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I don’t struggle with anxiety, I am actually quite good at it. – Unknown
Do you deal with anxiety, worry, fear and depression? Are there times when it just feels like it’s too much to handle? In Matthew 6:34 when Jesus was talking to His disciples during the Sermon on the Mount, He said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW. If you are like me when I have been dealing with my own struggles, that sounds great and wonderful until it’s 2 am, and you feel like you can’t get a breath. Then, it isn’t as easy to let go of control and put it in God’s hands, where it’s actually been all along.
The illusion of control. I say illusion because we really aren’t the ones in control, we like to think we are. I have always been a control freak, and I don’t like it when I can’t control the outcome. Sometimes we have to surrender it to God and ask for His will to be done. Jesus showed us how to handle that feeling that is all consuming when in Matthew 26:38-39 He was dealing with His upcoming torture and crucifixion. He knew what was coming. “Then He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me. Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will” He took that sorrow in His spirit to God. We may not know God’s plan and if we could get a 10,000-foot view of our lives, we might think about things a little differently. Isaiah 55:8-9 it says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” There are things we do not know and may never understand until we reach Heaven. We have to know that God is a good God and loves us and wants what is best for us. Like the Garth Brook’s song, sometimes we need to be thankful for some of those unanswered prayers. Had we gotten what we wanted at the time, it wouldn’t have been the best for us.
There are times when the worry is just over something smaller but the times when we are consumed by the worry, maybe a medical diagnosis, our children, a job situation, the death of a loved one, it is very real. It’s not something we can just turn off. Wouldn’t that be great? If we could flip a switch and all that worry drain away. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work. So, how DO we deal with those emotions? Here are a few ways I have found that seem to help.
In the end, we win! This life is just a breath, and there will be no tears in Heaven. Our situation here on earth isn’t permanent. We can come out on the other side. No matter what we are dealing with, God is with us, and HE is in CONTROL. He will work out whatever we are dealing with for our good. We may not see it now, but I just bet if you look back through your life, there is something you can find where at the time, it wasn’t easy, but later you can see some good that came from it. Maybe you got closer with a spouse or friend, and maybe now you can help someone else going through that situation, or maybe you are stronger in your faith. If these things do not help, please know there is no shame in talking to someone that can help you through it. A pastor, a counselor, online therapy, there are many ways now to connect with someone that can help you. We were meant to enjoy our lives here on earth and not just endure it.
Starting and running a small home-based business, and developing a meaningful brand that aligns with your faith
Integrating faith into all areas of life, helping you live with purpose and joy, while living in alignment with your Christian values.
Talking about anxiety, depression, stress & emotional management, and your well-being from a Christian perspective.
Giving you encouragement & motivation in your faith journey.
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