Comfort in Anxiety

“ What do you do to stop feeling anxious?” My coworker asked me. What do I do? The tension in my shoulders, knot in my stomach, and pounding heart reminded me the answer was currently “not much”. 

“I’m not very good at stopping.” Was my first response. I’m sure you’ve heard it said before that the Bible instructs us “do not be afraid” 365 times. It’s the most often given instruction in the Bible. 

If you are anything like me though... knowing I shouldn’t be afraid or anxious doesn’t just take those feelings away. Thankfully, the Bible doesn’t just tell us not to be afraid, but it also tells us what to do in those moments as well. 1 Peter 5:7 instructs us to cast our anxieties on Him. In Philippians 4:6-7 Paul tells us “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Sis, let me tell you something. Anxiety has ruled some part of my life for years! I have often been a slave to my worries. But, Psalm 55 tells us to cast our care upon the Lord (PRAY) and He will sustain us (vs 22).

“I try to pray. Sometimes I write my prayers out. And I try to remember all the ways God has been steadfast in the past.” That was the rest of my answer.

I still get anxious. Tonight I’m still praying through my current anxieties, but it’s gotten easier. My shoulders have loosened a bit and the boulder in my stomach is a bit more pebble shaped at the moment (still uncomfortable but much more livable). 

So my encouragement to you is this, take your anxieties to the Lord in prayer. The full verse of 1 Peter 5:7 says “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” He wants you to approach Him with your fears. He cares deeply for you. You don’t have to sit in your anxiety any longer. You don’t have to carry that boulder alone.

Psalm 23:4 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

Rest

Rest

I often don’t sleep well. I have poor sleeping habits and a weird schedule, and so my sleep suffers. I’m pretty much stay tired. My counselor used to joking tell me that sometimes the most biblical thing you can do is take a nap, and I believe it.

Even God rested.  “So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” Genesis 2:3

I don’t know what you do for a living, but I know what I do is much less then create a whole world... and yet I often feel like one day off (or more) isn’t enough. Over the past year I’ve been learning that I think a big part of that is that I’m not resting well.

Biblical rest isn’t just sleep. Biblical rest is sitting in quiet before the Lord (Exodus 33:14). Biblical rest is surrender (Matthew 11:28-30). It’s prayer and meditation (Mark 6:31). Biblical rest is laying down your burdens, it’s pausing work, it’s letting the Lord fill you back up.

True rest is a form of surrender. It’s a form of worship. It’s a way for us to cast aside worries and distractions and be with our Creator. True rest restores and lack of biblical rest can lead us astray (Hebrews 4:11).

So make time to rest my sister. Be still before the Lord. Allow Him to lead you beside the still waters and calm your soul, so that in rest you may better know your Creator. 

 

Psalm 23:2-3

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters. 

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

#ThankYou...

I’m thankful to be tired and sleep deprived the last few days, because I was spending time with 

friends and family instead of in my bed. I’m thankful for the belly aches that follow two home cooked meals. I’m thankful for the short time I had at home, because I know the shortness is only due to having a job to return to. I’m thankful for the itchy eyes and nose that come from puppy love at family gatherings. I’m thankful for the heartache that came from missing those that are no longer here. I know it means that I’ve experiences love, and that I have memories of those that have gone on. I’m thankful for headaches and pains because of those that show their worry care. I’m thankful to have missed my brother on Thanksgiving, not only because it means we have a relationship worth missing but because I know he was away with one whom he loves. I’m thankful that while home I missed my friends back at my other home. I have two communities that love and support me. I’m thankful for tired eyes, a happy heart, and a spirit at peace.

I am thankful. I am grateful. I am oh so blessed!

I am grateful for each and every blessing God has bestowed upon me. He has blessed me with a loving family, gracious friends, two homes, two churches, a job, a vehicle that powers through, and many more “things” that I neither need nor deserve.

It’s been a rough year… rough almost two years really. I lost my Pop, then my dad, had some friend drama, graduated college, did a cross country road trip, worked my last summer at camp, didn’t know what I was returning to, moved home, took part in three weddings, family drama, job searched, started Starbucks, started babysitting, made lots of poor decisions, gained some new friends, fell in love, left my jobs, didn’t know what came next, moved back to my college town, was job less, more friend drama, had my heart broken, learned lots of lessons, recovered a faith I didn’t know I was losing, struggled, found a job in my career, formed some life changing friendships, found some peace, and saw/ am still seeing God remain steadfast through it all.

I’ve had some low moments. I didn’t make all the best decisions. I fell down more than once, and yet, His mercy remained. He is truly sufficient for me. Everything in this life is an extra gift that I am undeserving of. I’ve learned that trials only polish and refine. Weariness only causes me to fall back on Him. The exhaustion, confusion, pain, hurt, and anger I have experienced this past year only brought me back to the feet of Jesus, and oh what a beautiful place that is!

I’m thankful for the little things. God has been gracious to me young measure. I know no more precious gift than to be loved  by a Lord who is active, who is merciful, who is gracious, forgiving, sacrificially loving, who created me, who knows me, who wants me! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you for grace, mercy, and love. For friends, family, and a home. For my past, my present, and for having a plan for my future. Thank you Jesus for naps, for cats, parades, and babies. Thank you for seeing me, truly seeing me, and still loving and pursuing me. Thank you for never giving up on me no matter how fast or hard I ran. Your steadfast love, Your undeserved grace, peace everlasting, mercy never ending, and your Son. Thank you for crunchy leaves, teddy bears, warm blankets, hot jackets, and chocolate… because You even care about the little things.