"Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night." [Numbers 14:1]
Sometimes it’s really hard to quieten the voice of fear or doubt when it is whispering to you. Especially in these uncertain times, when both the mainstream media and social media can be quite focussed on reporting the negative, maintaining a Godly and positive perspective can be tricky.
In Numbers 14, Joshua rebukes the Israelites for being afraid of the people of Canaan, reminding them that “the Lord is with us; do not fear them” (Numbers 14:9). Similarly, we can know that God is with us during this time and we can “cast our anxieties on him” (1 Peter 5:7).
Specific techniques to help with doing this can include:
Prayer with God - Psalm 40:1 tells us that in "waiting patiently" for the Lord He "turns to us and hears our cry."
Reading the Bible - when you're unsettled, focus on a really short passage or verse of scripture and think on it and how it relates to you right now.
Visualisation techniques - imagine physically handing God a bag full of your worries. It's amazing how tangible this makes letting go of things.
Writing a letter/journal - To God about your thoughts and fears, and ask for His help and perspective.
Written and sourced by our Hospitality Leader, Ashleigh Crosilla (who is also a qualified Psychologist).