Anxiety: A Part Of Life

Last week I was told that anxiety was a way of life whether I realized it or not.  I was also told that since I’m young I probably haven’t experienced it yet…but just wait it will come.

Once I heard this I knew it wasn’t the truth, that we can live in as sons and daughters of God. But I also recognized that anxiety has touched my life and so many others. So what’s the deal? I decided to look up what “anxiety” really means:

[ang-zahy-i-tee]
noun, plural anxieties.
1.       distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune.
2.      Psychiatry. a state of apprehension and psychic tension occurring in some forms of mental disorder.

Synonyms
3.      1. fear, foreboding; worry, disquiet.

British Dictionary definitions for anxiety
1. a state of uneasiness or tension caused by apprehension of possible future misfortune, danger, etc; worry
2. (psychol) a state of intense apprehension or worry often accompanied by physical symptoms such as shaking, intense feelings in the gut, etc, common in mental illness or after a very distressing experience.

So what I am seeing here is that anxiety is fear based and it can become so bad that it is a disorder!

This is not the life we were meant to live. Yet anxiety is a large part of people’s lives. I looked up some facts and I can’t believe what I found: 

•   Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older (18% of U.S. population).

 Wow! That's crazy! So next I looked to see what the Bible says about anxiety I love what the Bible says about it!

^“ Don’t be anxious about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” - Philippians 4:6-9

The Bible also says: 

“No fear exists where his love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear doesn’t have perfect love.” -1 John 4:18

The Bible  is clear, we don’t have to live in fear because we have a perfect love that gets rid of fear in our lives! Anxiety as no hold on a person who lives in love. 

And what about mental illness? There is power in the name of Jesus. There isn’t a mental illness out there that cannot be healed. Jesus died once and for all, for every sickness. 

So know that I know all of this, I am going to have to change the way I think. If I start to feel anxious than I know I’m not living in love. I’ve moved out from under that love. It’s easy to step back into. But a lot of times I think we like living with problems. …Weird stuff!  You don’t have to live with anxiety, you can live in the opposite which is:

 certainty, serenity, tranquility.
 

You can live anxiety free! It doesn’t have to be a way of life. It’s not a grown up problem that you just have to deal with. It’s a lie from the devil. You don’t have to spend countless dollars or pop a pill to be free. All you have to do is live in the Love of God. Get into His presence, learn to rely on Him for everything. I still have times where I don’t do it right. But this week I was reminded that I don’t have to live this way and neither do you.

Whatsoever Think…

Below is a song I did for anxiety and any other darkness:

https://soundcloud.com/janellschiele/darkness-is-bound

Facts from: Dictionary.com , ADAA.org  and Biblegateway.com

The Parable of The Blue Door

There I stood, after months of searching; I was facing the Blue Door. It was beautiful in an enchanting kind of way. Where would it take me? What opportunities and adventures were beyond? How would it change my life?

 I looked back behind me to see if they had caught up yet. I could hear them nearing. No! They cannot have me. I will be free! What was I waiting for? I couldn’t move. It was like something was holding me still, forbidding me to take a step in to the new world I had dreamed about.

                           

I looked around me; there stood statues of men, woman, and children.  All of them had the same look on their faces, the same look that was on my face right now. They too were reaching for the door. 

Everything in my life up to this point has been meaningless. I remember hearing stories about the Blue Door and how on the other side there was something so wonderful, it must be a dream. I was told that not many make it past the door.

The master’s beasts were getting closer.

My heart was racing. I didn't want to end up like them. I was able to take a step forward and another. I was going to make it! I was going to walk through that Blue Door. As I drew closer the door began to open a bit. I felt like the door was inviting me in, encouraging me to step through into my new destiny.

They were so close now, too close. The hair on my neck rose. I was able to take another step.   The beasts were just a few yards away. They dismounted their dark horses.  Some laughed and others glared at me. I had come so far. I looked up at the Blue Door.

“Ha! You thought you could run away? What a joke! You will always be our captive!” The beasts laughed again.

The stone statues began to wail and cry out things I couldn’t understand. The beasts laughed even harder. Fear started to fill my heart.

The beasts moved closer while cursing and laughing at me. I couldn’t move.

I looked back at the door. If I was going to die, I was going to die looking at something beautiful. My life had never been beautiful. Darkness and fear was all I knew.

I screamed for help and a light burst from the door.  A small, red bird came and perched itself above the door. I felt hope and strength in my heart. At first the beasts took a step back. They were afraid. I was able to take another step. But my victory didn’t last long. One of the beast grabbed hold of arm, its claws sunk in.

I fought with all I had. I was going to live and be free. The beast seemed to be losing its strength as I came within inches of the door. I reached out and grabbed the door. The beasts and statues shrieked.

I was standing in the door way.

Looking back I saw the beast shrinking back. I screamed that I was never going to be their slave again. I walked through and shut it behind me.

I could feel a wonderful heat on my back. I turned and soaked in the wonderful sight. It was full of color and life. I saw a light shining through the trees and somehow knew it was meant for me. I walked toward the light. My life was about to change forever.

Freedom in Christ is a choice. DO you want to be free? Walk through the door and into Jesus’ marvelous light. It’s not too late. Take that step. It will make the enemy furious. They will try and stop you. The great part is that Jesus has already won. His blood paid for everything. So freedom in any area in your life can be yours. It’s as easy as walking through a door. Just ask Jesus for help. And you will be able to walk in a whole new world. Are you ready? You have the opportunity to change your life forever.

Take that step…Walk through the door into marvelous light

Whatsoever Think…

Do you need prayer today? I would be honored to pray for you. Don’t stay where you are right now. 

Special thanks toJ.M. Schiele for helping me edit this story! Go check out her website( http://jmschiele.jimdo.com) you won’t be disappointed!