If I could have majored in anxiety...worry..."holy concern" - whatever you want to call it - I could have done so and graduated with the highest of honors. In short - I'm a worry-wart. Anyone with me? Hello? Anyone?
Right now our lives are in a season of serious limbo...so many variables. So many obstacles. So much frustration. And for this girl {and to a degree, Ryan too} it translates into anxiety.
* Anxious for our rental house to sell - a year after we thought we had it sold.
* Anxious about whether or not we can get all the damages and repairs fixed in a short amount of time so we can get the house on the market.
* Anxious about our future - not knowing for sure where God is leading us...or when.
* Anxious about the completion of the great plumbing overhaul of 2014, which came to a stop when the temperatures plummeted again this week.
* Anxious {though certainly hoping THIS one is about to come to an end} about the never-ending dumping of snow and ice and how it affects a two-commuter household.
* Anxious about how all our messes have caused our PARENTS to be anxious. {Sisters, if you're reading this, feel free to take over occupying their thought lives!! We are ready to be done being the ones they're worried about!}
And that's just our end of things. You have your own list of anxiety. Maybe money...kids...jobs...lack of money...kids...jobs. Your marriage. {Or lack of it.} Health. New beginnings. Hunting for closure. Wanting answers.
I find it interesting that the verse doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room. It's not a suggestion. It's pretty clear: do not be anxious about anything. No buts. No loopholes. No exceptions.
They say {the famous wise "they"} that when you give up one thing, you should replace it with another so you don't notice its absence. The verse provides the substitute. When the anxiety descends, you pray. You pray about everything. You ask and you thank. And in so doing, you actually have done what you can. You've taken your problem to God, Who is the only One who can fix it anyway, and you thank Him for His faithfulness, which gets your mind focused on that instead of what you lack.
Today is the first day of Lent. Not sure whether or not you're accustomed to giving something up for the season - but what if you gave up your anxious dwelling for 40 days? What if, instead of wringing your hands and pacing and...and...and...you simply paused, let God know your need and melted into a time of praise and thanksgiving?
What if?
7 comments:
Your choice of words in this is so interesting...because I am preaching Sunday on "Living Life as a Worrywart"!! It affects ALL of us and His Word is so clear that we are not to worry!! Thanks so much for sharing your life with us!!
Seeking HIS Image,
LuAnn Fulton
Really needed to hear this today. Thanks for the great reminder to cling to this verse in time of need!
I do think that cultivating being thankful everyday helps dispel depression to some extent and also worry. It is an antidote to both anxiety and depression.
My dearest Bekah ~ I had several people send me inspirational items when I was going through my dark period after John's stroke & the loss of my mother at the same time and they were 300 miles apart and I could only be with one of them. I found this one especially helpful. I printed it out in poster form on a rainbow background, framed it, and it still hangs in our home and I still find it quite helpful when I lose my focus and allow the pressures of life to turn into stress. My very best days are when I can adhere to this fully! God is so awesome and He can take it all and fix things if we just let go, get out of His way, and allow Him to do so.
Good Morning!
I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need you help.
If the devil happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, DO NOT attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFJTD (something for Jesus to do) box. It will be addressed in MY time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it or attempt to remove it. Holding on or removal will delay the resolution of your problem. If it is a situation you think you are capable of handling, please consult me in prayer to be sure yours is the proper resolution.
Because I do not sleep nor slumber, there is no need for you to lose any sleep…rest, my child. If you need to contact me, I am only a prayer away.
LuAnn - OH so you're preaching about me, huh? :) I think that's a pretty appropriate topic to speak on...there's too many of us out there.
Anonymous - You are welcome!
Mark - I remember when I did the 1000 Gifts counting - it definitely helped adjust my attitude!
Aunt Karen - I have seen the first part of that before, but never all of it. I LOVE IT!
I'm sure I've heard this before but that fresh truth of "The Lord is at hand so DO NOT be anxious..." is hitting me again today. Thank you.
ps. I am a fellow worrywart.
Post a Comment