Waste no time, read The Bottom Line
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{ September 5, 2002 }
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Anxiety.
Anxiety is the opposite of
faith. Taking the burden of the world on it’s shoulders, anxiety whips us into
frenzies of action, striving to reach our goals through more effort. When these
goals aren’t met, anxiety gives us two options, work harder, or admit defeat.
The first option increases anxiety, the second opens the door to depression.
Feelings of helplessness
overwhelm me often, spurred by my unsatisfied desires. I want to be thin and
attractive, and I am not. I desire to be free from the weaknesses of sexual
temptation, and I am not. I’d like to be self-motivated, friendly, effective,
cooperative in everything I do, but I often fail at this. Also, I’d like to be
friendly and popular, and this isn’t so always.
When I am anxious my most
ingrained sins show up. My eyes begin to look for sexual targets, although I
know that I’ll never act out anything. I become lazy, inefficient, mediocre at
what I do. Whatever contentment and enjoyment I might have vanishes. I begin to
treat people unkindly, and view them as nuisances. I look for ways to hide in
my own world, and often surrender to self-pity and therefore, depression.
The Holy Spirit reminds me of
Philippians 4. An apostle, in chains inside a roman prison, commands us to
always rejoice. But how? By asking for help, and giving thanks, and by
controlling our thoughts. He tells us: “Do not be anxious about anything. But
in everything, in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests
to God.”
The next part is my favorite.
“and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” What a promise! This is the perfect
antidote to anxious feelings—the peace of God, which is more than what I can
grasp in my mind.
After this, the apostle tells
us to think of good things. He does not tell us not to think of bad things. He
asks us to be proactive in filling our minds with only constructive thoughts.
This is alien to an anxious
mind, because it requires faith. Nevertheless, it is the only way to get rid of
anxiety. Next time anxiety creeps in, we need to get on our knees and tell God
exactly what our desires are, and thank him for what we know he’ll do.
Return to the Green Room, or to
Day by Day.
email me at aeortiz@iname.com.
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