Battling anxiety with God’s word

Lately I have been experiencing anxiety. Not just regular anxiety, but pandemic anxiety, which is like anxiety on steroids. I also have vacation anxiety and mom guilt thanks to our kid free trip fast approaching and hanging in the balance.

These feelings come in waves. Sometimes they pull you under and other times you ride it out.

Today’s devotional suggested I hash it all out on paper. In one column, write down all raw, anxious, worrisome thoughts. In the other column, write down the promises of God’s.

If I shared with you column 1, your head might spin. Let me tell you I was very honest and it felt good to get these negative thoughts out of my head.

Column 2- well, column 2 turned into more of a dialog than a list, and I think that’s exactly what I needed. First verse that came to mind…

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Well…that should cover it. All things work for good. So if any of those negative thoughts come to fruition, it is for my good.

Reassuring, but column 1 is lengthy. I need more.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.

Ok that’s good to know, but I’ve had unanswered prayers…so I struggle with this. I should revert back to Romans 8:28. All things work for good. So if it is an unanswered prayer, there’s a reason.

But why?

Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

Alright, so he knows more than me. Got it…but I still feel unsettled.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

I want that kind of peace. I need that kind of peace. If only I could control my thoughts.

2 Corinthians 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

I can picture it now.

  • Negative thought enters my mind.
  • Negative thought gets handcuffed, taken to God, and immediately forced to turn positive or leave.
  • As soon as a negative thought is escorted out, another enters. Then another. Then another…

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

That’s it! If I want this peace, I will need a guard for my mind. Full time position. Probably some overtime.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Any negative thoughts that sneak past the guard will be filtered!

  • Is it true? Well, no because most of my worries never come true.
  • Is it lovely? Not usually.
  • Is it worth of praise? Nope.

I need to use these filters. Why?

Philippians 4:9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Because I need this peace! But it seems impossible.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me

I rely on God’s strength all the time. He’s probably tired of dealing with me.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Column 1 is starting to seem less scary.

But still..even if I guard my mind, filter my thoughts, and rely on God’s strength, I may still face trouble.

James 1:2-3 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Joy and trials in the same sentence? Really?

1 Thessolonians 5:16 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

All circumstances? What about the bad ones?

Romans 8:28…start back at the top.

Use God’s word to argue with your anxiety, and the anxiety simply can NOT win!

2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

We may live in uncertain, ever changing times, but God has not changed. He is the same and He is good. And He does not want us to put back on the chains that Jesus broke many years ago.

The Ultimate “it’s not fair”

I hear it from my kids all the time…”Mom, it’s not fair!”

Sometimes I think it or say it.

The nicest person you know is diagnosed with a terminal illness…it’s not fair.

The most devoted mother is tragically killed in a car accident...it’s not fair.

The hurricane batters a town still recovering from the last one…it’s not fair.

Unless you have buried your head in the sand, you know all too well life can seem unfair. Why me? Why her? It’s not fair.

But then we break out the eternal measuring stick.

Jesus

He was born a baby in a manger…it’s not fair. He should have had the best room in the house, not a smelly barn full of animals.

He was accused, betrayed, beaten, and hung on a cross…it’s not fair. He didn’t do anything wrong.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

Sometimes it feels like the “bad” people get away with things…it’s not fair! But the Bible says otherwise.

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak. Matthew 12:36 ESV

Things on earth will never be perfect. This is earth, not heaven. But it is reassuring to know one day, all of our “it’s not fair” feelings will melt away.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4 ESV

When things seem unfair, remember Jesus died for us, to carry the weight of our sin, even though He was perfect. Like most things, this is easy to believe when life is smooth. But when trouble comes and things get rocky, it will take a very firm foundation, built on knowing God and reading His word, to put things into perspective and keep the “it’s not fair” mindset from taking over.

Sometimes I picture God up there looking down on us, crossing our arms and stomping our feet, anxiously pacing back and forth because we don’t think something is fair. He can see, know, and hear all things. While we see one beach, He sees the whole ocean. We see one starry sky, He sees the whole galaxy. Yet we think we know better!

Ah, Lord God ! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Jeremiah 32:17 ESV

and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Revelation 1:18 ESV

So rest easy today. God is in control. God is fair. God loves you.

My trip through the Bible in a year

I read the Bible in one year and this is what happened…

October 2, 2020 was the day I should have finished reading the entire Bible in a year. My final date-October 15th. Not too shabby, considering I am great at starting things but not so great at finishing. Can I get an Amen? I know I am not alone.

I have never really stuck with anything this long so I am SUPER proud of myself and the good habits I have built.

So many positives have come from this discipline!

  • For starters, I wake up earlier and less tired. (usually) Many days I would nod off during reading, especially at the beginning, but the majority of the time I got right to it. I think it got easier because I started looking forward to it (a lot more than expected!)
  • I am starting to understand the Bible a little better. It is not always an easy read, but the more you do it, the more comfortable you become. I followed a chronological plan that started January 1, but I started in October. I was on a different schedule, yet I still heard the messages I needed at the right time for me!
  • My time commitment to this habit grew throughout the year. I started off spending 15-20 minutes and now spend about 30-40 minutes each morning. Each day I set my alarm a couple minutes earlier (baby steps)
  • My overall mood is better…not perfect…but better. I am definitely more positive, but I attribute some of that to the gratitude journal I wrote about here. I don’t do it as often anymore, but I feel like the benefits of it have stuck with me.
  • I am looking forward to my next trip through the Bible. I don’t want to get out of the habit, so I will be starting again right away and my family is joining me this time!! We pray together but have never read the Bible together so I am excited to see what this brings for us!

My process

Read the daily Bible reading and listen to the Bible ReCap. At the beginning I was also reading the First 5 app that corresponded, but eventually I just stuck with the recap.

I have a color coding highlighting process (what type A person doesn’t?!?!)

When I could turn my brain on quick enough, I would remember to read a few opening verses before I started the plan of the day:

Psalm 119:18 open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law

Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O Lord, and renew a steadfast spirit within me

I will admit I was kind of expecting this miraculous, complete transformation…like day 365 I would suddenly have a bucket of patience that never runs out, and never have a bad day ever again… But that is not reality.

My anxiety and worry are not 100% gone, but I have some better tools (verses) to manage these ugly feelings when they creep in. I still have bad days, but I know just because you are a Godly person doesn’t mean everything will be perfect in your life. It just means God will be with you through it all.

I am not sure what role the Bible plays in your life currently, but if you don’t read it all, or only once in a while, I highly suggest you start! Start small. A few minutes a day is better than nothing. See what it does for you!