Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Cor. 15:58

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Wednesday, January 1, 2014

A Time For Anxiety

I never really thought that I had anxiety. I mean, I know a worry... a lot. I stress... a  lot. I hate talking in person... a lot (because what if I say the wrong thing... which I tend to do? Isn't it better to just be quiet than say the wrong thing? Hmmm....)

Free Stock Photos: Natural Beauty 7 Picture. Image: 195218But a few days ago, I read a post about Anxiety. It sort of fit me to a tee.

About a week ago, my husband's cousin died of complications from H1N1. He was just 36. He was a preacher and had a wife and 2 small girls. That sort of gets you thinking. If you can die of the flu, how safe are you in the world?

Now, I'm not stupid. I know you can die at any time. A car crash. A house fire. A flippin' meteor can fall on your head.

I get that.

But the flu?

Really?

Thus started the 'Do I need a flu shot?' debate in my head. This post isn't about that. It's your personal opinion if you get one or not. Some people do. Some can't. I've never had one.

The fear of the unknown. I think that's what leads to my personal anxiety. I like knowing where I'm going. I like knowing specifics. I'm kind of like my six year old that way. She freaks out if she doesn't know what's coming next. I guess she got it from me (yay... she didn't get my eye color, but got my anxiety. Poor kid...)

A lot of times, I feel like a failure because I don't know what to do. Like being a mother. If there was a handbook, I'd be all over it ;) Some people seem like a natural. I feel like I just make kids cry. Ever have days like that? They aren't pleasant.

I knew I wanted my first post of 2014 to be about anxiety because, like always, there is so much we don't know. A war could break out tomorrow for all we know (now you are worrying about it, aren't you? Admit it ;) )

Psalm 139:23-- Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

I'm guessing God doesn't have to search me too thoroughly to know my anxious thoughts ;) They are pretty apparent (well, to me anyway. My husband says I'm hard to read...)

Philippians 4:6-- Don't worry about anything: instead; pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

I don't know about you, but that seems pretty good to me.

What I get out of this? Two things:
ONE: There is no use in worrying. Things will happen like they are going to happen anyway.

TWO: There is no use in worrying. Things will happen like they are going to happen anyway.


I watched an episode of ER the other night (Yes... yes I did). There was this lady who was afraid to get out of her house. The therapist finally convinced her to do it, and all these terrible things happened. Was it a coincidence or would it have happened anyway? I'm thinking it would have happened anyway.

There is no since worrying about the future because the future will be what it'll be. That's both comforting and scary. We can change certain things: we can NOT drink and drive. we can NOT over eat. We can wash our hands after meals so we don't get sick.

But we can't control others. We can't make them NOT drink and drive. We can't NOT make our spouse live healthy. We can't force our preacher to use germx and spread germs.

There are things in life we can't control, and that's scary.

But it also makes every day a miracle.

Yesterday is gone. Have a fight with your spouse. Okay, let it go. It's over. You can't take it back, but you can learn from it today.

Tomorrow may never come. It's a scary thought, but it's true. There is no use in worrying. Things will happen like they are going to happen anyway.

Focus on today. How can you live today to make life better for those around you? Will worrying about tomorrow hamper your happiness today?

Has any of this helped me? I don't know. I still worry. I think all parents worry whether we want to or not. When you have people who depend on you, it happens.

But that doesn't mean we should let it control us.

There are such things as accidents. You can't control everything. We have to understand that.

My verse for this week...
Philippians 4:6-- Don't worry about anything: instead; pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
 
~Kelly

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3 comments:

  1. This is so very true, Kelly. God has a plan for all of us and everything that we experience teaches us new things if we choose to learn.

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  2. I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder as a teen, it was rough; at times it still is. Before my grandma passed away she gave me a picture with praying hands that says "Why worry when you can pray" It was not until after I was saved that I truly understood that. I still worry but I try to pray about my worries and TRY to let them go, I often fail at letting it go but I am trying.
    Thank you for this post Kelly.

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  3. I have to agree, I worry about things too much. Way to much. But I have started to worry and stress less. Which is good.

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