How to Remain Calm in a Crisis

Many people quickly forget an important fact in the midst of a crisis. Instead of remaining calm they panic, in turn, causing greater damage. We learn of the tragic consequence of these lapses in the news. People are crushed when fire breaks out in a crowded venue because others panic rushing madly for the exit. Swimmers drown when they panic, instead of remaining calm, preventing the rescuer's attempts to save them.  The single worst thing for anyone to do in a crisis is panic. 

We grasp this when it comes to our children. Because we care about protecting them from needless harm, we teach them the skill of remaining calm. In school we practice fire drills so that they'll calmly exit a building. In tornado prone areas we have drills so they'll learn to automatically head for safety. We teach them to stop, drop and roll in case their clothing catches fire. So how is it that we fail to learn this same skill from our Father? He, too, wants His children to avoid harm so provides lessons in His word.  

Stop: 

When trouble comes, He teaches us to pause first to remember who it is that's on our side. No matter the size of the crisis, there's no need to panic. 

         

"The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."

(Exodus 14:14)

Drop:

Whatever the need, He wants us to bring it to Him. Dropping to our knees is the surest way to overcome the situation and calm our fear.

"For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."

(Zephaniah 3:17)

Roll: 

As long as we keep our focus on Him, we will be able to take the next step. In Him, we'll roll on down the road in the peace that passes all understanding. Whether He chooses to calm the storm or to simply calm us, we'll be kept in peace.

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"

(Isaiah 26:3)

Lessons for the Journey:

Life can sometimes feel like a battlefield surrounding you with crisis on many sides. Circumstances rage against you. People try to defeat you. Regardless of the manner of the attack, be it with weapons or with words, never lose hope just stop, drop and roll. The victory is certain because the power to overcome does not come from you. Remain calm trusting in God. It is He who fights in your stead and no power -of earth or of hell- can ever defeat Him.

"And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies."

(Joshua 21:44)

©AnnWilds2012  

Breath of Life

the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7

Breathing is something we do without thinking. In fact, it comes so automatically that we rarely pay it any attention at all. Yet, it’s the very source of life.

When we inhale, oxygen is drawn into our lungs then distributed to the rest of our body. Eighty percent of the blood vessels used to take in oxygen are located in the lower portion of our lungs, yet many of us fail to breathe in a way that fully sustains our system. Studies of cardiac patients find nearly 100% are shallow breathers. The less oxygen our organs receive the harder they have to work. To make matters worse, when we are under stress we breathe even less effectively.

Try this:

• Pick two points on the far side of the room, one on the right and one on the left. Got them? On the count of 1 shift your eyes to the left point and on 2 shift your eyes to the right point. Repeat this for seven counts of 1 & 2. Ready? Go!

How’d you do? It may not have been a difficult task but did you notice what happened to your breathing? If you’re like most people, you held your breath; it’s the common response when we concentrate on a task.


Under stress our mind reacts as if under attack, automatically preparing our body to either run or fight. This once served us well, but in modern times the danger is much less physical than emotional. Unfortunately, our body’s response is the same, diverting oxygen from less important areas while sending it to those needed to evade the danger. Interestingly, this includes diverting oxygen from the brain- the very thing needed to remain calm.

A useful tool to help manage stress is to learn abdominal diaphragmatic breathing or belly breathing for short. Rest one hand on your stomach and breathe in slowly. As you do, breathe in deeply enough to raise the hand as you inhale and lower it as you exhale. Master this skill and you’ll have a simple but effective tool to lower your stress response.

Mother was right; a few deep breaths when you're upset really can calm you down.

Message for the Journey: 

When you find yourself in one of life' stressful situations, what happens with your breathing can often determine how well you manage the situation. Breathe in deeply- taking in God’s love and peace - while exhaling the tension and strife.  You'll be better prepared to remain in His joy as you face the next step along your journey.



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