DEALING WITH ANXIETY

Every one of us deals with anxiety at some point in our lives.  Many of life’s circumstances can cause us to feel anxious such as:- a deadline to find housing and nothing affordable is on the horizon; bills overdue for payment and no money in the bank; caught in a traffic jam and the time for an important appointment is creeping ever closer, etc. etc.  When the mind and body come under stress, adrenaline is released into the bloodstream.  We feel jumpy, our hearts beat faster, our breathing becomes irregular, and we feel nervous.  Often, our sleep is affected.  While it's normal to feel anxiety in certain situations, for some of us this condition is experienced often, and has become our normal life’s experience.

The Bible tells us: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  (Philippians 4:6 NIV) 

How can we ever hope to achieve a condition where we are not anxious about anything?  Isn't that an unrealistic expectation? Aren’t we just setting ourselves up for failure?  God says the way to deal with anxiety is to deal with its root cause.  If it's anxiety over past mistakes, then God invites us to confess them and receive forgiveness.  If we’re worried about a current condition or circumstance and we don't know what to do about it, God's solution is to bring it before Him in prayer, obey whatever He tells us to do, and trust Him to work out the rest. 

I confess my sins; they fill me with anxiety.  I am filled with trouble and anxiety, but your commandments bring me joy.  (Psalm 38:18, 119:143 GNT)

If we are anxious and nervous and not even sure why, we can ask God to help us sort out what's going on in our minds.  He'll not only show us what's going on but will comfort us in the middle of our troubled thinking and calm our anxious thoughts.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Whenever I am anxious and worried, you comfort me and make me glad. (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV, 94:19 GNT)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your desire is that I choose to live in peace and feel secure in Your care.  Help me to understand my anxious thoughts and bring them to You, for You are my refuge and my deliverer and will guide me in the way I should go.  Please help me!  Amen