What do you do when panic comes knocking?

What do you do when panic comes knocking at your door?  My heart starts racing. I could easily freak out if I allowed myself to do so, but I make myself take a deep breath and remember, while this took me by surprise, it did not take God by surprise.

When the unexpected happens, the best response is to talk to the One who knew it was going to happen all along.  After all, nothing is hidden from God [Hebrews 4:13].  Not only is it not hidden from Him, but Psalm 121:8 tells us,

The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

He doesn’t just know it’s going to happen, but He’s watching over us in the process, right by our side, ready to step in whenever necessary.  He never leaves us nor forsakes us [Deuteronomy 31:6, 8].  Psalm 23:4 tells us He is with us.

The disciples understood panic.  In Mark 4:34-41 we find the disciples in utter panic for their very lives. They were sailing in a boat with Jesus when a massive storm broke out.  You have to keep in mind many of these men were experienced fishermen and had seen their fair share of storms.  For them to be fearful, it had to be intense. Verse 37 says,

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.”

Jesus was asleep in the boat, while they were freaking out.  When they woke Him up, He declared peace over the storm and the disciples.

While the disciples freaked out, we can learn something from them.  Panic overtook them so they immediately went to Jesus.  We can and should do the same thing.  We can take our cares and concerns to Him and know He has all authority over them [Matthew 28:18].

Will the panic still come when crazy things happen in life? Sure.  It’s only natural; we can’t control it.  However, we can control how we choose to respond to the panic when it arises.  We can agree with it and lose our peace or we can choose to look to the One who is all knowing and trust He has everything under control.  One way leads to peace and the other causes us to lose our peace. Which one will you choose?

Ironically, as I’m writing this post, the tornado sirens are going off outside.  I’ve grabbed my laptop and I’m taking cover, but I’m not anxious.  Like the disciples, I’m talking to Jesus about it.  What will you do the next time panic comes knocking at your door?