DO YOU NEED ANXIETY RELIEF?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God.
(Philippians 4:6)

MEDITATION:
Anxiety: The destroyer of peace and joy.

At one time or another, everyone has probably had anxious moments.
However, if we aren’t careful, anxiety can become a deep-seated issue
that inhabits our entire being and controls us in an unpleasant way.

The side effects of anxiety can include any of these:
    – problems with sleeping.
    – cold or sweaty hands and feet.
    – shortness of breath.
    – heart palpitations.
    – inability to be still and calm.
    – dry mouth.
    – numbness or tingling in hands and feet.
    – nausea.
    – muscle tension.
    – feelings of panic, fear, or uneasiness.

When considering all the effects anxiety can have on a person,
we can understand why the scriptures advise us to avoid being
anxious about anything. Stress, or traumatic circumstances can
trigger feelings of anxiety. And when they do, the feelings of joy,
peace, happiness, etc. disappear.

The scriptures are a reminder that we can experience anxieties when
we put our hope in anything short of God and His will for our life.
Because God is dependable and consistent, when we put our hope
and trust in Him, it can increase our level of confidence.

Focusing on worldly things can cause frustrations that result in
unnecessary (and sometimes devastating) disappointments. We
might have a great job and enjoy our career, but it could disappear
tomorrow. We could be at the peak of health but be devastated by
a sudden illness. We may have raised our children the best we could,
but they have made (and continue to make) some bad choices. Our
marriage could be going great, but infidelity by one can cause it to
crumble.

When we dwell on the negative possibilities that could blindside us,
our anxiety not only becomes a part of our life, but it can grow even
more. The scriptures warn us about this kind of thinking.
    Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow
    will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of
    its own.
    (Matthew 6:34)

As believers, we are going in one direction, but the world is going
the opposite way. We can be perceived as the ones with problems
since we have not chosen to ‘go with the flow’ of the masses. When
we realize we are going in a different direction, it can cause us to
lose our focus and contribute to our anxieties.

Since we live in a world that we know contributes to our anxieties, what
can we do to protect ourselves from being consumed and controlled by
them? We have already seen that our focus needs to be on the right things,
but there are more actions to consider.

We need to pray about everything. This keeps our focus on God
and reminds us that He is our friend who is always with us. His
presence can provide us with confidence when we have decisions
to make. When we bring our requests to God, we are expressing
our confidence and trust that He will give us the guidance we need.

Secondly, we need to be thankful for the blessings He has given us.
When we recall the times He has helped us in the past, it reminds
us of how we need to trust Him now, and in the future. Whenever
we remember the blessings we have received from God, we need to
express to Him how grateful we are for His presence in our lives.

See the trend? We pray to Him for advice, we pray to Him for guidance,
and we pray to Him with thankfulness. It stands to reason that the best
defense against anxiety is prayer. Paul tells us of the importance of prayer
in his letter to the Thessalonians.
    Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in
    all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you
    in Christ Jesus.
    (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

ACTION:
Are you a constant worrier, and have you found that it can be
debilitating? If you are a “fixit” person, and you realize there
are some things you just cannot fix, it can cause anxiety in you,
can’t it? You may constantly spend time wondering if there are
some possibilities for resolving an issue that you have overlooked.

If you are a Type-A person, it can be challenging to overcome
anxiety because you want resolutions now, and it is difficult
for you to be patient. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that we
all need to learn how to embrace and nurture in our lives.
Even though it might be difficult, it is attainable when we
pray and trust in the Lord.
    We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate
    those who through faith and patience inherit what
    has been promised.
    (Hebrews 6:12)

Questions:
    – How are you handling your frustrations,
       disappointments and anxieties?
    – Are you trying to solve them yourself, or
       have you taken them to the Lord in prayer?

When we feel anxious, the ‘first’ thing we need to do is pray about
it. God already knows how we are feeling, but when we pray for
His help, we are saying,
    “Lord, I am having anxieties about this, but
      I am confident that you will calm my feelings,
      of angst and give me the patience I need”.

We may be thinking, “I’ve heard all of this before”, but unless we
apply it to our own lives, we won’t be able to appreciate the value
of what we have been told. There may be someone, somewhere who
is waiting for us to do what God has called us to do. However, our
anxieties, lack of patience, lack of prayer, and lack of trust in the
Lord may be preventing us from answering His call.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for being the answer to
the anxieties in my life. Forgive me for the times when
I haven’t brought my concerns and anxieties to You.
Forgive me for failing to thank You when You have been
there for me. Heal me from the damage that anxiety has
caused to my body. Teach me to bring all my concerns
to You, instead of trying to resolve them with my limited
capabilities. Show me how to keep my eyes centered on
You, rather than on myself and my anxieties. Help me to
allow You to give me peace of heart and mind in all things.
Thank You for how You have blessed me in the past, how
You are blessing me now, and for the blessings You have
for my future. You are my heavenly Father who I praise
and trust.”

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