I lost 30 pounds last year; found 10 of the lost little buggers this past winter.

I'm the heavy one on the far right.

I noticed losing the burden of even five pounds made a difference in how I felt. On the court (where it counts), I had an extra step. I oozed energy.

This summer at my lightest.

Carrying extra weight around isn’t limited to your pound of flesh. For me, it usually attaches itself to my thoughts in the form of financial worries. And with the release of Dark Eyes, Deep Eyes, sales thoughts can bury me under worry’s burden.

Is the book any good?

Am I doing enough to promote it?

What if I lose more money than I make on this venture?

Boxes of books, a sight both exciting and terrifying.

You probably haven’t had a novel debut recently (although, if you have, congratulations!), but I would venture to guess that you’ve felt the weight of worry.

What are my kids doing when I’m not there to protect them?

How will my business survive this economy?

What will the next series of elections bring?

What’s the price of gas going to be on my next road trip?

How will I cover the cost of [you fill in the blank here]?

A week ago, I especially felt anxiety’s knot wrapping itself around my gut. I was overwhelmed by the options and the opportunities. I was frustrated by an ongoing problem. I heard messages that told me what to do for my “business,” things I neither was doing nor understanding how to do.

And the weightiness of it all sunk my spirits lower …

… and lower …

… and lower …

… until I turned my mind and heart back to some basic truths.

Today’s events do not determine my future. Whatever happens today, for good or ill, has no bearing on my eternal future. It may mean whether I have a sense of accomplishment or not at the end of the day, but it doesn’t change where I’m going.

God secured my future through the work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, both in the past and in the present. Book sales will not change that truth.

God remains seated on His throne. For me, this simple fact anchors my faith. God was seated on the throne “… in the year King Uzziah died …” which was a tumultuous time of change for the prophet Isaiah. That vision settled Isaiah’s fears about Israel’s future. It wasn’t determined by a king and his army but by God and His word.

I remain tucked away in Christ. I am, according to Scripture, a child of God. My identity determines my destiny. When I’m uncertain of my today, I can be certain of my future in Him.

I may screw up the book thing, the promotion thing, the husband thing, the daddy thing, the friend thing, and whatever else I am or do in this world. In fact, I know I will screw up, make mistakes, do dumb stuff, and generally mess up.

But I will never, ever be abandoned.

Why?

Because our Father says, “I will neither leave you nor forsake you.”

That truth helps steady my heart in its anxious moments.

I’m curious. When you feel unsettled in life or face a tough situation, what helps calm your soul?

Recommended reading:

Slice of Infinity’s “Identification

Donald Miller’s “It’s the Journey that Makes Coming Home Sweet”

Beth K. Vogt’s “Unhitch Your Wagon from the Stars” @ Rachelle Gardner’s blog

Top 3 posts the past 7 days:

My Novel “Dark Eyes, Deep Eyes” Debuts

A Plea For More Prayer

What’s Your Pleasure

You can find Dark Eyes, Deep Eyes at:

WestBow Press

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

"Dark Eyes, Deep Eyes" goes to the library as book tours city sites.

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