Dealing With Anxiety
Saturday November 23, 2019
Every one of us deals with anxiety at some point in our lives. Many circumstances can cause us to feel anxious such as: a deadline to find housing and nothing affordable is on the horizon; bills are overdue for payment and there is no money in the bank; being 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, we feel nervous. Often, our sleep is affected. While it's normal to feel some anxiety in certain situations, for some persons this becomes a condition they experience too often, or maybe even all the time.
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 hope to achieve such 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.
If we're 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 live in peace and feel secure in Your care. Help me to understand my heart and bring all my anxious thoughts to You for You are my refuge and my deliverer. You will guide me in the way I should go. Amen
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