Sick of anxiety?
Philippians 4:6-8
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Who’s Anxious?
Did you know that 16.5% of the adult population are currently on some form of medication for anxiety? To be honest I actually expected that number to be much bigger. I then realized that number doesn’t account for those who self-medicate with other types of drugs like nicotine, alcohol, marijuana and street drugs.
No Small Thing
I’d say the enemy has done a pretty good job of trying to control us with this one little thing. Now I realize when you are feeling that anxiety it does not feel like a small thing. It feels like the biggest thing in the room. Flooding your mind to the point you feel like you are going insane. Putting pressure, tension, on your chest, so heavy that it feels like the breath in your lungs is being sucked right out.
Been There
There have been times I could not even force myself to leave the house because the thought of walking in a grocery store was too much. Other times just the thought of my house being dirty would put such a strain on my chest that I couldn’t breathe. Let me not forget waking up in the middle of the night to a full-blown panic attack and feeling totally unable to move or breathe. I know to some those things might sound crazy, but to others who have been there you know exactly what I mean.
What Do You Do?
So, what do you do with it? How do you stop it from getting to that point? This scripture tells us what to do before we get there, you know, before the part where you are yelling at everyone or can’t breathe.
We need to take the time to realize what it is that sets the anxiety in motion. Is it your thoughts? A fear of something? A lot of times we really don’t recognize what sets it off, but God does. He knows are deepest thoughts and feelings and if we were to take some time in prayer to ask Him, He would show us just what was going on.
What Is It?
Does a sink full of dishes in the morning give you a tightness in your chest and ruin half, or all of your day? Ask God to show you what to do. Maybe taking a few minutes before bed to clean is something you need to fit in your schedule. No time or energy for that? Pray and ask God to show you how and where to fit it in.
The thing is we have to decide we are going to be determined to fight whatever it is. Whether it be overwhelming thoughts, a sink full of dishes or a reason not yet known. God never meant for us to live in a constant state of anxiety.
His Word
Which is why this scripture is in His word. If we are worried about how something will turn out. Pray ask God to put His hand in it. Tell Him what you want but understand that His ways are better than our ways. Thank Him for caring about all the things you care about and doing what is best for you. His word says if we do that, He will give us peace, but we have to trust that He has it all under control.
We tend to hold onto things that God never meant for us to carry.
Verse 8 almost seems like preventative maintenance to me. It tells us what to keep our minds focused on. Things that are true, good and lovely. If we keep our mind on these things there will be no room for those which weigh us down. Find the good in whatever it is. Look at the truth of what you are thinking about, not just what the enemy wants you to see.
A Learning Process
I understand following this scripture is easier said than done, but think of it as learning. We usually don’t take to something the first time we hear it, but when we apply it each time the need presents itself, we will learn little by little until it doesn’t bother us as much anymore. It will take time but isn’t the possibility of an anxious free life, a life of freedom, better than being bound by fear and medication?
2 Timothy 1:7, Luke 10:19, Colossians 3:2
**Lord thank You for always making a way of escape. I ask that you show me where to start in the battle against this anxiety. Lord, I will not take ownership over anxiety because it is a form of fear that belongs to the enemy, not me. Thank You for the power and authority You have given me in Jesus name I pray, Amen! **
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