"Anxiety"

Anxiety…don’t you just hate it? I get so mad at myself when I give away the peace that is mine to have. Peace, not only belongs to me, but it is my right to have it as a child of God and as one who is “in Christ”.

Now I could share my whole laundry list of understandable reasons and overwhelming circumstances that would try,test, and trouble anyone’s nerves. But, I am not “anyone”. I am the precious daughter of the King, beloved child of the Creator, redeemed and under the power of our resurrected Lord.

If scripture tells us in Isaiah 52:12 (paraphrased) that “the Lord will go ahead of us and then He will also protect us from behind”…then why do I allow this world to close in on me? That kind of thinking only makes me a prisoner to the world’s timetable, to its turmoil, and feelings of hopelessness. All of that is only bondage. You and I, if we are “in Christ” (adopted and made His own) have been freed from that kind of slavery.

Are we hearing the Lord say to us, “Be still, KNOW that I Am God?” Are we truly being still and trusting if we are also worrying? Wouldn’t that be a house divided against itself? If Christ is truly dwelling within us, how or why should we have anxiety about anything? Seems like a simple question, and yet, I think God would want us to just believe. It really is that easy! It’s as uncomplicated as just having the heart of a child who knows their Heavenly Dad. Do we have that kind of relationship with Him?

I for one know that I don’t want to be like those Old Testament believers who only saw the giants in the Promised Land (Numbers 13). They had small faith and little hope in God. They only saw the trouble and worried about the future ahead of them. And I’ll bet you don’t want to be one of them either? Well, remember this…our laundry list of “stuff” may not change, our circumstance might remain the same, but we know WHO is in our lives and who we are in Him. We are loved by, cared for, and united with Christ Himself. He has gone before us and has our “back side” too! We are surrounded by His goodness and protection.

When you are tempted to get distracted and fall into the enemy’s trap of anxiety, put your eyes back on the LORD and lean your full weight on Him. That is what true faith means.