The subway arrived and a flood of people were surging down the stairs onto the square on their way to the Red Sox game. I froze and protectively held my one year old as the flow of the crowd coming towards me hid my reaction. Then something amazing happened, the sea of people parted and made a way for us to walk up the stairs to the platform.
That was about 25 years ago and I still have a clear memory and picture of that episode. An impression was made in me and it wasn't the crowd nor all the feelings that I could feel. It was the parting of the crowd for us like the parting of the Red Sea. That was the first time that I was aware in real time of Romans 8:28 at work in my life.
Romans 8:28 TPT
So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.
I was 33 years old when I saw this verse happen in my life in real time. That same memory has given multiple layers of learning. I can see now that it was a pivotal moment. Between That Was Then and This Is Now I have learned a lot of things about Survival Mode..
Somewhere along the stream of years, Survival Mode had become the way that I referred to times when my responses were driven by seeking safety otherwise known as fear or not trusting Abba. This mode had become a very familiar, regular part of my life so I didn't consider it strange, Didn't everyone deal with this kind of thing on at least the Daily? I read the Bible and knew about the Promise of Peace, I just didn't experience it. Maybe you can relate?
Survival Mode has other names: Stress, Panic Attacks, Explosive Anger, Fight or Flight Response.There are also multiple ways that our world offers to help. Usually it is counseling, behavior modification, medication, all resulting in labels and a general Agreement with one of those labels that simply continues the cycle.The solution from the Bible is first accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior then renewing the mind.
Maybe like me, you tried some or all of the world's methods and didn't receive much help from church or from discipleship. Maybe like me, you received tidbits of progress here and there learning what doesn't work for you and possibly adding to your frustration as the heart peace that you were looking for wasn't materializing even though you kept after it. Falling down and getting back up to take one more step which is also a regular part of the cycle of Survival Mode.