Scripture contains a command: "Be anxious for nothing." This is not a suggestion, but many people find this divine order hard to obey. However, the peace that God promises to give us is destroyed by worry. What is a believer to do when Christian anxiety takes over?
Anxiety is mental, but it has physical effects. Doctors know that stress is bad for the human system. Heart conditions, insomnia, fatigue, and other ills stem from the hormonal response to stress. A person under constant pressure may break down mentally or physically. During the process, many of life's blessings are marred or lost. Family suffers, business affairs decline, bad decisions are made, and depression often results.
Anxious thoughts are probably inevitable, except perhaps for the most mature of Christians. The key is the response to these thoughts. Do we dwell on them, allow them to dominate waking and sleeping hours, and thus lose serenity and joy? If so, we have a spiritual problem. Fortunately, God has told His children how to cope.
None of this is part of God's plan for His people. He knows our weaknesses, and He tells us to turn to Him for the strength we need. His word tells us that our weakness perfects His strength, that He bears our burdens, that His grace is sufficient, that all things are accomplished through Christ, and that He has defeated the world.
Surrender is the key principle that makes it possible for us to enjoy God's peace and allow Him to work in our lives. He has given us free will, and if we choose to hold on to troubles, He lets us do so. Mature Christians know that giving God control is always the best policy, and so they do it sooner rather than later.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way. These words from a popular hymn tell the truth. Faith is really trusting the Lord to know all and provide all, working always to our best advantage. Our part is offering praise and thanksgiving, bringing our petitions and burdens to Him, and knowing that His grace is sufficient. We do not need to see more than the next step as we follow our God.
This turning over of control is not easy. Many people never do learn to trust and obey. Human nature leads all people to worry and fear, but our lives are not meant to be ruled by human traits. Fortunately, God gives us the gift of faith - which is really belief in Him - and much evidence of His care and His goodness.
Christian anxiety is not all bad. It is the impetus for us to turn to God and depend on Him. We need to regard the burden of worry as a call to prayer. We can replace stress with praise and thanksgiving. We can have confidence in the future because Jesus Christ has won the victory.
Anxiety is mental, but it has physical effects. Doctors know that stress is bad for the human system. Heart conditions, insomnia, fatigue, and other ills stem from the hormonal response to stress. A person under constant pressure may break down mentally or physically. During the process, many of life's blessings are marred or lost. Family suffers, business affairs decline, bad decisions are made, and depression often results.
Anxious thoughts are probably inevitable, except perhaps for the most mature of Christians. The key is the response to these thoughts. Do we dwell on them, allow them to dominate waking and sleeping hours, and thus lose serenity and joy? If so, we have a spiritual problem. Fortunately, God has told His children how to cope.
None of this is part of God's plan for His people. He knows our weaknesses, and He tells us to turn to Him for the strength we need. His word tells us that our weakness perfects His strength, that He bears our burdens, that His grace is sufficient, that all things are accomplished through Christ, and that He has defeated the world.
Surrender is the key principle that makes it possible for us to enjoy God's peace and allow Him to work in our lives. He has given us free will, and if we choose to hold on to troubles, He lets us do so. Mature Christians know that giving God control is always the best policy, and so they do it sooner rather than later.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way. These words from a popular hymn tell the truth. Faith is really trusting the Lord to know all and provide all, working always to our best advantage. Our part is offering praise and thanksgiving, bringing our petitions and burdens to Him, and knowing that His grace is sufficient. We do not need to see more than the next step as we follow our God.
This turning over of control is not easy. Many people never do learn to trust and obey. Human nature leads all people to worry and fear, but our lives are not meant to be ruled by human traits. Fortunately, God gives us the gift of faith - which is really belief in Him - and much evidence of His care and His goodness.
Christian anxiety is not all bad. It is the impetus for us to turn to God and depend on Him. We need to regard the burden of worry as a call to prayer. We can replace stress with praise and thanksgiving. We can have confidence in the future because Jesus Christ has won the victory.
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