anxiety

the pale, frothy blue light of morning is here. as i sat down to type, the word ANXIETY bubbled to the top of the cup of my soul, and these words came to my mind,

“Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. the Lord is near. do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” philipians 4.6,7

Father in heaven, you listen to my lists of requests, my lists of needs, you listen. i pray this morning for provision, for the anxiety to lift, for your peace to come down. i don’t think i know how to rejoice today. i don’t think i feel your nearness. but i will trust you. i will thank you. i will place my heart before you. Help!

so many accusations are coming from the accuser today, “you’re so heavenly minded, you’re no *%&*#$! earthly good!” i am downtrodden by these old enemies in my head, these old accusations. what good is it to come to the throne of God every day and “waste precious time” on the things of God, when it’s just “escaping the real world” that i “can’t handle”?

oh but i know the truth: “i have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. i can do everything through him who gives me strength.” how’s that for not being able to handle the real world?

so many of us Christians are constantly surrounded by the mindset that sees faith as some last ditch effort, or something to turn to when all else fails– that prayer is what you do when the doctors don’t know what to do, that spending time with God is for those with low self-esteem who need to have an ego boost; that believing God for a miracle or for finances is only for the uneducated poor masses… and this weak, shallow understanding rubs off. well this morning, i have had to fight this same mindset that dismisses God. you see, the truth and deep treasure of the nearness of God is never in the check that comes in the mail or in convincing oneself that everything is just peachy when things are falling apart. no, the truth of God’s triumph over anxiety is much, much deeper than that.

“i want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead.”

finally, i can see why i am told to rejoice. rejoice!! this thing that i hope for, this salvation i work out, this reason i keep coming to the throne of God daily, has nothing to do with getting through this life comfortably. it has everything to do with storing treasures in heaven- to know Christ. this is the peace that passes all understanding: that whatever happens in my life, Jesus is all that matters. to be heavenly minded, is the most grounded, realistic, hopeful way to live. to let go of ANXIETY in favor of the cross– this is victory and life!!!

may the Lord bless each of you, my friends, with the peace that passes understanding, with protection over your hearts, and with joy in the face of whatever trials and difficulties you are going through. may these words from my life and my heart invite you to boldly be encouraged, and may all the anxiety that grips you be undone– that is my prayer.