Tag: anxiety

Need Strength?

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“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” – ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Inexplicably and when it seems completely impossible, God will give you strength.

Strength to get up.

Strength to take care of what needs to be taken care of.

Strength to make hard decisions.

Strength to hold onto hope.

Strength to hold onto Him.

He gives strength to the weary.

I know that many of you are facing situations that are draining your strength and leaving you feeling powerless.

It is okay to admit you are not okay and that you are tired and feel powerless right now.

God does not ask you to “fake it until you make it”, He asks you to receive His grace for one more day.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What do you need strength for today? 

What does it look like to admit you need help rather than “fake it until you make it”?

I am praying for you today. I am praying that you find the strength to do what needs to be done, find your way into His rest, and walk forward in a power that is not your own.

Recover Your Life

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Life often demands that you keep going even when you are tired.

When you are burdened with grief, you still have to go to work.

When you are battling anxiety, someone still has to do the dishes.

When you are restless to go but must stay right where you are.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Jesus invites us to walk with Him, work with Him, and watch how He lives in the fullness of God’s love every day while bearing a great burden.

Your world may be dripping with unmet expectations, foundation-shaking experiences, and unbearable obligations.

Or it may be boring and frustrating with endless monotony.

Whatever is happening around you, Jesus wants to walk with you through it.

Lean on His strength and let Him love you right where you are.

However you get away with Jesus – time in the Word, time in prayer, time in worship, time in silence- lose yourself in His love and recover your life.

Reset Your Soul

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Don’t let a bad attitude rob you of a good opportunity.

When the world crowds in on you and makes you feel claustrophobic with all the “things needed ASAP”, it is good to take a moment to chill out and remember that God is good and has been good to you.

Breathe in the truth that He loves you right now, where you are.

His love can reset your perspective and return your internal state from “fret” to “rest.”

“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” – Psalm 116:7 NIV

Unwind your worry.

Reset your soul.

God has called you to be a change-maker where you are.

The very best way to change your attitude is by reminding yourself who God is and who you are in Christ.

He will give you everything you need, including reminding you to get out of the way.

Let go of all the things you can’t control today and reset the one thing you can – your attitude.

What does re-setting your soul to rest in Jesus look like for you today?

Turbulence

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You are created to live a God discovering, God serving, God-ordained life. 

But that doesn’t mean it is easy. 

There will be storms that you must go through. 

There will be higher altitudes to climb to. 

There will be unexpected turbulence along the way. 

I don’t like turbulence when I’m flying in a plane. It’s always unexpected and it always makes me feel worry.

Seconds feel like hours as the plane passes through the rough patch of air and eventually returns to normal.

God doesn’t cause the turbulence in our lives but He will use it, if we let Him.

“And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:2-4 NIV

He will use it to teach us to not give up but persevere.

He will use it to strengthen our hope and build our character.

He will pour His love into our hearts as we face the uncertainty of life and its troubles. 

My friend, Jesus knows your journey and what is shaking it up. 

He is with you in it and will not leave you to it.

Hold onto the truth of God’s unending love and let that truth bloom into hope that endures the hardest of trials.

Hold on, you will pass through this trial and get to your final destination.

What Are You Worried About Today?

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What are you worried about today?

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.  It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

Philippians 4:6-7 MSG

Worry is not meant to be the center of your life. 

Jesus is. 

Worry will keep you distracted and you will miss the small moments of joy that are sent by God to let you know He loves you. 

His love for you is stronger than worry. 

Love is a stronger way to make decisions than fear. 

Instead of worrying, pray. 

Put it in God’s capable hands. 

Hand over what you are worrying about to Jesus right now. 

Then allow a sense of God’s wholeness to fill your soul.  

Then get busy loving the people He has placed in your life.

What is worry stealing from you today?

Are You Tired?

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Life often demands that you keep going even when you are tired.

When you are burdened with grief, you still have to go to work.

When you are battling anxiety, someone still has to do the dishes.

When you are restless to go but must stay right where you are.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Jesus invites us to walk with Him, work with Him, and watch how He lives in the fullness of God’s love every day while bearing a great burden.

Your world may be dripping with unmet expectations, foundation-shaking experiences, and unbearable obligations.

Or it may be boring and frustrating with endless monotony.

Whatever is happening around you, Jesus wants to walk with you through it.

Lean on His strength and let Him love you right where you are.

He Is There

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“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

Psalm 139:7-10 NIV

Wherever you are, God is with you.

He is there in the light and joyous seasons as well as the heavy and dark ones.

He is there when everything falls apart and there when everything comes together.

He is there when everything suddenly changes and He will bring encouragement, strength, direction, and peace drawn from the unchangeable depths of grace that you will never be able to exhaust.

Wherever you are, God is with you today.

Rest Is

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“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”

Isaiah 30:15 NIV

Rest is spiritual and powerful.

It is an indispensable weapon of warfare.

It is when you turn from fear and launch yourself into God’s arms.

It is to pause the relentless cycle of thoughts fueled by fear or the need to control everything and everyone.

It is choosing to trust God with your world.

It is getting out and enjoying God’s creation.

It is laughing with your friends.

It is playing your favorite game with people you love.

It is one of the most powerful things you can do.

Rest is essential and as you rest, God’s power flows.

What To Do With Worry

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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭

NIV

Do you know what to do with worry?

Here, God says to cast it all on Him. 

What does that mean?

Cast means to toss. You can’t throw something without letting it go. 

All means to give Jesus every irrational fear, every overwhelming worry, as they come to you.

Your anxiety means not to deny it but to name it. What is the fear underneath the worry? Name it, acknowledge it, feel it – then cast it to God. 

Anxiety – the greek word used here literally means to be drawn in two different directions and be torn apart by it.

On Him – where do you put that which is tearing you apart? Put it into the hands of Jesus. He is strong enough to handle it. 

Why?

Because He Cares – and it means Jesus is “caring right now in this present moment”, whatever you are dealing with

For You – yes, YOU.

What are you suppossed to do with worry?

Look at it, name it then cast it totally on God and ask Him take care of you as you deal with it. 

Pause the Panic

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“This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.”
Matthew‬ ‭6:7 MSG

What is causing you to panic right now?

Panic is defined as sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety.

All kinds of things can cause panic to rise within you and when it does, I am going to ask you to pause.

To wait before you react.

To take a moment to take a deep breath in and out.

To pray and ask God for His perspective.

He is your Father and He knows you.

He knows what is happening and why it’s causing you panic.  

He also knows how to lead you down the right path, not just the first one that presents itself.

He knows how to calm your heart and clear your mind.

When you go to God with your panic, He will give you the wisdom and guidance you need to deal with it.

Pause the panic and pray.  

Even if all you can manage is “help”.