the W I L D flowers

If you are my friend over on instagram you have probably seen quite a few weird posts of flowers with the caption " consider the wildflowers" or something similarly vague. For my biblically versed friends you know what this means, hopefully, but I realized recently that it probably seems a little weird to many. Also I will so randomly throw it into the continuous feed that you probably give me the big ol eye roll " Brittany is so weird... " and move along.

You are correct , I AM weird. Yes I do love me some wildflowers , especially the Alaska summer variety , but also I am a super anxious person. Running is great for physical health and all but running to me is my anti-anxiety drug. Don't get me wrong here- I am SUPER pro medication and counseling and whatever combination is needed to make each persons brain leveled and as it should be but for me the trick is a long run. It clears me and gives me space to just 'be' for once and spend time hearing truths from the Lord instead of the world.  HOWEVER. There are times it's just not possible. There is this crazy thing called winter in Fairbanks Alaska. We live in the darkest and coldest habitable city in the USA for those of you that didn't know and it can get brutal. Not only does the darkness mess with about 80% of us as far as mental health goes- my cure all of a good outdoor run is nearly non existent.

So what the heck does this have to do with flowers Brittany? Weirdo. Let me explain.

In the new testament of the bible there are four gospels which are the foundation of the Christian faith. They tell 4 versions of the same story of the brokenness of our world. That God sent his own son Jesus to earth, to live a perfect life so that we do not have to, he let him die on the cross where he was buried in a tomb and rose to heaven after three days. All four gospels tell us that Jesus is currently in heaven seated next to his Dad ( who also created the entire world and stuff ) reigning over heaven and earth. All four gospels give a different account but Luke tends to be known as the gospel written to strengthen the faith of believers as well as being the prequel to the book of acts . The author is the most scientific and educated of all the gospels which lines up perfectly with Luke's background as a medical physician .

Ok are you tracking? The book of Luke teaches and reminds us of God's faithfulness and gives us a portrait of the life of Jesus.  In my She Reads Truth bible the title for Luke 12:22 actual says " The Cure for Anxiety" ALRIGHT! We are going somewhere. Jesus is saying here why we have no reason to be anxious for our lives. He reminds us that the Ravens do not have a home or essentially a standard grocery budget but they eat right? Does God not provide? Christ reminds us that being anxious will literally add nothing to our lives . He goes on to say in verse 27..

 " Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do no labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you , not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these." - Luke 12:27 CSB ( ESV and other versions vary saying lilies , or flowers, etc. )

MAN . Isn't that an incredible picture of how pointless our anxieties are. I am around a lot of military spouses and service members , a lot of Moms, and many that are both. We live a life that can be FULL of anxieties and fears. But when I see the strong women fearlessly stepping up to this life well, I see women that are firm in their faith and remember the wildflowers. When I get wrapped up in a web of " what-ifs" and " what is next " scenarios , I remind myself of the beauty in the life of the wildflowers.

The past two summers I got a single packet of wildflower seeds and sprinkled them into planters across my fence. Sure we watered them here and there but with the midnight sun and periodic rainfall- very very little care- they bloomed into the most beautiful art covering my backyard. God does that. He takes simple little seeds and grows beauty that doesn't really need to work that hard. We don't NEED to be anxious. The creator of the universe has it under control and in time he is going to grow us into something really really remarkable when we follow along his perfect path .

So when I post a picture of some random flowers now you know. More than likely I am in some kind of spiral about the chaos that can be the life of a military family- and I am reminding myself of the wildflowers. Here are a few Alaska summer wildflowers to consider tonight....

( Also see your counselor, go for a run, chat with a friend, take your meds. All those things too )