A friend of mine once commented to me that she loves devotionals that not only provide encouragement, but also have a lesson or hard truth embedded in them. She likes to be challenged and loved both at the same time. I pray this is one of those devotionals.
Ephesians 3:17-18 (NIV)
“… And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”
Everyone worries or has anxiety from time to time. God designed us with all our feelings attached, even the “negative” ones. They protect us – or at least act as indicators of our current reality. We worry our toddler will get too close to the stove and burn herself. We worry when we leave our kids with a babysitter for the first time. Anxiety accompanies our excitement as we learn to drive a car or move away from home for good. These types of feelings usually keep us safe to some extent. They act as cautionary flags to be on the lookout that something might be wrong.
Sometimes, though, our worry and anxiety get the best of us. You can bet Satan enjoys using these emotions against us. When we are anxious, we tend to lose focus on what is most important – God. For many, these feelings that God designed in order to alert us become emotions that are unhealthy and destructive. It seems to me there is an epidemic of anxiety in our society. I hear about it all too often in my circle of mothers. I believe too many of us are allowing our worries to control our lives.
As a mother, I tend to worry about my kids. Another big-ticket anxiety item within my social circle is health. When we constantly worry about things for which we have no control, that worry evolves into fear, and anxiety morphs into panic. Once fear’s grip takes hold, it is difficult to regain your freedom. Instead, if we choose to become rooted in God’s promises, rooted in His word, rooted in His love, then freedom is ours for the taking.
There are three things I believe God wants us to consider when it comes to fear and anxiety. The first is that God tells us to turn our backs on fear. “Fear not” is the most frequent directive God gives us in the Bible. In fact, according to Wikipedia, there are over 100 “fear not” statements in the Bible. If you include “do not be afraid” or similar language, the number grows to 366, depending on the translation. God and Satan continue their epic battle for our hearts and minds. Fear is the enemy’s weapon. Fear in the hands of Satan is like a spark in a dry forest. The damage can spread like wildfire, burning every hope, every positive thought, and every ounce of strength we can muster.
The second message I have learned about fear is that when you are in a place where uncontrollable anxiety and worry rule, you do not have the capacity to be thankful. In fact, it is downright impossible! Ann Voskamp, author of “One Thousand Gifts,” describes this beautifully:
“You can’t positive-think your way out of negative feelings. About your brother,
about me, about people. Feelings work faster than thoughts; blood runs faster
than synapses … The only way to fight a feeling is with a feeling … I move closer,
hoping my words might revive. Feel thanks and it’s absolutely impossible to feel
angry. We can only experience one emotion at a time. And we get to choose –
which emotion do we want to feel?”
The author, as the main character, is teaching her son how to replace anger with thanksgiving. However, I believe the principle applies to every feeling. What if we replaced worry with thanksgiving? What if we chose to feel faithful rather than fearful? What if we could stop anxiety in its tracks by giving praise and gratitude? When anxiety over a medical test result creeps in, we can choose to give thanks to God for advanced medicine, early detection, or even for the promise of eternity. When worry erupts into fear as finances disappear, we can give thanks to God for the food on our table or the friends and family who step in to help. Your fear may just start to dissipate. Why? You have put God first.
The third action that I believe God asks us to do is embrace His trustworthiness. And, therein lies the ultimate definition of faith. If you believe God’s promises, then fear has no place. After all, God promises to never leave us. In Romans 8:31, the promise continues, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Our God has already claimed victory over death through His Son, Jesus.
So, when anxiety’s blazing fingers start to wrap around our minds and threaten to take over, let’s remember this acronym: ROOT (Run to His Word, Offer Thanks, Offer Praise, Trust Him).
Next time, we will dig deeper into how being rooted in God’s Word and His love can break the “misinterpretation cycle” of worry and anxiety – finally setting us free!
© 2012 As A Clay Jar. All rights reserved.
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