Seeing Threats That Aren't There
As the days get shorter, colder, and wetter, I find myself less eager to head outside for dog walks. Yet, my dog, S’mores, doesn’t struggle one bit! ??? Rain or shine, she’s raring to go! ??
On our usual path to the green space in our neighborhood, something curious always happens. Without fail, S’mores charges ahead full-speed—until she reaches the edge where the green space meets the neighbor’s yard. Suddenly, she slams on the brakes, freezes, and scans the yard intensely as if there’s something unseen. There’s nothing there, yet she stands tense, alert to an invisible “threat.” ?? (There once was a big scary bunny there...)
This scene reminds me of how we, too, can get triggered by “nothing.” Old experiences, beliefs, and fears often stay buried in our hearts, surfacing as tension or hesitation when we don’t expect it. Like S’mores, we may stand at the border of our own “green space,” reacting to threats that don’t exist—held back by patterns from the past.
Guarding Our Hearts: The Key to Freedom ??
The Bible tells us, “Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). In the original language, the word for "issues" can also mean “border” or “boundary.” Our heart is the seat of our identity. What we allow in shapes our identity and the boundaries of our lives which then define our responses to challenges. ?? When we carry past hurts, unhealed wounds, and unresolved patterns, they can create invisible borders that keep us on high alert, stuck in cycles we may not even recognize.
Why Guarding Matters ???
Life is full of both challenges and blessings. Some people seem to breeze through the toughest situations, while others feel deeply impacted, unable to move forward. Often, the difference lies in these two questions:?
If we absorb every pain, offence, and worry (not guarding our hearts), we unknowingly can build up invisible boundaries. These can make us see threats where there are none, causing us to react not to the present but to shadows of the past. This might lead us to play small, stay safe, and shrink back, or, alternatively, to drive ourselves to exhaustion, grinding through life. ????
Letting Go and Moving Forward?
The path to letting go and moving forward is closely tied to healing our hearts. ?? When we release the pain, offence, and burdens we’ve been carrying, we start to deconstruct those invisible boundaries that keep us stuck. And as we spend time restoring our hearts, we ground ourselves in a deep-rooted freedom. This freedom opens doors to new opportunities, energy, strength, impact, and love that flow freely. ??
Is it time to step toward a whole, unburdened heart?
I'd love to hear your thoughts. Comment or DM me! ??
Lois Zehr is an outside-the-box coach who believes life is to be lived from a wholistic perspective. She is passionate about practical spirituality — helping people partner with God to take control of their lives, discover options outside the status quo and develop strategies for whole life success.
Possibility Coaching exists to Heal Hearts, Resource Breakthrough, and Grow Individuals?to express their full God-given potential, consciously creating a life they love and impacting the world with their talents.