(Psalm 131) LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me. 2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forever.
Do you tend to think things through and through? Does your mind keep working and taking things to the next level? Then you have what is called an “analytical mind.” But do your thoughts keep thinking when your mind is supposed to be resting? Do you rehearse things over and over when things are all said and done? Do you also think ahead too much about upcoming events as well as the unforeseen future? And does this trigger anxiety in you to the point where it’s hard to make decisions? Then you have what is called “Analysis Paralysis!”
Now before you get too upset about your prognosis, let me assure you that you are in good company because many saints have suffered the same malady. And let me also assure you that there is help available, a prescription from God’s Word. In fact, it’s from King David who must have suffered as well from “A.P.” It’s from Psalm 131 (a short Psalm of only three verses so we wouldn’t overly-analyze God’s simple remedy):
STOP AT THE POINT OF COMPLEXITY (verse 1) - After you toss it over a few times then stop or you’ll enter the arena of confusion or despair, the very place God never intended you to arrive at.
WEAN YOURSELF FROM THE NECESSITY OF INSTANT RESOLUTION (verse 2) - Learn to live with the low-grade anxiety of unresolved dilemmas. Everybody has them. Why do you think yours has to be in front of the line?
TRUST IN THE LORD FOR HIS WAY AND TIMING OF YOUR CONCERNS (verse 3) - God has it all figured out, so you can rest as if the solution is already at hand.
To all those afflicted with Analysis Paralysis: You have a good mind, a very gifted mind. But remember, every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17) so use your gift in the Spirit of self-control (Gal 5:22-23). And here’s prescription number two . . . memorize Proverbs 3:5-7.
Only God is wise (Rom 16:27) so let Him think when your mind goes on the blink. Let God be God and let your mind rest in God’s sovereign and loving control of your life and future.
Louie