Anxiety Stressors by Martin Wiles

“Click, click, click.” His toenails brushed across the linoleum, followed by a whine and snort, then a pounce onto the bed. The process continued for four hours.

Twix, our five-year-old Chihuahua, was restless. He normally sleeps soundly, but this particular night he was anxious. My wife-a deeper sleeper, was oblivious to the scene until I jumped out of bed and said, “I’m so worked up I couldn’t sleep now if I tried.” Scooping up Fido, I delivered him to another room, slipped back into my wife’s arms and repeated the verses.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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).

Life can deliver large doses of stress followed by anxiety. Belongings destroyed by fire or natural disaster, investments lost, rape, sexual abuse, bankruptcy, job elimination, marital breakup, or a loved one killed in war.

But most of the anxiety producers are less intense. Forty item people in the twenty items or less aisle, reputation tarnished by gossip, friend betrayal, dead car battery, washer tears up, freezer goes out, or a child gets in trouble with the teacher.

The “click, click, clicks” can drive us crazy if we let them, but we don’t have to be anxious about any of them. When committed to prayer, God gives wisdom on how to handle them, enables us to keep them in proper perspective, and reminds us he’s in control. More importantly, he gives peace in the midst of trouble, and peace drives out anxiety. Give your stressors to God so you can sleep in peace.

Prayer: Merciful God, teach us how to keep our anxiety level in check.

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