I suffer from anxiety at times. I can feel it in my chest. My thoughts scatter.➰ I clench my teeth at night and when I’m driving. And I lose my pep. What’s behind it? Different things, but usually a fear of not measuring up. ?
I see it in my kids too. One of my kids gets angry and irrational whenever one of our pets could be in danger.? One of my kids has fears at night, like if the ceiling fan might fall off the ceiling, and she can’t go to sleep. And the other one will cry when facing a transition.
It’s easy to think — who’s fault is this? Is this my fault? (Cue: more anxiety…)?
But does God think that way about us? Placing blame? No. He just says, Be still and trust me. I see you. I am with you and I’ll never leave you.
And so we battle the anxiety by building trust and faith in God. There are a million ways to build it. And as long as we are building faith, we are decreasing fear.?
I love Viriginia and Jo’s suggestions in their text convo, so be sure to check that out.
My favorite verse when I’m feeling anxious is: “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” Psalm 56:3. Easy to memorize, even for little ones. Sometimes we pray it. Sometimes I say it to myself 20 times. I love verse 9 too: “When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.”
This I know, because God is FOR me.?
~Anna
