Place your troubles in God’s hands

I recently went to a no-kill shelter near where I live and adopted a 5-year-old male cat named Boots. On the first day I brought him home, he was in almost constant motion, going from one room to the next and going downstairs and then back upstairs. Every so often he would jump on my lap and head bump me. I would pet him and tell him he was a good boy. However, he wasn’t totally good. He bit me four times that first day.

Now, Boots’ bites were not intended to do me any harm. They are what I call “no” bites – a way for the cat to inform me that they do not want me to continue doing what I am doing. The bites are not intended to be vicious or inflict wounds. On that first day in a new home with a new owner, Boots was being overly stressed and overly stimulated. Even a little scratch to the ears was too much to bear, and he let me know in his own way that I needed to back off.

Sometimes we can be like Boots. Life can be so busy and hectic that it overwhelms us. It might be that our schedules are overbooked, and we are running from one task to another, wearing ourselves out. It might be that our job is overly stressful, and we cannot take on even one simple task. It might be that we are ill, or not sleeping well, and we are exhausted before the day even begins. In situations like this, even well-meaning people may push our buttons in unexpected ways, and we bite back at them with our words with the hope that they will back off and leave us alone. When you are overwhelmed, overstimulated and overstressed, find a quiet place. Even five minutes of solitude can give you an opportunity to reconnect with God. Place your troubles in God’s hands. Allow God to give your soul peace. Refresh your spirit so that you do not strike out at those who love you.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3