2 “A’s” plague us: Anxiety and Anger.
Both can pull us down; neither can pull us up.
Anxiety can drive us to disquiet. To lose sight of what is good, true, and beautiful. Phil 4:8 says, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Colossians 3:1 adds, “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” (Both are from the New Living Translation)
Anxiety leads us away from the direction of those verses. We find ourselves looking inward, instead of upward. Instead of trusting God’s perfect plan, we tend to become the back seat driver who takes over the wheel thinking we can do it better. Aaah yeah.
A.W.Tozer once said,
If we understand that everything happening to us is to make us more Christlike, it will solve a great deal of anxiety in our lives.
Anxiety comes, and is magnified, when we get this crazy notion we know best. I realize anxiety comes in all sizes, shapes and colors and often comes from all sizes, shapes, and colors, but when shaken out much of anxiety is a result of “I know best.” The words of Philippians and Colossians I previously quoted really are a lifeline to ending anxiety.
{Note: Tomorrow I will take up the other “A”: Anger}
Only the Father knows best, Bill. When anxiety attempts to creep into our lives, may we all look upward and not inward.
Blessings!
Only the Father does know best Martha. May we always look upward towards Him
Having experienced severe anxiety in my not to recent past, I can honestly say that the spiral feels so real. The sleepless nights, the racing heart, the urge to numb.
Challenging those thoughts and remembering that God is in control and even through the tough situations, God has a plan to work it out for our good.
I hope it didn’t seem like I was insensitive Ryan. I know anxiety is real for many. You describe the physical and the emotional turmoil. You have settled it well though in that God does have a plan.
Well, this might be my favorite A. W. Tozer quote. Wow. The man hit the nail right on the head.
Oh to be more like Jesus.
I liked that quote also Linda. And yes, to be more like Him is my desire.
Honestly I do not suffer from extreme anxiety but do have empathy for those that do. It is hard to have the correct words when someone is suffering through problems that are causing them extreme anxiety. I offer to pray with them, and often I just say I wish could say something to calm your nerves, but please know I will listen to you, and continue to pray for you as long as you need it.
God is always in control, and watching over us. Its impossible to decide for others what it is God is trying to teach them, or how to tell them to listen to God with their whole heart. I am still learning all of those things myself, however I have learned to ask God to teach me and to reshape my thinking so I can learn from this experience. I am and always be a work in progress, but I have learned through a lot of trials to admit up front I know I have a lesson to learn. I still struggle, but I do not fall completely apart.
Spoken by someone who is a friend to others and also one who has and is learning to trust the Source of true wisdom and strength. Thanks Gail and may your tribe increase!