How Can We Deal with All This Anxiety?
Recently I posted this verse on Facebook: “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Mathew 6:27). Wow! Since then, everywhere I go friends want to talk about it.
You might say that we come by anxiety and worry honestly. I mean, look at our circumstances nowadays. There’s the fear of the unknown, of years to come and even this week. Loved ones who are sick that we can’t even be with, Covid, wars and rumors of wars, concerns over our children’s futures and even ourselves. Who will take care of us? Will our money last? Who wouldn’t worry?
I suspect that I inherited my anxiety through my DNA. Did you? My grandmother was a professional worrier. Not intentionally, of course. I think she believed that worrying was proof of your love for someone. If you didn’t worry, you didn’t care? She certainly had every reason to be anxious, having lived through the Great Depression, losing their home, losing her beauty salon business and, worst yet, living daily, opening the Memphis paper in WWII to see the missing in action list as her youngest son, my Uncle Johnny, only 19 years old, drove trains to the front lines in Europe loaded with ammunition. We could scrape the fear, worry and anxiety off the walls for years.
How can a person trust for the best, relax and enjoy life and live when you have seen the worst so often happening in your life or your loved one’s life?
We are told many times in scripture to focus on today and not worry about tomorrow. Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin. Yet I say unto you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like on of these. (Matthew 6:25-34)
BUT HOW DO WE DO THAT? Don’t I have to plan for tomorrow? Yes, of course. But wouldn’t it be comforting if I could plan without worrying about it? I am no expert on the subject, but…
Here are ten goals that have helped me in my journey to prevent worry and anxiety.
- TAKE ONE DAYAT A TIME. We have enough to deal with each day.
- FOCUS DAILY ON THE GOOD. LOOK FOR IT. Here’s an example:
The Best Day of my Life by Dr. Gregory M. Lousignont
Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever!
There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today, but I did. And because I did, I’m going to celebrate!
Today, I’m going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far…the accomplishments, the many blessings, and yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.
I will go through this day with my head held high and with a happy heart. I will marvel at God’s seemingly simple gifts…the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.
Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I’ll make someone smile. I’ll go out of my way to perform an unexpected kindness for someone I don’t even know.
Today, I will give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down.
I’ll tell a child how special he is, and I’ll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for them and how much they mean to me.
Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don’t have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me.
I’ll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and His Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.
And tonight, before I go to bed, I’ll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.
As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectations because
I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!
- SEARCH SCRIPTURE FOR ENCOURAGEMENT
Give us this DAY our DAILY bread. (The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:6-13)
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11
Be strong and courageous. DO NOT BE AFRAID or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Here is my life verse. Written for worriers and a cure for our anxieties.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Isn’t what we want the most is PEACE…the kind that passes all understanding?)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of PEACE will be with you. (Philippians 4:6)
- TALK TO THE LORD OFTEN THROUGH THE DAY. In other words, PRAY. He hears. A sparrow does not fall from the sky without Him knowing about it. Lift up EVERY concern the moment it happens.
- MAKE THE DECISION TO TRUST HIM
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.
- SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE, POSITIVE SONGS, POSITIVE QUOTES:
“His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.” Sing often, even just to yourself.
- TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOURSELF. YOU MATTER.When I get overwhelmed, it is always my own fault because I have either taken on too many obligations or am trying to do too much in a day. God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.
Consider the goose that lays the golden eggs. If you don’t take care of the goose, THERE WILL NOT BE ANY MORE GOLDEN EGGS.
- LET GO AND LET GOD.
Yes, of course, give your requests to God. Put it on the altar and then release it to Him. Don’t be like me. I put my concerns on the altar of prayer, it wiggles off and I start worrying again. So, back I go to take it again to Him. I do that until I finally can truly let go. Somehow, in His mercy he understands.
- HAVE FUN.Laugh often. Lighten up. You don’t stop laughing when you grow old; you grow old when you stop laughing. Get out of the house with friends. Try a new hobby. Be brave, go zip lining. I did. What a blast! Go for a walk. It’s never too late to be what you might have been.
- LOOK FOR WAYS, BIG AND SMALL TO HELP OTHERS.Give a kind word. We never know what someone else is going through that day. It helps me to get my eyes off me for a while. Do as much as you can, as often as you can, for as many as you can. We get a great blessing from that. And it takes our eyes off ourselves.
THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU. THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU. THE LORD TURN HIS FACE TOWARD YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE. (Numbers 6:22)
QUOTES
Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. (Soren Kierkegaard)
At twenty, we worry about what others think of us. At forty, we don’t care about what others think of us. At sixty we discover they haven’t been thinking about us at all. (author unknown)
The death rate is 100%. No one gets out of here alive. But not everyone LIVES.
Enjoy reading Annie’s recently published inspirational memoir, THAT ONE PERSON, by Annie Farris, written to encourage you in these challenging times. Now available on Amazon for $15.95, and Kindle for $9.99. Endorsed by Pat Boone and 18 others with numerous 5-star reviews. It makes a great gift!
AFTER YOU’VE READ THE BOOK, PLEASE GO TO AMAZON.COM AND WRITE A REVIEW. Amazon will only allow Annie to advertise after she has 100 5 star reviews, a daunting job for a new author!
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