As a former fear-based person, I know anxiety up, close and personal. Anxiety loved to choke my airways and make my heart jump. Without invitation, anxiety pushed out my peace day after day.
Truth is I’ve been to the doctor numerous times for symptoms that scare me. The answer, always the same. Panic attack. Anxiety. Yes, I’ve felt like I’m going crazy. I’ve taken medication, then stopped, started and stopped again. Taken fish pills and exercised. Felt like a failure as a Christian, thinking I don’t have enough faith to fight fear.
Believe me, I’m not okay with anxiety ruining my life anymore. Some days anxiety still does a number on me and I’m unsure why. I hate when my body acts out. All I know is fear is powerful.
As a creative, I know just how to imagine a worst case scenario and bury myself or my loved ones.
And then there are real life experiences that affect my thinking.
As a child, I experienced sexual abuse, more than once. And I remember when my grandma’s house burned down. As a teenager, I witnessed babies and children suffering in cancer wards while my youngest brother received his treatment. During his stay at the hospital, my mom’s truck was stolen. Then at twenty, my best friend’s mom lost her fight with cancer. She was in her fifties.
Abuse, disease, fire, theft, and death. All of it, real, and up, close and personal.
Once when I worked at an apartment community, a male resident stalked me. Nothing felt more eerie than walking into our women’s restroom and seeing my name and a gross message spray painted inside the stall.
So what can a person do when anxiety creeps in?
I have only one answer.
Pray.
I call on Jesus for help. I breathe in and out and thank God for air. Drink water. Open my Bible. Ask my husband or a friend to pray. Sometimes I sense a lift in my body, sometimes I don’t. But I hold on to hope anyway.
My peace comes from Jesus. He alone is my Prince of Peace. I trust Him to care for me when I’m anxious.
Are you feeling the squeeze of fear and anxiety today? Are you panicking?
If so, please reread the verse above. Pause, look at each word, look at the dove. Let Peace come, receive Jesus’ truth and breathe deeply.
And always, always thank Him.
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. Philippians 4:6-7
(This picture/verse is YOU. God sees YOU. I know you’re out there. You’re not alone.)
QUESTION: Do you struggle with anxious thoughts? If so, how do you cope? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
I have struggled with anxiety my entire life. Only recently, in my 30’s, did I tell my parents that I’d woken up almost every morning for the last 20 or 25 years feeling sick to my stomach with dread of the day ahead. But I recognize that these are feelings. And we do not walk by feelings, we walk by faith. I pray. I trust. And I’ve learned that the adrenaline that starts flowing from anxiety is not all that far from the adrenaline that starts flowing from excitement and enthusiasm. If you can shift your thinking and your focus, what can be crippling can be a drive for great things. Without having this high-strung personality, I wouldn’t have been as successful. Anxiety may always be the thorn in my side, but it’s also proof that God can make all things work–even the unpleasant ones–for my good.
Carla, I love your perspective on what to do with anxiety. Thanks for being honest about your struggle. I don’t like knowing you understand, but I find comfort in knowing we understand each other. Yes, use that adrenaline for something good. That’s powerful. We have to release it somehow, right? Work it. God is for us.
There is so much shame associated with anxiety problems, especially in the Christian world. “Real Christians” aren’t anxious or fearful. But I like what Mark Twain says: “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear– not absence of fear.” Without fear, there can be no true courage. Without our weaknesses, we wouldn’t realize how much we need God’s strength.
Your blog is always a blessing, Tiffany!
I hate that whole “Christians aren’t fearful or anxious” convo. What about all the times in God’s Word where people were afraid? Joshua was afraid and had to be reminded. The list of men and women who struggled is there, but for some reason we pick and choose the verses we want.
And for me, I let verses condemn me. When I read, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind” I would feel like I wasn’t a believer. I’ve learned that’s not the whole truth.
Living on partial truths never works. We must seek the whole truth. And always in context, less we be deceived.
That’s my two cents.
It’s worth more than two cents. I love that verse. It is meant to be comfort, not condemnation. Fear is not from God. Power, love, and a sound mind is from God. Fear is from the enemy and our own fallen natures. Greater is He who is within me than he who is in the world! Amen!
Yes, Carla. Preach it.
Here’s where my mind got messed up. Since I was afraid and fear is NOT from God. I felt like something was wrong with me. I even wondered if I was part of God’s family because I didn’t have a sound mind.
That verse can be tricky for over-thinkers like me who is always trying to make sense of what I’m dealing with.
I didn’t know how to read God’s word as comfort at one point. I often felt shame when I didn’t have what the Word said I could or should have.
Yep. I’m a tangled mess.
Me too me too! But I have come to understand that if I wear the robe of Christ’s righteousness (that full, free armor) that I already am fearless even if I feel it here. That if there is a spirit of fear bullying me, I can let Jesus take care of it by claiming what is already true! …get behind me Satan!
Live the clothing we have been given. No more rags, only robes.
Living on partial truths never works is so right Tiffany! Powerful message you shared here! Going to share online!
Love you Sis
Thanks for joining in, Lisa. I believe God wants us all to dig and discover truths, His whole truth, for ourselves. Our healing depends on it.
xoxo
I’m struggling with anxiety as we speak and the “memories” tied to the situation of having recently lost a job. Nothing is worst then being alone, short on finances and already being familiar with this type of loss before. Whether I’m emotionally exhausted, I will push through and remain to stand on Gods word and the truth of his peace. Thank you for sharing & God bless, mv
Father God, please come near and breathe hope and encouragement to Blu Wings. Bring Your Peace. Send provision. Allow others to gather around and support as needed. Thank You for Your Word that comforts us in our time of need. In Christ’s name, amen
And speak those words of God outloud! Prophesy over your circumstances…Powerful are the words of faith spoken out loud! We must learn to practice this, we will see God come in…”God THANK YOU that you are right now providing my needs, that you have in store for me a hope and a future! That no weapon formed against me will prosper, because you ALWAYS lead me in triumph in Christ!!!”
Blessings to you sister as you take your stand on the Rock!
You’ve been through so much Tiffany, it’s no wonder you battle fear and anxiety- God has laid much on your shoulders. But you have the right answer- PRAYER!
I have a long history of worry/anxiety/fear and used to suffer panic attacks- I too have gone to the doctor on more than one occasion. Prayer and spending time with God helps me. Sometimes I am better at over coming these feelings and other times they take hold of me. But we must remember we are more than conquerors through Christ!
Thanks for sharing, your openness, honesty and testimony touch many!
God bless you!
Thanks, friend. Again, I hate reading others suffer with anxiety issues. I’m sorry. But I trust God is using our struggles to bring us closer to His heart. We must press on and press through. We have breath for a reason.
To glorify God.
Press through- no way around problems/issues but through them! And we don’t have to go it alone 😉
Praise God.
Me too me too! I’ve been posting all week about fear and faith and overcoming and grace. The Lord has taken me to these mountains for wonder-working reasons! I’m in awe of His power to overcome and seek more boldness and faith to walk in victory over the giants! I’m going to cut off their heads! 🙂
Fear is a giant, and the Spirit of God fells him! Oh fill me more Lord! 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Kathy. I will have to stop by and read your posts. Boldness comes from knowing we are free and we are HIS. Fear cannot have us..
I’m with you, Tiffany, in experiencing anxiety, praying and thanking God as He meets me. I’ve also learned to grab my journal and write down exactly what God does to help me. It’s my way of creating a memorial and it helps me remember the next time. 🙂
Ephesians 5:13 “But everything exposed by
the light becomes visible-and everything illuminated becomes a
light.”
I love your description of fear and anxiety. I have lived with this all my life until recently. I decided to air all my dirty laundry…there’s not as much to fear if you’re transparent, and in doing so it releases shame and fear in others too. Love your post!