What Do I Do With This Anxiety?!

 I was listening to a podcast recently and the Holy Spirit shifted my thought process in a profound way.

The teacher being interviewed grew up in church doing all the "right" things. As an adult, she has faced some significant loss. She was talking about how anxiety and insecurity are problems for most of us. Then she shared this thought:  what if when you feel anxious or insecure, that is actually an invitation from the Holy Spirit?

The next thing that came to my mind was the Lord saying to me: "Come to Me."

That thought! So simple but seemingly difficult.  I WANT to bring ALL of my thoughts of not being enough or being unlovable, or unvalued, to Him. To replace those thoughts with: "My Father wants me, loves me, values me."  He wants to spend time with me!  And you!  

Oh, what a wonderful Truth! I am loved with an everlasting love! AND SO ARE YOU!  Holy Spirit, teach us to sift our thoughts and internal dialogue through You--to accept Your invitation and hear what you have to say about it.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this tender and loving image. Unfortunately, many times I allow anxious thoughts and insecurity to spiral and take me to some desperate places.  Forgive me, Lord, for believing the lies and giving them my time and attention.  I may think or feel that I am unworthy but You say otherwise. Help me, Holy Spirit, to come to You and cling to that Truth.  And help me to be faithful in telling others this good news. Thank you for constantly inviting me into Your Presence where healing and restoration can take place.  You are worthy of all praise and honor and glory! Praise Your holy name!  Amen.

"...Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."  ~ Jeremiah 31:3

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God"  ~ Philippians 4:6

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." ~ Romans 12:2

Conformed or Transformed?

For a while now, I have been mulling over the way that we, as a culture, want to label everything and everyone.  I'm not just talking about the labels we put on people for their choices or politics but also about a diagnosis or condition that makes people different for some reason or another.  Are you defined by that diagnosis or your past experiences?  Even though this practice has long been common, it has agitated me for some time.  Why do we have to do that?!  I’ve come to believe that the Enemy loves to use labels.  Why? I believe it’s because he loves to limit us or distract us from fully realizing our God-given identity. 

As I’ve thought about that, I wonder why WE find labels so appealing?  Do we love it because it keeps us organized into neat little categories?  Or does it give us something to obsess about?  Does is comfort us to have a label for everything and everyone? 

Or does it provide us an excuse from the responsibility of being accountable or being a good steward of what God has entrusted us with?  Let's dig in:  Does it give the enemy a way to condemn us for not measuring up?  We find ourselves saying: “well, this is just the way I am” or “I’m not good enough” or “that person is an idiot” or any other similar claim.  As we are “owning” or "adopting" these labels, let’s also remember Romans 8:1-2.  “There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death.”  Also remember Psalm 139:14:  "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.”

So now it’s time to truly evaluate the effect of this “labeling” on our lives.  Does this practice grant us freedom or does it imprison us?  I do believe sometimes the label can allow us to breathe a sigh of relief because we have an “answer” for how we are or what’s wrong…or right… with us and others.  But does this “knowledge” separate us from God and others?  Can it help us connect to God and others? 

I believe we can allow this “knowledge” to lead us to healing or isolation.  This is key:  which do we seek?  

Personally, I do not believe isolation is profitable in any true sense of our being.  I believe God created us for community and connection not separation.  (Genesis 2:18 “And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone…”)  Seeking healing may be the more painful path (seemingly).  However, it leads us to connect with God and others.  God uses community to help us navigate the journey to wholeness.  That's another whole subject in itself.

My conclusion:  Labels limit us in ways that God does not and never intends for us.  Allow God to set your boundaries—to define who you are in Him.  

Isaiah 55:8-9 “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways” says the Lord.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”    

Share your thoughts on this subject.  I'd love to hear from you!  

May the Lord bless you and keep you in His arms!