The grip of anxiety can almost feel like a grip of death. It swoops in and takes a strong hold on your heart and mind. It’s so dominating in fact, that ignoring its presence is impossible.
If you have experienced anxiety in the manner that I have, then you know exactly what I am talking about. Walking down life’s path, where I met its horrible presence, however, helped me have an increased love, faith and hope in God. My hate for anxiety produced an increased love for my Savior.
In the moments that I thought I was drowning, I learned to recognize the immovable, firm foundation that God had placed beneath my feet, and that He was teaching me how to stand.
my hate for anxiety produced an increased love for my Savior
Here are 5 comforting truths that I learned to take hold of in the thick of the battle:
1. God is our ever present help in our time of need!
The example that has best helped me understand this truth and provide tremendous comfort, is the account of when the disciples and Jesus are out on a boat and a sudden, unsuspecting storm begins. Here they were, stuck on a boat, completely surrounded by their storm, and no way of escape or place to hide! They had no choice but to run to the Savior! If this doesn’t perfectly depict anxiety?! Anxiety can pop up unsuspectedly and then make you feel completely surrounded, with nowhere to go. Truth be told, our Savior is also present in our storm and is always available for us to run to! (Luke 8: 22-25)
2. He wipes away every tear!
Nothing makes you feel more alone than walking through a relentless difficulty that is not understood by those closest to you. Tears can flow continuously over the pain you have deeply embedded in your heart and you long to be comforted, seen, and patiently understood. Having an omnipresent God who loves you means that in the quiet of your room, when those tears flow, He draws near, and longs to wipe away every tear!
(Psalm 34:18, Revelation 21:4)
3. God’s comfort is exponential!
God remains present during our suffering and He is still producing good things in our lives! As God works and brings us through the hardships, He gifts us with His assurance, peace, truth, and comfort! All of these tremendous gifts we receive from Him, are gifts that He longs for us to pass along to someone else when they find themselves in places we have already been. God’s comfort provides us with a tremendous hope that He longs for us to spread far and wide! (2 Corinthians 1: 3-7)
4. God is our fortress!
Anxiety produces fear and when fear sets in, the heart longs to find a place of protection and rest. Psalm 91:1, 2 tells us that God is our refuge and our fortress, and therefore, He can be FULLY trusted! God provides us with a permanent wall of protection, a wall of defense, and this wall rises higher than the arrows that the enemy shoots our way can ever fly, but it is a place that we have choose to run to and dwell. When I run to His place of shelter, there my heart finds the protection and rest it longs for.
5. God’s truth liberates our mind!
Anxiety produces an endless battle in the mind! The more your thoughts follows its trail, the more weary, worn, deceived and defeated you will feel. But truth…truth sets us free! Philippians 4:8-9 are verses that are worth clinging to in order to help you in the fight of thinking about what is right and true. It is a fight, but God has given us His word as a weapon, our sword of truth, to help slay the lies and deceit that anxiety fills our mind with! God’s truth is a weapon that we must use and when we do, it will set our minds free!
Highlighting the hope that we have in Christ! 