Overcoming Anxiety

Overcoming Anxiety

My husband had a whole “library” of one-liners at his disposal that he frequently used on his family. I wonder if it was because we were close at hand and needed life coaching from his wisdom! For instance, he would say, “It’s better to go 10 mph in a blizzard than to be sitting in the ditch!”  Well, who should be out in a blizzard in the first place?! Regardless of his illogical logic, I find myself using lots of his one-liners when teaching groups or coaching individuals.

A few days ago, I heard a new one that has stuck with me – maybe because it’s so relevant to me right now!  “Action Absorbs Anxiety!” That’s what I want to talk about today. Let me say it again: “Action Absorbs Anxiety!” Just think about it for a moment, letting it sink into your mind and heart.

In our Refocusing Widows groups, we spend some time discussing the difference between fear and anxiety. Essentially, fear is something real that you can do something about. Anxiety is something not real that hasn’t actually happened. There’s nothing you can do about it, you can’t fix it, and usually you can’t stop it! At least, that’s what I’ve always thought. Within this little statement, however, we find a key to dealing with Anxiety….just do something! It’s really quite simple.

Let me give an example. For the past several mornings, I’ve popped awake suddenly with a sense of uneasiness, thinking about the flowers I didn’t get planted last weekend and worrying that they’re going to die before I get them in the ground. And then my mind went to all the blogs I haven’t yet written for the summer and then skipped to what time I needed to get up for swim aerobics because of all the street construction. Finally, after lying there for another hour stewing about everything on my To-Do list, I decided I should get up and begin the day.

The reality is that in the hour I spent being anxious about everything I hadn’t done I could have accomplished the first five things on the list! It would seem that the best way to check off the checklist is to begin checking things off the list!

“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

This passage of scripture gives us another way that we can take action to reduce our anxiety. We can be intentional about turning our attention towards God and specifically asking Him about the thing worrying us. And what will be the result of taking that action? The peace of God will come and guard your heart and mind! Notice that He doesn’t guarantee anything in this particular passage except that His peace will guard your mind and emotions. I imagine a 12-foot-tall angel warrior standing guard at the entrance to my thoughts keeping out anything that would cause me to be anxious. (At least that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!)

In another passage in John 14:27 Jesus says the following:

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27

Again, we see Jesus talking about peace that will calm our hearts. He indicates in both passages that this peace is something that we probably won’t understand. Sometimes there’s just no logical reason for NOT being anxious about something! His peace is beyond what we would expect.

So, if you’re tempted to be anxious, or you’re worrying about things that might happen but aren’t yet visible, take action and be intentional about turning your heart towards God. Remember our slogan for this week: Action Absorbs Anxiety! Apply it to your daily life and watch your thoughts change!

Como siempre, sus pensamientos y comentarios son bienvenidos aquí o puede enviarme un correo electrónico a sheryl@freshhope.us. Si está buscando un nuevo propósito y un camino para seguir adelante, considere unirse a uno de nuestros grupos de Refocusing Widows, ya sea en persona o en línea. Puede registrarse en www.refocusingwidows.org/Groups. ¡Esperamos conocerle!