I find anxiety to be one of the most insidious emotions in existence. Because essentially, it’s the exact opposite of Jesus. Invasive, tormenting, illogical, terrifying and isolating.
Anyone who’s followed me for any length of time knows my content mirrors real life, even if it means outing myself or being uncomfortably vulnerable. So, after a recent attack, I feel led to share some guiding words offered by sister that helped so much in the moment.
She said this: “Think of anxiety as a hurricane. Right now, it has control of your thoughts and emotions, and it’s raging. It’s loud and chaotic, so it’s hides God’s voice and it’s keeping you panicked. The voice of the Holy Spirit is quiet, and still. You need to guide your spirit back to the Psalm 23 place still, calm waters. He wants to return you to a state where you can breathe, and regulate, and hear Him.”
In times of extreme anxiety, our number one job is army-crawling to that quiet stream. That’s where God is. That’s where the Holy Spirit can comfort and calm us, saying things like, “this will pass right through you. I see everything happening right now and know every fear, and you will be okay. I already have a plan to save you. I’m right here with you, and you are not going to be overcome or fall apart.”
Anxiety’s number one goal is to keep us away from the still voice, In Matthew 8:23, the disciples were terrorized by a raging storm while at sea. When they woke Jesus up, conveying their fear, Jesus simply uttered the words “be still.” Instant peace. In our case though, Jesus isn’t sleeping during our storm. He’s right there, present with us in our pain and anxiety, waiting for us to turn to Him.
I think sometimes we see an anxiety as the lack of God’s presence. I always feel confused and disoriented, questioning things I was sure of just moments ago. This is happening because I messed up. This is what I deserve. It’s never going to get better. If everything is going to be okay, why does it feel so awful? Then fear and doubt creeps in, creating a refit between God and I, and increasing the panic.
It’s so important to remember that anxiety isn’t a consequence of something we’ve done wrong, or an absence of the Holy Spirit. It’s a state of mind we need to work ourselves out of, so we can get back in step with Jesus.
So, with this all this fresh hell just recently in my rear-view mirror, I’ve put together a little list of things that can help significantly when anxiety rears its heinous head:
- When you feel an attack coming on, try and get by yourself somewhere outside or in nature. I’m no tree-hugger, but I find it easiest to connect with God when removed from the chaos of life. If you can, just sit in the grass and breathe. If you’re stuck inside, try to get alone, away from the kids (I’ve hid in many a closet), or if you’re away from home, go sit in your car if possible. Try taking deep breaths, with your eyes closed. Now envision Jesus next to you, holding your hand. Envision God the Father over you…strong and powerful, able to shelter you completely. Picture the Holy Spirit like a light, illuminating the darkness in and around you.
- Pray. Anyone surviving an anxiety attack knows how hard it is to pray. When gripped by fear, we feel held captive by the swirling, thoughts and assaulting emotions, but simply praying “Lord, help me…Lord be with me,” will help connect you to Him, and begin the de-escalating process. If you have a Christian friend you feel comfortable with, call her and ask her to pray over you. This can help tremendously.
- Print out or save a few guiding scriptures on your phone that can be easily accessed for comfort and strength. My go to’s are listed below. Read and meditate on these over and over again for hours on end if need be. Remember to personalize these in your mind, remembering that God is speaking these truths over you, right in this moment.
- Listen to worship music. Over the course of my life, I’ve definitely worked more than a day or two with one air pod in throughout an entire day, just to make it through. Worship music proclaims the powerful name of Jesus into the atmosphere, dispelling feelings of fear and anxiety, every time. My all-time favorites are below:Come to Me, by Jenn Johnson
It is Well with My Soul, by Bethel Music
King of My Heart, by Steffany Gretzinger
Walk with Me, by Kim Walker Smith
You Reign Above it All, Bethel Music
Here are some of my favorite anxiety-blasting scriptures:
“All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish.
12 Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all.
13 For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
If you’re battling anxiety right now, first of all, I’m sorry, and second of all, this will pass. God is with you, and you will be out of the storm, walking with sure feet over calm waters soon. Here is my prayer, for you:
Lord, thank you for being here, right now, in this storm with me. Right now I feel alone, and sad and scared, but thank you that these emotions can’t change or minimize the reality of you being here, with me, right now. Please guide my spirt back down to your quiet waters. Please help me to hear your voice above and through all this chaos and fear. Please remind my spirit that you will never leave, abandon me, or let me out of your grip. Please Holy Spirit fill me up now with your reassurance. Reassurance that I will be okay, and you are surrounding and protecting me, right now, through the night and all of tomorrow. Lord, please cast down these attacks on my mind and flood me with truth. Fill my mind with remembrance that you are more powerful than anything that is or will come against me. Remind me of all the ways you’ve come through for me, all the disasters you’ve rescued me from and all the evil you’ve protected me against throughout my life. Lord, please increase my faith and trust right now…right now in this moment, help calm my spirit into a grounded state that comes from knowing you are my rock. That according to Psalm 91, though a thousand my fall at my side, fear that stalks in the night will not come near me. You knew this storm would come against me before I was even born. Thank you for already making a way out. Thank you for always sheltering me. Please help me feel safe and shielded in your arms. I love you. Amen.
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