What do people feel when they see you coming?

Let's be bringers of good news and peace.

I will start by asking you a question you can’t answer, but I want you to reflect on.

What do people feel when you walk into the room?

As the kids say, what type of energy do you bring into the room?

In some ways, you can’t answer that question alone. You would need to ask someone else whom you know will give you an honest answer to the question.

But some of you probably do know—at least to some degree.

My Personal Experience

I’ve learned recently I’m not all that great at handling stress. Who is? But for me, it’s been particularly bad over the last few months. Could it be worse for me? Of course. In comparison it’s probably not bad at all. I don’t turn into a monster or anything and rage every time something sets me off, however, I become somewhat of a zombie.

I walk around the house in a tizzy and have the mindset of, “Get the task done.” Which isn’t like the worst mindset in the world when it comes to work but it’s pretty terrible when it comes to loving your wife and kids.

I also tend to isolate. I will turn inward and barely speak to anyone. Again, because I’m trying to “Get the task done.” I will have conversations with my wife and hang out with my kids, but it’s clear that I’m only halfway present. My mind is somewhere trying to solve some stressor that I can’t seem to figure out.

If you were to ask my wife what she’s felt when I’ve walked in the room recently, her response would be “hesitant.”

She feels hesitant because she doesn’t know how I’ll respond to any specific thing. Will it make me isolate even more? Will I be quick to frustration? Will it overload me with even more stress?

What does God say?

It doesn’t take a genius or spiritual expert to know that my personal experience is off. It’s not the way God intended me to experience life, and it’s not what my wife and kids deserve, either.

You may find yourself in a similar position as me.

This morning, I read a verse that I think can guide our prayers as we head into the New Year.

Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace!
—Nahum 1:10

It was this verse that got me thinking, “What do people feel when I show up?”

Think about messengers from back in the day. They would carry messages from town to town and run into the center of town to announce the message (at least, this is what the movies indicate.)

The people in any particular town would hear their footsteps before they heard the message this person was about to bring. My feet clunk around when I run, so I imagine people hearing me run from a mile away before I actually reach my final destination.

Now, I want you to imagine you’re one of the onlookers in a city.

You hear the clunking feet of a messenger headed down the road and then you look up to see who is carrying the message.

Imagine looking up only to see the person known for good news—the one who is known for publishing peace.

In your soul, you relax.

You relax because you know this person is bringing peace.

I don’t know about you…

But I want to be someone who publishes peace.

I want to bring good news—bring peace.

When people see me walking down the hall in their direction at work, I want their soul to relax. I want them to look forward to the conversation, not dread it.

When my wife and daughters hear the garage door open as I come home from work, I want their souls to leap with joy at the good news and peaceful presence I’m about to bring into the house. I don’t want them to have to brace themselves.

What type of person do you want to be?

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Here are two prayers that I’m going to be praying.

God, eliminate anything in me that prevents me from publishing peace. Make me a person of good news.

Spirit, make me sensitive to your voice during times of stress. I want to be led by your Spirit in stressful moments and not led by my emotions or distress.

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—Brandon

Photo by Juan Álvarez Ajamil on Unsplash