Pins and Needles

We’ve been there in a myriad of situations, and places. That uncomfortable feeling where a little anxiety creeps in and takes over our comfort zone. Something big, and possibly negative, is about to occur. Can I handle it? Good news? Bad news?

Yikes! I’m sitting on Pins and Needles!

Pins and Needles! This term showed up in the early 1800s’ and essentially describe that feeling we have all experienced. You know. A body part has fallen “asleep”, possibly a nerve has been pinched, and it’s starting to awake. It feels like pins and needles are poking us. We rub it, stretch it, and wish it would wake up! Quickly!

Back in high school, and in English immediately following lunch, I would usually nap. Today, it’s only a 10-15 minute power nap, but when I was growing and going, well, our classroom had no A/C and it was easy to drift into a stupor and slumber. One day, I woke after everyone had left, only both my legs were asleep. I couldn’t walk! It was about 10 minutes before I could move again! Agony! The teacher simply smiled…

We take a natural experience and apply it to other avenues of life that equally challenge us. Waiting for a doctor’s report, or a dental procedure, or, well, you get to describe your own experience all the time. You know what I mean.

Pins and Needles equate to anxiety, nervousness, tenseness, and worried.

Some live this way all the time!

We all face anxious moments. Sometimes more frequently than others. If you do not learn how to control yourself you may just not be successful in your endeavor. For me, it’s like creeping into dark places worried about spider webs! Barns. Woods. Basements. Yes. I’ve learned to control myself, but if it’s a black widow or brown recluse zone, then you better know I’m tense! If the spiders are not poisonous, then perhaps it’s simply learning to keep your hand (or a stick) in front of your face to peel them back before they snag you!

How do you handle spiders? Through the years I’ve simply accepted spiders exist. When I walk through the woods around my house, I simply hold my hand up in front of my face and wade through the branches!

We’ve been around tricksters that look for the opportunity to cause a scream or a panicked reaction. They find joy, while their victim’s nerves are shattered.

Okay. I’m guilty. I’ve been on the “giving” side more than the “receiving” side! My apologies if you’ve been tricked…

Early this morning I was waiting on a phone call. The party on the other end was working on getting some news, and I was involved because it’s important. It felt like a “pins and needles” moment. I can handle the news. It’s the waiting that’s structurally unsound.

How Do You Handle Stresses

We all have coping tools but sometimes we fail to open the toolbox at the appropriate time. The stress of the moment overwhelms our thinking process, and we miss the opportunity to handle the moment. We become anxious, and that makes everything larger than life.

For me, I think my self cool as a cucumber (and I only like them pickled!). Now, when I’m getting a blood pressure checkup, I get better results when I follow these simple steps.

• Don’t drink or eat before the doctors visit.
• Think (action item) yourself calm.
• Do not fear the results.
• Recall happy thoughts.
• Change how you think about the stress, or change the conditions where the stress comes from.

Going to the dentist? Getting blood drawn? Called to your boss’s office? Well, you know where your limits are! Every situation has different stress levels, so, you adapt to the moment.

The Power of the Thought

Looking through my bible, I find many people who show us the power of their thought. Daniel headed to the Lion’s Den. The 3 Hebrew boys being tossed in the fiery furnace, and surviving! Paul and Silas are beaten and jailed. and instead of bemoaning their lot in life, the began to pray and sing at midnight! (Acts 16:25)

Think about all the little problems we’ve faced in life. We get drawn into our frustrations, fears, and failures. Before you know it, we are overwhelmed.

Here’s the key. No one in the bible was perfect. They had bad experiences and lost their cool. Just like you and me. We turn to our social platforms and look for a support system. What did they do? They turned to God!

That’s the answer! When I am overwhelmed…

Turn To God!

David is a prime example, and we have his words to tell us what he did.

• Psalms 61:2  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
• Psalms 77:1-4 To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
• Psalms 102:1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
• Psalms 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

Notice. He recognizes his position but turns his attention to the solver of all his problems. Here is your key to success!

Do not let yourself get so overwhelmed you forget where your help comes from!

A song for going up to worship. I look up toward the mountains. Where can I find help? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let you fall. Your guardian will not fall asleep. Indeed, the Guardian of Israel never rests or sleeps. The LORD is your guardian. The LORD is the shade over your right hand. The sun will not beat down on you during the day, nor will the moon at night. The LORD guards you from every evil. He guards your life. The LORD guards you as you come and go, now and forever.
(Psalms 121:1-8 GW)