God has been dealing with my anxieties a lot lately. I’m not going to get into particulars, but I will say that it is not just one area of my life. In fact, it’s most, if not all areas of my life. It’s almost like a chain reaction. I worry about one thing and it sets off something in my head and heart that begins a cycle of worry.
At the center of my anxiety is pride and unbelief. However, as Paul reminds Timothy, “…if we are faithless, he remains faithful…” (2 Timothy 2.13). God continues to open my eyes to this sin, rebuke me, and offer grace and encouragement.
That grace and encouragement has come recently in some things I have been reading. The first is a chapter of a book that a friend sent me awhile back. The book is called Scripture Opens Blind Eyes, and though I’ve only read the “Don’t Worry” chapter, I’m sure the rest of the book is also helpful. Here are some quotes that stuck out to me:
- There’s always something to worry about.
- We worry about things that are inherently uncertain.
- You worry because of you, not because of things.
- We lose sight of God because what we want (and worry about) is the only thing we see.
- Central to worry is the illusion that we can control things…Worry assumes the possibility of control over the uncontrollable.
- A worrier is storing “treasure” in the wrong place. If what you most value can be taken away or destroyed, then you set yourself up for anxiety.
- Some things are certain (namely Christ and His love and provision).
- If your life isn’t made by having money, then your life can’t be unmade by the lack of it!
- He (God) will give you what you need to live on if you need him in order to live.
- Anxieties feel endless and infinite – but they’re finite and specific.
- Anxious people “eagerly seek” the gifts more than the Giver.
- Your Father cares about the things you worry about.
- In the darkest hole, when life is toughest, there’s always some way to give yourself away.
I also listened to the following clip from a message by Mark Driscoll. The blog post basically says what he says in the video clip.
http://blog.marshillchurch.org/2010/11/21/7-truths-about-fear/
I hope some of this is helpful or encouraging to you. Finally, I’ll leave you with this promise:
“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5.17
