Pastoral Pearls: On Anxiety
Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths. ~ CH Spurgeon
This week’s reading talks about anxiety. I feel it. It builds with stress (which sure seems constant). I never really know what to do with it. I know that I am supposed to be able to just give it to God, trust God, and all will be well. Why is that so hard, when it sounds so easy? Maybe that’s my problem, trust seems so vague, kind of like a buzzword. Anxiety sure does “empty today of its strength,” though. It just sort of leaves me without any sense of power, because I just don’t know how to get all the way to trusting in God. I wish that my way through anxiety toward trust were clearer.
I loved today’s reading from Phillippians. It spells it out for me and gives me a map. If I gratefully ask God for what I need in prayer, and leave it in His hands, knowing that He will answer in His time and His way, I will find that illusive peace that soothes my anxiety. Still not easy, but a bit clearer.
Okay, how about focusing on what feels true to me in my heart – that’s a clearer, stronger voice that I can hear. Or I can focus on what’s honorable, pure, lovely, gracious, just. Finally some concrete guidance! In other words if I try to do the most “good” that I can, as many “good” things as I can, that’s pretty clear. While I focus on that “good” it is harder to go down a wrong path toward bad things. Doing things that feel “right” with what I know about God, who is all about love, should help me to be on the right path to break through the anxiety that faces me every day. Follow the plan – this plan from Phillippians – if I need an anxiety-buster.” These concrete actions, along with the act of praying with gratitude as I bring my needs to God present a pretty sure way to keep anxiety from stealing my strengths each day. Now I have a plan.
Loving God,
may I remember to bring my needs to you, with gratitude in knowing you’ve got them covered.
May I recognize this as a good way to combat the constant anxieties of my life.
Holy Spirit, help me to focus my actions on seeing and doing all things true, honorable, pure, lovely, gracious and just to the best of my abilities.
May I use this plan to move myself closer to the kind of trust I want to have in Christ, so I can know all will be well, and can grow in strength, never letting anxiety take my power away.
May doing all things in love be my avenue toward trusting you, and my protection against anxiety.
~ Amen