I want to talk about anxiety on this post. There’s a lot of that going around. Everyone gets anxious; the difference between the ones who overcome and the ones who don’t is that the latter knows where their strength is and who to run to when it gets overwhelming and out of control.
I found the psychiatric definition for anxiety and it is –
A nervous disorder characterized by a state of excessive uneasiness and apprehension, typically with compulsive behavior or panic attacks.
Other words for anxiety include worry, concern, consternation, fear, disquiet, fretfulness, agitation, angst, nerves, edginess, tension, tenseness, stress, misgiving, trepidation, foreboding and suspense.
Sound familiar? I sit here not wanting to do anything, I’m tired and afraid and I could give a list of reasons why but the most important thing that I realized this morning is fear will either keep you paralyzed or it will push you to action. I choose the latter, this fear will push me to action, which means I need to pray for wisdom about my next steps so that which I fear does not happen.
At its best, anxiety distracts us from our relationship with God and people and at its worst, it is crippling. It takes over our minds, plunges our thoughts into darkness, it’s almost like a feeling of free-falling. It makes you hide, feel invisible like nobody sees or hears you and most of all, paralyzes you.
When we hear paralysis, we automatically think impairment. That is exactly what anxiety does. It impairs your whole life because you can’t see the people God is sending your way to help you, you can’t hear God’s direction. When you are anxious, you are operating in diminished capacity. God doesn’t want us to live like that! He never intended us to do that. Yes, the trials will come but we have His peace. Today I encourage you to embrace His peace.
This week, one of my friends put up on his Whats App status a sentence I had put up a while back and it resonated because I was feeling ‘blue’ so it was a ‘word’ for the moment. It simply said
‘Even when I don’t see it, you’re working. I added this to it – Even when I don’t feel it, you’re moving and even when I don’t hear it, you’re speaking.’
I know there is someone reading this post – man, woman, boy, girl feeling one of this listed below –
- I’m tired and at a standstill and not sure where to turn to next.
- I’m afraid that I will fail.
- I feel like I’m just going through the motions.
- I feel like I need to rest but if I do, we will go hungry.
- If I do, I will fall and will not make it back up!
PAUSE, BREATHE and EXHALE…
I want you to pause, breathe and exhale… God’s got you!!! Anxiety is not for you. Remember that scripture Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
I like it better in the Passion Translation –
“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing… my interpretation is yes, you are worried; but you can bring it to God in prayer. Bringing it shifts the focus of the issue to God and off of you. This peace of God that you get by doing that is what gives you the ability to see straight and make the right decisions.
Obviously, all of my posts are going to end up with a worship nugget at some point… One of the greatest weapons against anxiety or worry is – you guessed it! WORSHIP!!
Worship doesn’t always mean singing at the top of your lungs, It can also be about just entering into God’s presence and giving Him what you have which in this context maybe your tears, frustration and fears. Bottom line is your praise must be continuous.
Praise Him in the good times and in the bad times…
God is still God!!! He stands sure and unchangeable!!!!!! Soak yourself in worship. YouTube is an excellent resource for this at least for me. I just create a playlist of worship songs and listen round the clock. That is a huge lifter of the heart in worship to God.
I’m going to leave you with this medley by Tye Tribbett. It summarizes all of what you may feel today and please, let it connect with your heart. I pray it blesses you as it did me. God’s love for you isn’t pending; you are already loved!!!!
Here’s the first verse:
Come out of hiding you’re safe here with me
There’s no need to cover what I already see
You’ve got your reasons but I hold your peace
You’ve been on lock down but I hold the key
‘Cause I’ve loved you before
You knew it was love
I saw it all
Still I choose the cross
You were the one
That I was thinking of when I rose from the grave
Now rid of the shackles
My victory’s yours
I tore the veil for you to come close
There’s no reason to stand at a distance anymore
You’re already loved
Good stuff!
Thank you so much, for the exaltation, it reminds me to rely on God and not my strength or thinking…
Yes!!! We are not to rely on our own understanding. It hinders our ability to trust God and limits us in so many ways which is crippling.
Thank you so much for your obedience aunty Gladys. This blessed me beyond words and I am beyond thankful for you. I love you fiercely.
You are loved more than you know Oge!!! God’s love for isn’t ‘pending’, it is final and you need to just hold on to that and throw the word of God at that lie, it is not for you.
Sis Gladys this is such a timely WORD. This is soo true in every way. Knowing that His peace is always there to embrace me gives me this calmness. I love when you said even when I don’t feel it , you’re moving and even when i don’t hear it your speaking . Another thing that stood out to me was that praising Him must be continuous. That’s FACTS.
God bless.
Yes, God’s peace is always available for us. The enemy creeps but we don’t pay attention until it gets to be a problem. Worship should be our default. Did you listen to that song? It is so powerful.
Ooh I sure did and it is on constant replay.!!!
Beautiful!
God bless you DG for this posting ! Even though when I don’t see it, you’re working!! These words have been my anchor for the past few weeks. It’s indeed a word in season.
I’ve also been particularly blessed these past weeks by Danny Gokey song “Haven’t seen it yet”
I just wanted to share an excerpt from the song. Hope it blesses someone!
“It’s like the brightest sunrise
Waiting on the other side of the darkest night
Don’t ever lose hope, hold on and believe
Maybe you just haven’t seen it, just haven’t seen it yet
You’re closer than you think you are
Only moments from the break of dawn
All His promises are just up ahead
Maybe you just haven’t seen it, just haven’t seen it yet.
Kemi,
Those are words I live by! I say it to myself when I begin to feel the anxiety. I know first hand, it is not a good place to be but I also know He sees my tears and hears when I call. Thanks for reading.
A good word. A deep song. Thank you for the encouragement. More grace and anointing in Jesus name.
Thank you dear sis Gladys for being an inspiration. Why hold on to your fears and anxiety when your faith can reach out to a LOVE GOD who is infinite in doing the impossible. Worship draws us in to this GOD. I love this piece…
Yes! Worship goes beyond singing and dancing. Your respect and acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty in the good and bad times is also a way of expressing your worship to GOD. God bless you Sis. Gladys🙏🙏😘😘
Great post DG and very relevant! We all deal with some level of anxiety and you offered some practical steps that will prove useful to many.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading, Remi!
Say NO to worries…Wuuuuuuuussa…Worship drives our Worries, anxiety etc..Because it invites God/s Presence…and in His Presence, there is Liberty.
“Worship doesn’t always mean singing at the top of your lungs…..”
Oh gosh that paragraph really got me cos the times I’ve worshipped God sue to heaviness and helplessness; He brings me to a very peaceful place where all that doesn’t exist.
It’s just a beautiful thing to experience within my soul and it got me wanting more….
I thank God for how he’s moving through you ma! I pray for more strength, grace and God’s anointing upon your life in Jesus name! ❤❤❤
Esther, those are the rawest parts of worship! I’ve had those experiences when I am humbled and I see God revealed as what I am needing at that moment. There is such a calming that comes from that and it does leave wanting more. Thanks for reading, please visit again soon!
Amen my sister