My World Is Caving In!

The words reverberated in my ears as they were spoken.  What did it all mean I quietly thought to myself, making sure on the outside I was composed and agreeable.

All the while internally I felt my blood pressure increase and my anxiety began to shatter speed and distance records in what seemed like the blink of an eye.  But WAIT WAIT, why am I trying to predict what is going to happen in  the future based on someone speaking some loosely joined words.  There was no denying that the words had impact & meaning.  But that does not mean that the next steps I invisioned were on the horizon because last I checked I had no crystal ball (that worked anyway) that had guided all of my decisions.  If I did have one (a crystal ball that worked) maybe I would have a few less 'scars' from my life choices.

My situation reminded me of when Elijah prayed for death and ultimately ran to a cave to hide from Jezebel. (I Kings 19)  Here Elijah's anxiety had gotten to him so much so that he figured the best plan was to run and hide for he was in a hostile environment - he was the sole remaining prophet (verse 10)!  But God had other plans for him, He wanted Elijah to go and anoint two kings and find his replacement  (Elisha).  While the Bible does not indicate how Elijah is feeling now, it does tell/show us that Elijah now has purpose and I would like to believe that this purpose removed much of the anxiety he felt.

So after talking myself off of the ledge (it felt like that), I found myself with a renewed purpose - continue to build on the things I have put in place.  This way if my predictions become a reality, I would have already created a alternate path.

So often we allow fear/anxiety to rule over us, stunt our growth and prohibit us from doing what God has planned.  My anxiety is gone, I am not only trusting in Him but adding works to my faith for,

¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17

How do you handle your anxiety?  Are you allowing it to rule you or are you activating your faith/works and ruling over it?

I just realized I listed some techniques for dealing with anxiety here.

Blessings,
-d