Anxiety

We live in an anxious world. Life certainly gives us many things that bring apprehension and concern.

Several scriptures give us good advice for life in this fearful world. Proverbs 12:25 is one: "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." This verse acknowledges something that is common knowledge, but all of us can do better at putting into practice.

We all need encouragement, particularly when facing a daunting project or new responsibility involving unfamiliar skills and challenges. Within our family we can give encouragement by spreading the kind of "good word" which Solomon wrote about in Proverbs 12. Even on our jobs it is possible to give encouragement and foster a feeling of confidence among our coworkers.

Jesus Christ pointed out that in the end, worry and anxiety accomplish little. "Therefore I say to you," He counsels us, "do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:25-34).

Christ doesn't advocate irresponsibility in caring for ourselves and our families, but He does point out that if we do as we should and strive to please God, we can be filled with living faith. He promises to take care of us and see us through life's struggles. Because of our confidence in God, we need not become overburdened with worry and anxiety.
God's Word assures us that He will never allow more burdens to come upon us than we can endure. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 the apostle Paul reminds us: "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it" (New Revised Standard Version). This is a promise, given to us as we do our part to draw near to God.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, review these (and the many other) encouraging scriptures and be reminded of God's promises and His love for us.

--Steve Myers