Kaleb, our 7-year-old, crawled up the stairs and slid on his belly into my bedroom whimpering.

Drama.

“Mom,” he said in his most distressed voice and full-on cry face. Mind you, his eyelids were as dry as desert sand. “Oh, oh, oh… I fell out of my chair and scraped my leg.”

He was really doing the most.

Panting and wincing with each word, he explained the dire circumstances surrounding his traumatic tumble.

“You fell? You did?” I asked. “Well, let me see it.”

So he proceeded to pull up his pants leg, flinching all the while.

When I finally laid eyes on the spot, I could tell where the scrape had occurred. It was wherever I noticed that great big area of ashiness. The skin was not broken. There was no blood, just white ash. The only 9-1-1 emergency was his serious need for some lotion.

So I grabbed a bottle off the dresser, squirted a pea-sized circle in my left palm, rubbed my hands together and went to work.

“See?” I said. “There’s nothing there. You’re okay.”

As he looked down at the perfectly clear—now moisturized—place he still frowned and continued complaining. “But it hurts,” he whined.

I assured Kaleb—again—he would be alright. With that, he hopped out of my room on one leg, looking back a couple of times to make sure I was observing his painstaking process of dragging his injured leg through the doorway. Did I already say he was doing the most?

About 5 minutes later he returned, still hobbling. “There’s a dark spot there,” he said, determined to make sure I saw something, anything.

Indulging him, I leaned in closely, squinted and said, “Where? You mean, right here?”

I didn’t get it right. I touched the wrong spot.

Oops.

More whimpering from the little guy. This was critical.  *Insert incredulous look*

Daily Cup family, there was nothing there.

There. Was. Nothing. I. Promise.

But he was insistent, so I showed compassion and sent him on his way, again. The next time he entered my presence, he had totally forgotten about his affliction and was walking normally. He had just panicked, as he does so often over insignificant things.

Even though I knew it wasn’t that serious (I’m sure it did ache somewhat.) I had to let him go through his process. Sooner or later he’d come around and relax. All he needed was a little time.

Children are so funny.

But adults are too.

Come on and tell the truth. We can be the same way when we experience uncomfortable things in life, can’t we? Like Kaleb, have you ever taken a tumble, gone through a minor setback, felt some discomfort and pain, and then panicked in that affliction?

We all have. Just lost our minds.

And that’s not to say the situation wasn’t difficult. Truth be told though, too often, we let things get the best of us. We react so strongly and end up making mountains out of molehills. We turn a small bump in the road into Mount Everest. We will freak out when things get off balance, out of order, or creep up on us. Before we know it, we’re assuming and expecting the worst, crying and falling out.

All the while, God is standing right there watching, knowing full well that everything is going to be just fine.

That’s what He’s telling you today. Relax. Rest. Trust. Everything’s going to be just fine.

In the meantime, the Lord will allow you to go through your process until you’re ready to calm down. He knows you don’t have to put yourself on that emotional rollercoaster, but He won’t stop you if you don’t want to rest in His word.

He doesn’t want any of us to let things make us hysterical, irrational and inconsolable. But we must be willing to receive the comfort of the Holy Spirit and speak the word of God over our lives.

Instead of giving into unpredictable emotions, adopting a defeated mindset, and agreeing with the enemy when he tells you your world is about to come crashing down, talk to yourself.

Tell yourself: I will not break down; I will not give in; I will not lose my mind; this is not the end; I will have what God says I will have; I will overcome; The enemy will not win; No weapon formed against me will prosper.

Speak to yourself and over yourself. Encourage yourself in the Lord.

Dig way deep down into your spirit and pull up the word. If you have to cry while you’re quoting those scriptures, cry on. But don’t speak a word of defeat.

When you feel panic and despair coming on, I’m stirring a scripture into your cup of inspiration that I want you to say.

It is found in Psalm 43:5 NIV and says, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, you will be empowered to shift your mentality and your reality by the power of God’s word.

Tell yourself: I am blessed and favored; above and not beneath; the head and not the tail; the lender and not the borrower; the victor and not the victim.

Now let’s pray.

God, there are things going on in my life that have caused a degree of stress, anxiety and concern. But I don’t want to give into worry, frustration, fear, discouragement, or depression. So today, I ask that You help me speak Your word over my circumstance and believe, by faith, things have already begun shifting in my favor. In Jesus’ name, Amen.