Isn’t it amazing how little it takes to get ourselves all worked up into a “tizzy”? Maybe it’s something as simple as the holidays coming up or us wondering about some issue concerning the future. Webster’s defines a tizzy as a state of nervous excitement, a frenzy, fret or hysteria. If we’d all be honest, most of us would admit that we’re on the brink of being in one of those at any moment. I know for me, just when I think I’ve found stable ground in my emotions or gained God’s viewpoint of what’s happening around me, if I’m not careful, I can topple over with the slightest wind of adversity. (And keep in mind, we have an enemy that sends those winds. Amen?)
So where do we turn when the gusts of unsettledness come our way? And how can we hush its force when we find ourselves waking up at 3 a.m. and can’t go back to sleep? What do we do when our angst about some problem is attached to us like a leech and we can hardly breathe?
Friend, I’ve found a verse in God’s Word—my emergency verse—when I need relief from unsettledness. It’s my 9-1-1 go-to in Scripture. Guess where it’s found? It’s Psalms 91:1. The “9-1-1” hotline to God. How cool is that? It brings instant relief. God’s peace arrives and I’m able to relax in His care. I love it!
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.—Psalm 91:1
In other words, the person (like you and me) who runs to this secret hiding place of Almighty God will remain stable and fixed. There she will find a safeguard in the all-sufficient God. I often picture myself running to His secret hideout, where God lives. The word “dwell” in Hebrew means “to sit,” implying that in my fretfulness I can sit down on the inside and experience God’s calm repose, knowing I am protected. I can relax in His fortification and persist in what’s steady and safe. Friend, I’m telling you, the more we open our minds to God’s emergency verse in Scripture, the more we’ll experience deep, inner healing and peace of mind.
I used to wake up in the middle of the night and some fear about the ministry or my kids or grandkids would play over and over in my head. I’d wrestle with it for hours. I’m happy to say it doesn’t happen as frequently as it used to—THANK THE LORD—because the enemy is discovering that the authoritative, powerful, prevailing words of Scripture break his back every time. Hallelujah!
When I was little I prayed an elementary prayer at night that began with these words: “Now I lay me down to sleep.” Remember that prayer? Friend, I hope when we “lay ourselves down to sleep” we’ll cover our minds with Psalms 91:1. It summons the supernatural power of God into the night watch. Once again I say, “Hallelujah!”
About Pam Kanaly
Aloha! I’m Pam Kanaly, President and co-founder of Arise Ministries. But actually, I think Arise found me wanting to bless single moms years ago. Ministry was never on my mind as a kid. All I wanted to be was a hula dancer. So Mother enrolled me in the tiny tots’ class. Guess God knew I’d have two grandbabies born in Hawaii. I love the great outdoors. You might even find me spending time with my husband grizzly bear watching or camping. In fact, it was on a turkey hunt that God gave me the name Arise Ministries in 2002. I suppose it’s a good thing that I majored in Grammar in college since I love to write words of encouragement to single moms.