334 – How Are You today? Crappy. Thanks for Asking

#faithbites #faithjourney Crappy

I’ve had a rough day this morning between lack of sleep, stress, and anxiety. A person asked me how I was doing today. My first thought was to tell him how I was feeling, but instead, I said “Just Peachy” or something like that. I didn’t tell him how I felt because I don’t think he really wanted to know. We have so many of these small talk interactions where it seems we are talking just to talk.

I wonder how many people really want to know that you are having a crappy day. Even when someone ask “Are you ok?”, do they really mean it or are they trying to be nice? It is hard to judge and then you leave the interaction feeling a bit dishonest and you may have missed the opportunity to truly connect with someone. On the other hand, and this is where I fall, I usually share too much. Then I still don’t feel good because it seems I gave the person more than they wanted.

I wonder if there was a way to have a code word or hand gesture to let someone know how you truly were feeling or if they were ready for that honest conversation. If not, no harm no foul.

Scripture

• Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7
• The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
      and saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:18
• But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.- Hebrews 3:13

Reflection

I don’t have an answer on when to share or not share. I know that in Hebrews, we are to encourage each other every day. To have honest and effective encouragement, you need to connect with someone. How else do you connect with them if you don’t share how you feel? It may be hard to know who those people, but when you do find them, you should connect.

When all else fails or you don’t know who to share with, besides just blasting it on the internet and hope someone says something, there is the Lord. He takes our anxieties. He protects and brings close the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. I am blessed to have a relationship with him. This is when I pray hard and pray for emotional healing.

I don’t know if I should have told that person this morning that I was having a crappy day. Maybe they would be receptive and it would be a good moment. Maybe it would have turned awkward. I don’t know. I do know that I need to take those risks to build relationships while at the same time trusting in the Lord to heal my soul.

Charge

When someone asks you how you are, do you tell them the truth? Are you able to put into words how you are feeling and are they receptive? This is not an easy thing to do. The charge is to find one person whom you see and ask them how they are feeling or doing. Then be ready to really listen to them and be empathic when possible. For the best way to have a friend is to be a friend.

Lord, help me to know how to communicate to others. Give me the strength to know when to share and not share. Let my heart know that no matter what happens, I can always come to you for guidance, support, and healing.