Too much lately, I've wrestled with anxiety and sorrow as I grieve with and for those near and dear to my heart who are enduring trauma and trials and as I walk in my own valley of darkness with rocky health and heartache. My human mind forgetfully and stupidly tosses aside God's promises and fills up with stress and overthinking. Sometimes I shake my head at my own humanness, wondering how I could ever doubt Him and His goodness. God, in all His splendor and justice and holiness who created every living thing and grants life, deeply loves me and cares about what burdens my heart. How foolish am I to forget God's character and His promises! Despite my human forgetfulness and getting wrapped into anxiety, I still know in my heart that we can cling to His promises because I know the One who gave us those promises in the first place. How can we combat anxiety? Cast your cares on the Lord. Write out your prayers to our Lord, and humbly approach His throne with what's on your mind and heart. Look at the gifts God has granted us today...if you get the pleasure of acknowledging His gifts, that in and of itself is a gift ot be granted another day to glorify Him and love others. Start a blessings list, and notate ten things each day that are gifts in your life, however big or small they may be. Make sure you take time to encourage the family, friends, and coworkers in your life with as most humans in this world have some sort of anxiety they're are struggling through, even if it is not disclosed. Looking past our own struggles to help others is a wonderful task that often brings us unexpected joy and comfort.
"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad." ~ Proverbs 12:25 (ESV)
Writing out His promises when you get so bogged down by troubles is an excellent exercise to do in order to refocus on Christ and lift your head up out of the mire. Here are some of my most treasured promises God gave us in Scripture that I wrote out to remind myself:
There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain in Heaven. (Revelation 21:4)
God's peace that surpasses all understanding will guard my heart and mind. (Philippians 4:6)
The Lord cares for me. (1 Peter 5:7)
The Lord is on my side. (Psalm 118:6)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
The Lord hears my cries. (Psalm 34:15)
The will of God is good, acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
The Lord is my helper. (Hebrews 13:6)
God will supply all my needs. (Philippians 4:19)
Jesus has overcome the world despite its many troubles. (John 16:33)
My sufferings will be minuscule in light of the eternal life with God we're promised. (Romans 8:18)
Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. (Romans 8:38-39)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
The testing of my faith through trial produces steadfastness. (James 1:2-3)
I cling to these promises and many more of His promises, and beg Him to give me faith to trust Him and His words. Today, I pray this prayer from Psalm 31:9 for my heart and so many others I love and know who are hurting, "Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also." Lord, have mercy on us, be gracious to us, and ease our anxieties and grief as You see fit for Your will. May we always bless the name of the Lord, glorify Him, and trust in Him as He gives and takes away in life. Focus on today, and do not be anxious about tomorrow as today has enough issues of its own.We aren't even promised tomorrow, so it does us no good to dwell on something we don't even have granted to us. :Birds" by Anna Golden is one of my favorite songs I stumbled across this year while wrestling with a deep pain, and I hope you might love it just as much as I do and be encouraged by it. It's simplistically lovely and reflects wonderfully upon God's character and goodness that even His creation knows. I pray we too will know and remember His goodness as we encounter mountains and valleys in life!
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
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