Worried?

Anxiety, worry, stress–an experience common to everyone, but what do you DO about it?

People handle stress and anxiety in different ways. Some take the healthier route through exercise, journaling or talking to friends or professionals. Some choose other alternatives like pills, alcohol, shopping or gambling. Others just eat chocolate (guilty!).

It seems that we are quite proficient in dealing with the results of stress, but are we dealing with the source?

Much of our anxiety results from fear– fear that we won’t succeed, fear that something terrible will happen, fear that we will never have enough. These fears are grounded in false beliefs such as the belief that everything is in our control, that every outcome in our lives is our responsibility or that the world chocolate supply is in danger (okay, maybe not that one :)).

For many of us, the fear began in childhood when our needs were not met by the people who should have met them. Perhaps we saw terrible things happen in our own families. These events left us with a belief that we have to take care of ourselves because no one else will.

The truth is that you were not designed to carry that weight and God has given you a way out.

In John 14:27 of the Bible, Jesus says,”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jesus gives us a different kind of peace, a kind of peace that can’t be found in pills or yoga or psychologists.

I Peter 5:7 says,”Cast (throw) all your anxiety on him (Jesus) because he cares for you.” In the past I interpreted this verse to mean that I shouldn’t worry because Jesus cares about me.  The truth is that He cares in my place so that I don’t have to. He is much more capable to take care of all the details of my life. The Bible even says that Christ is sitting at the right hand of God interceeding (praying) for us (Romans 8:34).

Maybe you have heard these verses before, but have you experienced them?

Philippians 4: 6-7 says,”Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Take a few minutes right now to talk to God about your anxiety and to ask God to reveal the root of it. Once you know, turn that worry into a prayer. Thank God for all He has done in your life, thank Him for caring about every detail and ask Him for His solution to your troubles.

As you truly trust God to care for you, and as you allow Him to guard your heart and mind you will experience a true, deep inner peace. You can’t find that in chocolate!

©2010 The Peaceful Mom-No material on this website may be reprinted in any form without the express written consent of the author.   Please note that this post is not intended as professional advice but simply the author’s personal opinion.  You should seek professional advice if your circumstances require it.