Watch Me

A child burst into my school nurse clinic, her face a lovely shade of pale blue. If she remained frantic, I wouldn't be able to get her to use her inhaler effectively.

I grabbed her, sat her down and kneeled before her with my face six inches from her face. Looking right into her eyes, I calmly (and here is the disclaimer....my outside was calm, my insides were jumping up and down, praying loudly, arms flailing to get God’s attention!)... and quietly said, “Watch me. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Watch me. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.” I repeated those words over and over as I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth. Whenever her eyes would start to drift from mine, I would again softly and slowly say, “Watch me...watch me...good...watch me.” As she began to relax, she was able to use her inhaler and quickly began to turn a wonderful shade of pink. Didn't take long, but it was a remarkable change and nurses love pink!

Isn’t that the way we are? Having worked ourselves into a monumental head of steam, we throw ourselves at Jesus’ feet and let ‘er rip... “I can’t believe she said...I have told him over and over and look what he did....look at all this stuff I have to learn....look what I have to do before tomorrow, next week, next month.....look what YOU haven’t done, look what my boss is saying....look what that parent expects... he won’t listen and she won’t go and how can I and holy cow...WHAT IF??”

Then Jesus says, “Sit down, look at me, take a deep breath...watch me...watch me.”

He did that to Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. A great multitude was coming against Judah armed to the teeth with the full intention of annihilating them. The Israelites were so dead unless God miraculously intervened. All of Judah gathered and a fearful King Jehoshaphat prayed. He laid it all out before the Lord. His final words of desperation were, “O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us...nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on Thee.”

I imagine a long pregnant pause.

Then Jahaziel stood up in the crowd. He said, “Listen.....thus says the Lord to you....do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s! You need not fight in this battle. Station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf. Do not fear or be dismayed. Tomorrow go out to face them for the Lord is with you!”

Often when I’m overwhelmed, on my last nerve, have tried everything I know to do and am hopelessly defeated, I finally....remember...to lay it all out before Him. “You know, God, what is happening. And you know I’ve worn myself out trying to fix it. I quit. I’m powerless in the face of this situation and I don’t have a clue what to do. It’s all yours, Jesus. I’ll station myself, keep my eyes on you and just watch you work in me and in this situation. I trust you.”

I cast the burden on him. I stay focused on him. I take a deep breath and look full in His wonderful face.

”Tomorrow, go out and face them, for the Lord is with you.”

Guaranteed...you’ll pink up.