To live free: when you are anxious
November 11, 2011 | Feelings: Intentional freedom
I don’t know why it hits, but sometimes — out of the blue — it does.
It’s not outright panic. It’s anxiousness. My heart speeds up. Breathing is suddenly something I’m conscious of. Fear hits.
And it comes at a time when I’ve prepared, I’ve prayed, and I am anticipating what God will do. It happened this past weekend. I was just about to step up on stage and there it was. Fear. It didn’t make sense, but it didn’t make it less real.
Have you ever experienced that same anxiety? Maybe for you it’s about parenting, or your marriage, or where God is leading you. You have done the work. You are prepared. And then anxiousness hits and you start to doubt.
I had only moments before I took the microphone and stood in front of a church. I closed my eyes and reminded myself of a few truths.
One, God promises that I won’t be alone.
Two, I had done all I could do. It wasn’t about me, but about trusting God and His power. His immeasurable power.
Three, the success or results weren’t anything I could control. I could simply be faithful.
And last? Greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world. I acknowledged where fear came from, and who was greater than fear or anxiety.
My heart slowed down. My breathing eased. And the words came. . .
To live free: That anxiety you feel? Invite God into the midst of it.
Scripture: 1 John 4:4b, “. . .the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
Let’s Do It Together: Stop. Take a deep breath. Show God what is making you anxious. Invite Him in fully.
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Excellent. Thank you for this.
November 13th, 2011 at 5:18 pmAwesome!!
November 14th, 2011 at 7:39 amI have been there! I have a music ministry that I share mostly with my local church. I have been sharing God’s word in song since I was little girl. The last time I sang at church, I prayed that God would give me a message to shart (in song) and practiced and prepared as usual. When Sunday morning rolled around, I woke up feeling quite anxious and just unsure how God was going to use me that day. On the way to church, my husband sensed that something was not right, as I was sitting quietly, taking an occassional deep breathe. Before we went into the church, he prayed with me in the car then went straight to the men’s prayer room to ask them to pray as well. This is not the first time I have felt this, but it was certainly the worst. I shared a scripture before I sang. As I read from God’s word, I suddenly felt this peace in knowing that He had a message to share and that I was merely the vessel He chose to use that day. I am not only grateful that He has chosen me to share His word in this way, but that He doesn’t just assign a task and leave me all alone to finish it~ He is with me all the way!
November 14th, 2011 at 7:45 amThank you so much for your words of encourgements. I get great knowledge from all who write as well as comfort. Fear is a nasty thing and satan will go out of his way to wrap us up in it, if it means we will not spread The Word of our Lord to others. Thank God that we have His Word and promises to rely on in our times of need.
November 14th, 2011 at 8:27 amGod Bless……
When I clicked on this from Proverbs 31 ministry, I had no idea it would have anything to do with anxiety and fear but, God did because it was exactly what I needed. I too have recently started dealing with anxiety and fear and I believe being a child of God enables Satan to attack us even greater. Praying for healing of this awful feeling not only for myself, but for all people who live with it.
Your story encouraged my heart.
Thank you,
November 14th, 2011 at 10:30 pmRenee