Anxiety? Focus on PEACE HIMSELF

Continuing our theme of PEACE for week 2 of Advent, I would again like to share a meditation from our newly published book of meditations, Glory in Disguise: Seeing God in our Every Day (see below). Grabbing hold of Him who is the fullness of PEACE has been key for me and many others who find ourselves in the midst of anxiety.
May you be blessed to see there is great PEACE in the midst of what may be your very hard circumstances when your Source is your Almighty God, Emmanuel, Prince of PEACE.

 …casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6 ESV

I’ve always been prone to anxiety. As far back as I can remember, I have been nervous about all kinds of things — quizzes, tests, performances of any kind, up-coming unfamiliar events, putting my face in water, amusement park rides, and other “stupid stuff.”

Then in motherhood, I feared my kids would be kidnapped. Or they would be “dead in a ditch” somewhere. Or I would die and some other woman (who didn’t love them near as much as I) would raise them. You moms know we could go on and on.

Even as an adult teacher, I struggled -- whether it was teaching my kids in homeschool, or little ones in PK; adults in GED or ESOL classes, or Bible classes of various kinds. Nervousness, anxiety, and inadequacy would rear their ugly heads.  

I’ve also found anxiety creeping up on me all of a sudden…not even provoked by conscious thoughts of one kind or another. Just seemingly out of the blue. I remember my homeopathic doctor telling me that the body has a “memory.” Seemingly unprovoked, it can go into panic or anxiety on its own.

And lately, because of fatigue, age-related physical issues (dizziness, vertigo), a fall, or family stresses, anxiety can come on me “all of a sudden” -- even sometimes in the middle of the night. So I am getting re-schooled by my Abba Father God on what to do when this happens.

Long ago, I quit beating myself up for being nervous and anxious. I went through a horrible period of panic/anxiety attacks when I was a young mom. And the worst part of it all was that I thought God was punishing me for not “doing” the Christian life perfectly. On top of that, I judged myself severely for even having the panic attacks to begin with. After all, mature, spiritual Christians don’t have anxiety attacks. That must mean I’m not trusting God (or so I very wrongly thought). But it was in the midst of it all God gave me a Scripture. The Holy Spirit used it to deliver me from those attacks and set my heart free:

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.
Psalm 56:3 NASB

Did you notice that first word? WHEN! Not IF, not “shame on you.”  If.

God knows that I will be afraid, nervous, anxious. This is a scary world with lots of dangers. But what He did then was give me the key, a signal (so to speak) …

“My Child, when you feel that anxiety, fear, nervousness, use it as a signal to turn to ME. Focus on ME, not the anxiety.”

And so I did … over and over; time after time. And I was free.

And now in my current, spontaneous, even middle of the night, early morning anxiousness, God has met me again through His indwelling Holy Spirit. The Scripture that sets me free now is one that the Lord taught me years ago, but lately it has taken on a new urgency and desperation. The Holy Spirit reminds me I have the mind of Christ. So even in my waking thoughts, I automatically go to my Abba Father God

          …casting all my anxieties on HIM …

Why?

… because HE cares for ME …

Little ole anxiety-prone me.

As I respond to the signal, He takes my anxieties and bears them and sets me free. And He will do that for you too, my friend. He will meet you there right IN your anxiety, panic, nervousness. He will speak His words of truth into your mind and soul and body.

Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t try to carry it on your own. See your anxiety as a signal to turn to Him, run to Him, cast your stuff on Him, because He cares for little ole anxiety prone you too.

Anxiety

What I notice about anxiety
Is that it’s a made-up reality.

On this unreal day of my imagination
Jesus isn’t there, cause it’s my own creation.

But when this day of worry does arrive
Of course, He’s right there by my side!

I must remember Jesus will always be
My peace, my rest, my serenity.
            Penny Mandeville

Prayer
Father, You are so gracious to rescue me in my distress. You are there even in my anxiety, waiting to reveal Yourself as I respond to the “signal” to turn to You. Thank You that I don’t have to beat myself up and try to carry it on my own. Remind me, by your Indwelling Holy Spirit, to cast all my anxiety on You because you care for me -- little ole anxiety prone me. In Jesus Name.

Reflections
1. Do you have chronic trouble with anxiety? Has the Lord already given you truth to hang onto from His Word, by His Spirit? Be sure to record that in your journal.

2. Write out the verses and truth from this selection. Meditate on each. Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight a verse or a word to your heart and life to serve as your signal.
Then when anxiety begins, don’t condemn yourself. Let that word be your “go to” when you feel the anxiety coming on. Run to Him. He will see you through. 

COVER DESIGN BY JEREMY J LOYD

A perfect gift for a friend or family member who enjoys meditative daily reading. Each meditation begins with a Scripture, a real life story and encouragement with application, followed by a poem and prayer and interactive journaling suggestions.

Available on Amazon and other online booksellers.

Author Jan Loyd

Poet Penny Mandeville