{"id":1714,"date":"2026-05-15T10:06:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T14:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/?p=1714"},"modified":"2026-05-15T10:51:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T14:51:37","slug":"major-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/?p=1714","title":{"rendered":"Major Concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s 1:00 a.m. and I just pulled out my computer. I\u2019m hoping if I write this blog and get these thoughts out of my mind, I can sleep. As I was trying to doze off earlier, I ended up counting the major concerns of my heart. I should\u2019ve counted my blessings instead. Even sheep would have been a better alternative! However, I landed on ten; ten big hitters are weighing on me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t consider myself a worrywart or even an anxious person. But lately, dread has been my constant companion. These ten concerns flow like streams, sometimes merging into a flood that drowns my nervous system. I am in a tiny boat on this raging sea. But hey, at least I\u2019m in a boat! <\/i>Of course, we know who owns the boat. He\u2019s the same One who creates the waves. He also has the authority to tell the wind \u201cPeace, be still\u201d at any moment, so I am utterly surrendered to His timing.<\/p>\n

But as I await His next move, I can\u2019t help but wonder if this is ever going to get better. Perhaps this is the new me, my new lot in life. I told a friend today, \u201cI\u2019m beside myself. And I don\u2019t like looking over and seeing this version of me standing there. She doesn\u2019t enjoy what she sees when she looks back at me either. These twins are at the end of themselves. They\u2019re a mess!” If I have lost you on this analogy, you\u2019re not alone. That is how I feel too, a bit lost.<\/p>\n

I teach that feelings sometimes do not stem from truth. How I feel is not always my reality. Thank goodness! Regardless of my feelings, I am not lost, nor am I floating aimlessly at sea. I am held and protected. There is specific purpose in this season of my life. Might as well sit back and enjoy the boat ride, yes?<\/p>\n

The problem is I don\u2019t know how much enjoyment I can muster. Actually, that\u2019s not true. I do know. The answer is zero percent on my own. My union with Christ will be my source of joy and strength when I lay down this dread. His shoulders are broad enough to carry ten major concerns, especially considering He is the One who orchestrated them for my life.<\/p>\n

There are two options for how I can pray: \u201cWhy have You allowed these stressors? Do something!\u201d<\/i> or \u201cThank You that there are only ten. I will wait for You.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Friends, this is why gratefulness matters. It centers us on truth, on reality, and on the One who is trustworthy in our storms. When we seek His face, we will find the ability to be grateful, even joyful! Through our union with His Son, we will exhibit grateful trust. And this kind of gratitude changes the way we do life. Whether it\u2019s ten or ten thousand concerns on my heart, I want to be grateful like that. I gratefully trust You, Lord. I do. I do. I do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
\nFor You, L<\/b>ORD<\/b>, have not abandoned those who seek You.
\n(Psalm 9:10)<\/b><\/p>\n

Night, night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s 1:00 a.m. and I just pulled out my computer. I\u2019m hoping if I write this blog and get these thoughts out of my mind, I can sleep. As I was trying to doze off earlier, I ended up counting the major concerns of my heart. I should\u2019ve counted my blessings instead. Even sheep would … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Major Concerns”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1714"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1714"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1714\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1719,"href":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1714\/revisions\/1719"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/amyandpatrickfata.com\/amyspen\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}