Axing Anxiety - Martin Wiles

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. I Peter 5:7 NLT

“Your wife and daughter have been in a wreck.”

Frank listened to the voicemail. Anxiety crept up his throat. He and his brother had been hiking in a place with no cell phone reception. He could see he had voicemail but couldn’t listen to them. As soon as they left and reached a place where reception was possible, he dialed *86. But he wasn’t prepared for what he heard.

Two hours stretched between him and the hospital where he needed to go. All types of thoughts meandered through his mind as he drove. He attempted to place matters in God’s hands, but it didn’t seem to work. His gut wrenched, his mind raced, and his hands oozed.

Fortunately, it wasn’t as bad as he imagined. His daughter only bent her glasses, but his wife broke a foot and crushed her wrist. Frank discovered his anxiety hadn’t changed a thing. 

Peter wrote to first-century Christians who suffered miserably for their faith. He encouraged them to give their cares to God because he cared about what they faced.

Peter’s encouragement is still appropriate twenty centuries later. God cares about what happens to his children. Sure, I sometimes wonder why he allows certain things to happen if he cares so much, but that’s not for me to know. He is God; I am not. Since he is loving and kind, we can trust his heart even when we can’t see the reason behind what he does or allows.

I’ve learned being anxious won’t solve anything either. Anxiety didn’t undo the wreck Frank’s daughter and wife had. It won’t undo the effects of a natural disaster nor stymie the blows of a bully. Neither will it put money in our bank accounts for monthly bills.

In fact, anxiety impairs our judgment. An anxious mind can’t make good decisions. Anxiety will lead us to unhealthy habits in an attempt to soothe our troubled feelings or to unwise decisions in an effort to undo what has been done.

Believing God cares about what we’re facing will replace the anxiety with peace—peace that can’t be explained or understood, but peace nonetheless. When we take our needs to God, he transforms the anxiety into peace—regardless of the nature of our circumstances.

Let God teach you the art of axing anxiety.

Father, soothe my anxious moments with the assurance of your love and control. 

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Reaching Up to God - Karen Huffaker

And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Acts 3:7 ESV

Sometimes, reaching up to God isn’t the first thing we do.

 

For months after an excruciating ankle injury, I wore a boot and then a brace and then went to physical therapy. My ankle was swollen beyond measure and discolored, but thankfully not broken. I couldn’t put any weight on it for weeks.

Peter and John were about to enter the temple area when they met a poor lame man sitting by the Beautiful Gate. He was helpless. Peter spoke to him in the name of Jesus Christ for him to get up and walk. Then taking him by the right hand, he raised him up. At once, his feet and ankles became strong. It was a miracle. The man jumped up and walked.

My ankle recovery was not as immediate, but I learned through the slow healing process to reach up to Jesus. Each day Jesus offers His hand of hope to me to raise me up. If I reach up and take His hand, He will guide me through my struggles.

I can lean on God for strength, encouragement, and wisdom through reading Scripture. Through prayer, I can seek God’s healing in those areas that need His healing touch. He will be my help in times of trouble. I don’t have to struggle or go through them alone.

The lame man praised God, and the people who witnessed the healing were amazed. I, too, am praising God. My ankle became strong. Jesus helps me to face whatever comes.

What struggles are you experiencing that could use God’s healing touch?

Tweetable: What struggles of yours need God's healing touch? 

Karen Huffaker is a freelance Christian writer. She has taught children’s Sunday school and single mom’s Bible studies and written poetry. She is from the Deep South and loves reading Christian books, devotionals, genealogy adventures, fishing, and all things family. She is also passionate about her grandchildren’s sporting events. 

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.