Locked…In

Locked…In
Serena ran to every door. Everyone was locked! Why? What was going on? She didn’t know or understand why she couldn’t get out? Someone was playing a trick on her. Locked in. No way to get out. No keys to open the doors, locked from the inside out. “What’s gonna happen to me?” The thought was fearful. Dwelling on it would only make the fear worse and cause a panic. A deep breath seemed to slow the heartbeat. But the thoughts kept coming. “Suppose no one comes and I am left here in this locked space to die. Never knowing how or why I got locked in. What is going on?”

Serena had to stop and take more deep breaths, to slow the heartbeat again. She had to minimize the negative and fearful thoughts that were bombarding her brain. She was unsure about how this situation came to be but she was determined not to let it get the best of her. Deep breath.

“God, I know you are with me. What is going on? Help me to get out of this place. It is claustrophobic and I feel like the walls are closing in without a door to open to escape. Lord, You said You would never leave me nor forsake me, so I know You are here. What is going on? Can You please shed some light? Please, Lord, please.” She heard the whisper of “I am here with you.” Like a friend in the room just a little ways away.

Serena looked around. She realized that she had been frantic and had not sat down for quite a while. She decided to sit in the armchair and deep breathe again. She realized, “This is not even my own home? How could I get locked inside someone else’s home? Why would I let them do this to me?” Deep breathing helped to calm the nerves as she realized panic would do nothing for her. “Okay, Lord, I am here, trying to get calm. I just need to know what’s going on? Why am I here, Lord?” She heard the whisper of “I am here with you.” Again, she slowed her thoughts to recognize the whisper.

She began to look around some more to see where she was. Her thoughts about the day before and how she got here in this place were still blurred. Not sure on what vehicle or route brought her here. And, why was she by herself? Wasn’t she with friends, or was that last week? The jumbled thoughts were un-nerving. She realized that she had increased her heart rate and the anxiety was returning. Okay, deep breathing…the whisper, “I am here with you.”

Thoughts?