This world is loud.

People are loud.

Our emotions and even the thoughts in our own head can be loud. Sometimes it can feel as if there is no escaping it.

On a normal Monday morning, my little corner of the world was turned upside down. As I sat there, my emotions grew louder. My thoughts grew louder. It seemed to drown out everyone and everything around me.

My first instinct was to panic. I’m so good at that. My anxiety can do 0-120 in a quarter mile. My chest tightened and I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. In my mind, everything was out of control and only getting worse.

I didn’t know what to do. Or so I thought.

I went to my office, shut the door and the tears came. So many loud thoughts, emotions and worst-case scenarios were running through my head. Then, I looked up and my eyes rested on the Lord’s Prayer hanging on my wall.

I prayed, “Lord, I say that I trust You and the first sign of trouble I panic as if You are not in control of every minute. As if You have not already seen this moment.”

I stayed in my chair for several minutes. I breathed. I prayed. I prayed some more. I tuned out the phones. I tuned out the noises on the highway outside and I prayed. The panic subsided. I knew that He was sitting right there with me. I could feel Him easing the anxiety.

At some time during our lifetime, we are ALL going to need that place. That moment (or several moments in my case) to just quietly pray and seek God’s direction, guidance and peace for the moment.

Elijah was one of God’s greatest prophets and God sent him into the wilderness for a while, to get away from King Ahab and to commune with God. (1 Kings 17: 1-7).

Even Jesus needed moments away while He was here on this earth to pray to His Father. He was led into the wilderness where He fasted and prayed. Just before His crucifixion, He led His disciples into the garden and left them to pray.

I know that sometimes in the business of life, finding time to yourself is rare. But to make it through it, we NEED this time alone. This quiet time with just you and God.

Can I say that the one time in my office took away all the panic and anxiety? That would a hard NO. Did moments still come up that brought the anxiety and panic back? SEVERAL TIMES A DAY!

BUT….I just found another quiet place and brought it to Him again. Sometimes it was my office again, sometimes it was locked in the bathroom, sometimes it was sitting in my car before driving away. Prayer isn’t a one and done thing. Sometimes we have to keep that communication open so that God can keep that peace returning.

Don’t neglect the quiet places you have during your day. It doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out, elaborate prayer. Sometimes, you just have to lock the bathroom door, look in the mirror and say, “God, I need You right now”.

Then you walk out, knowing He’s got your back. Always.