There is a creeping sense of anxiety that is coloring my days – and nights - right now. It attacks most strongly when my guard is not up and I awake repeatedly throughout the night. Fighting it off and letting it go is exhausting.
During the day, I make a conscious effort to take deep breaths, pray and repeat scripture in my head. Logic is closer and fears farther away in the bright light of day.
The fraud thing is ongoing. It is like a spider building a web that gets bigger and bigger. Every day’s mail brings more bad news. I feel violated and defeated against an unknown assailant. It is taking time – lots of time – and energy away from other important things that need to be happening right now.
When I feel the sharp pang of anxiety creeping in I feel myself pausing, trying to figure out which of several anxiety-inducing situations it is coming from. And then I force myself, once again, to push it back, take deep breaths, pray and focus on God’s words and promises.
1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Philippians 4:6 tell us to not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, to present our requests to God. Verse 7 goes on to say that when we do that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
I don’t know about you but I really need my heart AND mind to be guarded in Christ Jesus right now. I need the truth of God’s word and his love to wipe away every trace of anxiety coloring my world today and in the days to come.
If you are struggling right now and feel like you are getting hit from all directions, please join me in making a choice. A choice to put on the full armor of God described in Ephesians 6:13-17. A choice to be thankful for the things that are going well instead of dwelling on and listing all the things that are not.
A choice to live in victory instead of defeat. Knowing that although God has told us that in this world we will have trouble. He has also told us that he has overcome the world (John 16:33). And that is a promise that can ease our anxiety and give us rest.
Precious Father, thank you that in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Thank you for giving us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And thank you that greater are you who are in us than he who is in the world. Amen