Receiving a call, I can hear it in my manager’s voice, things strained at work, illness forced me to miss weeks of work, she wants to know when I will return to work. Looking back, of course,this a hardship on the office as well as the illness on me. During this time, fear filled my soul, along with fear anxiety played on my nerves.
What do you do when fear and anxiety plaque you?
Fear’s definition an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. Anxiety not far behind fear and the definition a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Many women suffer from fear and anxiety in a mild form but many suffer panic and in severe cases rendered helpless and feel hopeless.
For me when I returned to work, before I would walk into the office, I would call my friend and we would pray. Prayers to Move Your Mountains, a prayer that described my feelings.
Lord God, when everything in my life goes according to plan, walking by faith and waiting upon You isn’t so difficult. But right now the temptation to move ahead of You is great. The suddenness of this storm propels me to react out of desperation and not faith. I know that responding in panic and moving ahead of You only leads me out of Your blessings and into poverty (Proverbs 21:5) and sin (Proverbs 19:2). But everything within me screams to do something, NOW. By your mercy and grace, show me that by jumping ship I am only diving into the turbulent and uncertain waters below. You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Fears captured before fear causes anxiety. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
Anxiety and worry go hand in hand. The more anxious you become the more worry you have in your life and the more gray hair you will get.
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In 1 Peter 5:7. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. God cares for us. In Matthew 6: 34 we read, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Beloved, when you cast your anxiety on God we then need to trust God and follow the advice of Romans 12: 1-2. As we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing, we can go to God with our struggles and insecurities. What struggles do you have? A grown son that has strayed from the Lord, your health is not good but you have to go to work daily, you need to work but the cost of the baby sitter is so expensive, your husband drinks too much on the weekend. Daily, as we meet with Jesus reading His word, praying we receive our marching orders.
Therefore, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
Our world is a mess. Everyday we have choices to make and if we conform to the world most likely one may sin. However, according to Paul in Ephesians 1 we are saints who sometimes sin we do not have to take part in the sin-confess- sin- confess cycle because we embody the Holy Spirit. We can say NO to sin.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Lastly, As we renew our minds with God’s word our minds transform daily. Quickly, the disciples forgot the miracle of the feeding of the five-thousand. In Mark 6, they saw Jesus feed the five thousand with five loaves and two fish and when the evening was over they get in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus goes to the mountain to pray. A storm comes up and they’re scared. Jesus goes to them walking on the water, they think he is a ghost, more fear. The scripture says their hearts hardened because they really didn’t comprehend or take in or understand the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand so they could not understand his walking on the water.
Beloved, don’t miss the miracle in your mess. What are you afraid or worrying about? Don’t miss Jesus’ touch? Invite him into your boat.
For me, and my above work situation I prayed that pray and continued to work daily for a month. I applied for another position and finally my fear subsided. Interviewed for another position, I just let it go and left it in God’s hand soon I received a call and I accepted the offer, she said do you want to know what you will be paid and I said, “It doesn’t matted you see, God delivered me, he opened the door and gave me a new job.” Yes a new job.
Life Lesson. Fear and worry have no place in the life of a Christian. Memorize 2 Timothy 1;7 For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
Father God, thank you that you answer our prayers. Thank you that you do not want us fearful and anxious. Thank you for my sound mind. Thank you for my sisters reading this post. You are a great big beautiful God. You help us transform and renew our minds and when we do this we are in your good and perfect will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
