Written by Kat W.
Historians will probably call our era “the age of anxiety.” Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us. —Billy Graham
I want to focus on anxiety and fear. This is something everyone has faced and dealt with. You might even be experiencing anxiety and fear, right now. God already paid the price for you to walk in complete freedom today. Receive and walk out in your freedom today.
I have struggled with anxiety, fear, panic attacks, and depression off and on for years. Sometimes it grows with certain situations in my life. Other times it comes on with no apparent reason. I’ve even asked God why this happens to me, someone who has been a believer for most of her life. However, as 2 Corinthians 5:14 says, “Christ’s love compels us.” I can share this as a true testimony, that God has always brought me up from my lowest points; His love truly never fails!
I’m not saying that we should do nothing about anxiety or fear. 2 Corinthians 5:14 says that Christ’s love compels us, which means that there is action on our part! So what can we do in the midst of anxiety, fear or depression right now? Christ’s love compels us to get up and keep on living. Christ’s love compels us to look in the mirror and see a person who is valuable, a person who Christ Himself died for! Christ’s love compels us to become members of a local church, so that we do not try to face anxiety and fear alone. Christ’s love compels us to consistently read our Bibles, and to focus our minds on His promises instead of our own thoughts. And Christ’s love compels us not to judge those struggling with anxiety or fear. The point is Christ’s love compels us to keep our focus on Him, and keep trusting Him, until He uses our pain for His glory.
The process of healing takes time, and is never a waste. Our anxiety and fear might be used one day to encourage another person, drive us to the cross if we are not believers yet already, or strengthen our faith so that we will have less sin in our lives, and more peace and strength. God would never give us something we couldn’t handle. He wants us, His children to come to Him with everything.
I encourage you today and this week to seek and ask God what’s going on in your heart. Pray and ask God to fill you with His perfect love and peace. Focus on the love He has for you and has shown you. Let go of fear today, and let God be in control of moving those mountains you are facing. The God of love and peace wants you to be free right now.
Read over these scriptures, God’s living word, and pray them over the anxiety and fear you are facing. Hold on to these words of truth and keep trusting in God. Seek Him above all things!
Bible Verses on Anxiety & Fear:
“We can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”
—Hebrews 13:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 4:6-7
“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
—Psalm 34:4
“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”
—Psalm 42:5
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”
—Matthew 6:34
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”
—2 Corinthians 4:8-9
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
—Psalm 23:1-6 (I recommend reading this every night before you go to bed)
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
—1 Peter 5:5-7
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
—Revelation 21:4