Anxiety

I think admitting our faults is one of the hardest things to do. It makes us feel vulnerable and scared. Anxiety is a natural part of the human experience. It triggers our flight or fight responses in our bodies when situations are dangerous or uncomfortable. There are many situations in life that can bring out our anxious energy such as a big test coming up or starting a new job or having to preform a speech in front of your peers. It’s okay to have big feelings when you are in big moments of your life.

Alone, in your mind.

Some of us experience this feeling even when big things aren’t happening and yes I say us because I, too, have experienced anxiety to an unhealthy extent. It can sometimes feel like you have all consuming thoughts that you can’t escape. But it’s just as much physical as it is mental. You feel it in your stomach just as much as you feel it in your mind. It’s so easy to get in your own head and let your brain dictate your life. In a moment of vulnerability recently, I opened up to my friends about some of the feelings I’ve been having. I felt guilty because my anxiety was controlling me to the point that I felt like I couldn’t be a good friend. I felt like I was just stuck on autopilot. Waking up, doing my tasks for the day and resting when I could because this feeling made me feel physically exhausted. Telling my loved ones was the first step in my recovering process, they encouraged me to seek help and supported me with words of comfort and understanding. Putting in out there in words made me feel less alone. Something that I was reminded of that day and what I want to remind you is this, we need to let the right people in so they can help us carry the big feelings, the people who love you will help you carry your burden without a second thought. Just like Jesus, He reminds us t hat we are not alone in this journey of big feelings because though he was one hundred percent God he was a

Keeping our eyes on Jesus

I think we are all too familiar with the scene in the bible of Jesus walking on water. In Matthew 14 verses 22-33, you see the scene of Jesus’ disciples crossing a lake in the middle of the night when a huge storm kicks up. They were scared and Jesus was nowhere near them. All of a sudden, they saw what they thought was a ghost walking on water towards them. Their level of anxiety skyrocketed. As the figure got closer, they heard a voice say, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.”

They realized that, there in the storm, Jesus was near them. When Jesus said “It is I,” the original language would have been him saying “I am”. Which would be a statement that the Jewish would have known well . Jesus was saying, “I am God.” A lot is happening in this scene in the scripture. Jesus is letting the disciples know that he understands that they are full of anxiety and worry but is also letting them know that He is God and that when he is near they don’t have to be afraid.

1 Peter 5:7 ⁷ “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.“

God is not surprised when anxiety enters our lives, nor is He mad at us when we feel anxious. He does want us to know that He is near and that when He is near we can face all storms with courage. It’s not wrong to feel anxious or afraid, but God is calling us to have a default emotion of courage.

Respond to your anxieties with faith. Open up to him and find security in HIm and leave all your anxieties behind.

with love,

c.p