Pulling the Rug Out From Under Me!

Have you heard that saying before? It is usually used to indicate something that happened that was totally unexpected and caused you to stumble to some degree. I get a mental picture of a person falling over backwards with a quite perplexed look on their face!

We’ve all had it happen to us at some point in our life. A diagnosis that we didn’t see coming or even if we did, it rocked our world. Someone saying something that was so hurtful it took us by complete surprise. An unexpected death in the family. I’ve had all of the above happen to me and each time it felt like someone pulled the rug right out from under me. I’m walking along in this life thinking I was doing okay, then BAM! I feel lost and alone, completely overwhelmed by what just happened.

When that happens, we have a choice: succumb to the overwhelming feelings of the moment or rest in God’s promises. For most of us, choosing to succumb to the overwhelming feelings of the moment is a natural reaction. And that’s okay. That’s a natural reaction. Just don’t stay there. The sooner you can catch yourself, the better.

It matters what you say. What’s the first thing that comes out of your mouth? It will be what you have put in your heart. If cuss words come out when that rug is pulled out, it’s because that is the type of thing you’ve allowed yourself to say and think about. If the Name of Jesus comes out first, it’s because that is what you’ve been thinking about. It’s like a tube of toothpaste. When it gets squeezed, jellybeans don’t come out – toothpaste does. What’s been put inside is what comes out when the squeeze is put on you.

So how do you put in what you want to come out? It takes time. For me, I want to meditate on what God says about me and my life every single day. Then I will have the spiritual energy and wisdom to make the choice to rest in God’s promises when the rug gets pulled out from under me as well as just living everyday life.

But if you are in the middle of that rug pulling right now, what then?! Consciously, deliberately, on purpose decide to choose God’s way. Choose to think about Him showing you the way out of this situation, helping you overcome the feelings as well as the obstacle. Even if you don’t have a lot of God’s Word hidden in your heart, rely on the fact that He loves you so very much and wants the absolute very best for your life. I always tell kids that God loves you even more than your grandma does – and that’s a LOT! He is not a distant, far off god who doesn’t even know what you are going through. He is right there with you. He’s leading you and guiding you to see Truth and to seek peace. The Bible says that He is closer to you than your closest sibling. He knew you before you were even conceived in your mother’s womb, and He has a plan for your life that is bigger and better than you can come up with by yourself.

So, when you feel that rug being pulled out from under you, or you just are living life today, remember…God loves you and you can do this through Him! He has His strength, love, joy, peace, etc. that you can draw on. I’m praying for you!