Jesus Manages the Four Spaces of Anxietyਨਮੂਨਾ

This reading plan has been about the different spaces where reactivity shows up. The problem with reactivity is it is contagious and can quickly overwhelm us, but for the last four days, we have focused on four different spaces.

1. The space inside you. This was day 1 with Jesus retreating to care for himself and connect to the Father. It is important to know your limits and to enjoy the God you are serving

2. The space between you and another. This was day 2 where we saw Mary and Joseph putting their anxiety onto Jesus but he didn’t catch it.

3. The space inside the other. This was day 3 where we saw Jesus knowing what was going on with the woman at the well.

4. The space between others. This was day 4 where we saw Jesus diffuse an angry mob.

You and I can notice the reactivity in those same four spaces. In our story above, James and John and their audacious request, we see all four. Jesus was constantly aware of how he was doing. When James and John try to ‘put their anxiety onto Jesus’ he didn’t catch it. The disciples grumbled, now they are in 3rd space, making assumptions and judgments about James and John. And boy, did the mood of the group change!

On the surface it is fair to say that Jesus is God as well as human, so in the whole anxiety management category, he holds a competitive advantage over us. God, by nature, isn’t anxious. But on a deeper level, we can look at how Jesus managed anxiety. We can practice it too. The first step in anxiety management is noticing it. What has you anxious or reactive today? Which space might be activated? What is going on in you? Are you in third space? Take some time with God to cast your cares upon the one who cares for you.

If you would like a free video course to learn how to notice the 4 spaces in your own life, you can register here.