Do you struggle with anxiety…

Do you struggle with anxiety or know someone that does? Statistics show that 25% more people struggle with anxiety and depression today than before Covid. Twenty-five percent! That’s a lot! I struggle with anxiety, and have since way before I even realized that is what it was.

Anxiety feels like that nervous feeling you get in a crowd. Or maybe it feels like your skin is crawling, your heart is racing, and your mind is jumping from thought to thought to thought. I talk about my struggle with anxiety in my book, The Me Disease. For me, if left unchecked, my anxiety could quickly develop into a full-blown panic attack.

Fortunately, I have not had a panic attack in a really long time, but I have learned how to manage my lingering anxiety.

Today, we are going to talk about the tools I use to manage my anxiety. I hope this will help you or someone you know.

One way I ease my anxiety is scripture. There is this verse I always turn to when I begin getting a little anxious.

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

I think about casting a net. Literally throwing whatever it is away from me. I see myself flinging it into the air. That is what God wants us to do with our anxiety. Cast it away from us and onto God.

The definition of anxiety is “a feeling of worry.” But God does not want us worrying all the time, rather to lean on Him.

As I study the 1 Peter 5:7 verse, it takes me to Philippians 4:6-7 which reads. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

So scripture tells us, “Do Not Worry.” In fact, this scripture, gives us our road map.

Instead of worrying, pray and ask God to help you. This is a great place to pause and reflect on this. I pray you will begin to lean on God even in the midst of your anxiety.

Next week, we are going to go deeper with this and we will discover other tools we can use to rid ourselves of all this anxiety. I hope you will stick with me.

Let us pray, God of all that is, thank you for giving us your Word that helps us in our time of need. Teach us to always look to you for everything. Show us how to trust you enough to not worry but instead be thankful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

P.S. Leave me a comment below because I love hearing from you. Forward this message to a friend who might be struggling today. Post on Facebook and tag me in it. Until next time, cast all your anxiety on God because God loves you more than you even know. -M