Anxiety Sucks

It shows up at any age and wreaks havoc on its victim – it knows no boundaries and will attach itself and try to suck the very life out of its host. It knows no age, ethnic group, religion, male/female, not gender specific…it will thrive in its host if allowed. Anxiety sucks! It is not pleasant in the least and every day can seem similar to the day before. Another battle against anxiety awaits with each new day, and before long the fight can seem impossible leaving us hopeless and exhausted.

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by anxiety that you became nauseous? Hopeless? A feeling of despair that relief from anxiety will never be had? Fear that your best days are behind you?

Anxiety can give us sweaty palms, an accelerated heartbeat, dizziness, instability, can make us socially uncomfortable or awkward, fear of getting trapped, hyperventilation, and feeling as though a cloud follows overhead.

Sitting in church, going for a drive, or just simply living can become a major task. It can become a burden in which the weight is so great that there is no semblance of the life we once knew. We no longer feel carefree, happy, relaxed, calm, collective, and whatever sense of peace we had is a distant memory.

There Is Hope Amid Anxiety

As believers, we will face our share of life disruptions, and hiccups along the way. However, the battles we face can be won with the ONE who knows us intimately. We were never promised an easy life following Christ, but He promises to help us in our trials.

Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Learning not to focus solely on the problem, but rather being proactive to do what is needed to conquer the anxiety we must always do so not ALONE BUT WITH GOD. Moving our focus away from the anxiety and looking to Him for help the problem will at the very least seem manageable.

We can become easily overwhelmed if we do not place our anxiety at the Lord’s feet and off our tired shoulders. We cannot do life alone and on our own.

Our finite minds coupled with anxiety are a recipe for a dead-end, no-way-out kind of thinking. This only leads us down a rabbit hole into a dark place even further away from Christ’s hope and peace. Indeed, anxiety sucks but peace can be found.

When we were slapped with anxiety it wasn’t God saying there you go, “Good Luck with that!!” Instead, it is an opportunity for the Lord to prove what He is capable of. When we accepted the Lord into our hearts we decided that God was bigger than our problems and nothing was impossible for Him. Guess what?? Nothing has changed, the only difference is we now find ourselves in a crisis and everything can seem impossible when we are overcome with anxiety.

He Makes The Impossible Possible

What can seem impossible, an insurmountable obstacle is possible with Christ. Luke 18:27 sums it up, “Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Our thinking patterns should move us away from our limited, finite minds and towards “fixing our eyes on Jesus“. Jesus offers us an ocean of resources that will uplift us and set us on the path of Christ-centered mindfulness.

God has given us the tools to overcome any challenge no matter how substantial it may seem. From our shallow, earthly eyes it will appear impossible until we fully trust that God will help us. We must never forget that God is for us and not against us. We are not alone in the struggles that we face.

Scriptures To Meditate On

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.” Philippians 4:6-7

Never give up and never give in. We have an awesome God ready to help us. He will sustain us and make a way even when it may seem impossible. Let go and let God do His thing.