations. 

All glory and honor and praise is due Him. Thank you, God, that I can trust You and leave anything and everything in your most capable hands.