Teen Our Daily Bread
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES GOD MAKE WHEN I FEEL ANXIOUS?
INTRODUCTION H
ow do you stop anxiety?
Maybe we can’t. After all, anxiety isn’t just a switch we can flick on or off. But maybe we can bring our anxiety, stress and panic attacks to the God who is so much bigger than us. There may be no simple answers to something as tough as anxiety—but we do believe that “with God nothing will be impossible” (LUKE 1:37 NKJV). These Bible readings are not here to give you a quick-fix recovery programme. They are here to show you the real difference God can make to your anxiety. He understands you better than you could possibly realise, and He can help you live with, manage and find growing freedom from the crippling battles you have with anxiety. Lots of Bible characters struggled through anxious times; and there are plenty of lessons about anxiety in the Bible’s pages. At the very least, this means God ‘gets it’ and knows how to be your strength and hope in your struggles. Come and check it out for yourself . . .
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Psalm 55:4-23 4
My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. 6 I said, ‘Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. 7 I would flee far away and stay in the desert; 8 I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.’
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Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. 11 Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.
If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. 13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, 14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshippers. 12
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Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them.
As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. 17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. 18 He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. 19 God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change – he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.
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My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. 21 His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. 23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.
ANXIOUS? Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken (PSALM 55:22).
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recent survey showed that anxiety has overtaken depression as the leading mental health problem in many parts of the world. Anxietyfighting drugs have never been asked for so much. Maybe you know what it feels like to be kept awake with worry? To suffer panic attacks before exams? Anxiety is a scary thing to fight on your own. When King David wrote Psalm 55, he was stressed out by the same sorts of things we struggle with today. He had been gossiped about (V.3), rejected by a close friend (VV.12-14) and he’d been scared by the violence and anger around him (VV.4,9). He wanted to run away (VV.4-8)! Because David’s worry was like our own, his answer can be ours as well. He wrote, “I call to God, and the L ord saves me . . . Cast your cares on the L ord and he will sustain you” (VV.16,22). Anxiety is not something we were ever meant to carry. Instead, we bring our stresses and worry to Jesus because He cares for us (1 PETER 5:7; SEE ALSO PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7). If you are fighting anxiety today, God is ready to carry every problem you give Him. DM
Thinking it over . . .
How easy or difficult is it to trust God with your stresses today? When have you seen God come through for you before, and how might that help in this situation? Who can you pray with about your anxiety?
YOU ARE MY HIDING-PLACE; YOU WILL PROTECT ME FROM TROUBLE AND SURROUND ME WITH SONGS OF DELIVERANCE. PSALM 32:7
Genesis 22:2-14 2
Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will show you.’
Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’
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6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, ‘Father?’
‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied. ‘The fire and wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ 8
Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together.
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ 9
‘Here I am,’ he replied. ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’
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Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’
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GOD WILL PROVIDE So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide (GENESIS 22:14).
M
y anxiety increased throughout the summer. I was changing schools in the September. I love to have everything planned out, and the idea of going to a different school with people I didn’t know seriously stressed me out. However, I talked with God during the summer and had peace that even in the stress and change, God was taking care of me.
God provided, but it was in His timing that I settled into the new school, not mine. Abraham went through a far more difficult situation with his son Isaac. He was asked to take his son and sacrifice him in the mountains (GENESIS 22:1-2). Abraham obeyed and took Isaac to the mountains. This three day journey gave Abraham plenty of time to change his mind, but he didn’t (VV.3-4). When Isaac questioned his dad, Abraham replied, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering” (V.8). I bet Abraham’s anxiety grew with each knot he made as he tied Isaac to the altar—and with every inch he raised his knife above his son (VV.9-10). What a relief it must have been when the angel stopped him (VV.10-12)! God did indeed provide a sacrifice: a ram caught in a nearby bush (V.13). God tested Abraham’s trust in Him, and He showed Himself faithful. And at the right time, to the very second, God provided (V.14). JS
To pray about . . .
Thank You, Father, for providing for me. Help me to trust that You will provide, even when Your answer seems long in coming.
THE EYES OF THE Lord ARE ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM, ON THOSE WHOSE HOPE IS IN HIS UNFAILING LOVE. PSALM 33:18
Philippians 4:4-9 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 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.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
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CAST YOUR CARES Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (PHILIPPIANS 4:6).
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ne of the psalmists wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God” (PSALM 46:10). Paul told the Philippians, “Do not be anxious” (PHILIPPIANS 4:6). And Peter reminded his readers to put all their worries on God (1 PETER 5:7).
How can we stop being anxious and be “still” instead? Only through prayer and trust in our loving God (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7). When we bring our worries to God and put them on His strong shoulders, we can step back from the things going on in our lives and simply rest with Him. This doesn’t mean that those who are “still” with God will never have things to stress about. This is about being able to have confidence and peace even in the stress and worry. Our problems don’t go away when we pray, but our focus is brought back to God, our Father who can and will keep us going and meet our needs. Christians who stay calm when life is hard aren’t following a formula. There is no ‘five steps to avoid worry’. They simply know who their God is, His love for them and His promise to be with them in everything. If you’ve never taken time out to be still with God when you’re stressed, why don’t you give it a go. Talk with Him, read some of the Bible (maybe a Psalm) and turn your eyes away from the stress and back onto your God, Maker, Saviour and Provider. DR
To pray about . . .
Dear God, please give me Your peace as I spend time with You and trust my anxious thoughts into Your care. Thank You for being right here with me, even in my worry and stress. You are bigger than my biggest worry.
BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. PSALM 46:10
1 Samuel 30:1-6 David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. 1
When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
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STRENGTHENED IN GOD David found strength in the Lord his God (1 SAMUEL 30:6).
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t looked bad to David and his men when they arrived at Ziklag (1 SAMUEL 30:1-6). The Amalekites had attacked the city and taken their wives and children as hostages. The men were so overwhelmed that they cried until they had no more energy. And David, their leader, was “greatly distressed” because the people were blaming him and planning to stone him to death (V.6). How did David avoid being crippled by the anxiety and pressure of the situation?
“David found strength in the L ord his God” (V.6). Other Bible versions use the words “encouraged” or “refreshed”. The text doesn’t say exactly how David did this. But it makes me wonder, In what ways can we strengthen, encourage or refresh ourselves in God when things are just too much for us? First, we can remember what God has done. We can list the ways He has cared for us in the past, and how He has given us what we need or answered a prayer request. Second, we can remember what God has promised. “Be strong and courageous . . . for the L ord your God will be with you wherever you go” (JOSHUA 1:9). Like David, let’s learn to strengthen ourselves in God, and then let’s leave the rest with Him. AC
What I’m thankful for . . .
Thank You, Father, that You are my strength. Help me to strengthen myself in You when things are hard, rather than just trying to fix problems myself.
THE LORD IS FAITHFUL, AND HE WILL STRENGTHEN YOU AND PROTECT YOU FROM THE EVIL ONE. 2 THESSALONIANS 3:3
1 Peter 5:6-10 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 6
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
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And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
BEING REAL WITH GOD Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 PETER 5:7).
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t the end of the day, I close my eyes and begin to say to God: “Dear Father, I’m coming to you today as your child. Thank You for Your power and goodness. . .” Suddenly, my eyes snap open. I remember that I haven’t replied to a message from a friend. Then my mind wanders to the people I’m still fighting with, all the stuff I have planned for the week and the fact that I think I’m starting to get a cold. Before long I’m just stressing over all my anxieties! Distractions during our prayer times are pretty normal. It happens to all of us. But one Christian speaker said something really interesting about it. He said, rather than trying to ‘force’ our minds back to prayer through our own willpower, we could use the distractions as another thing to talk to God about. After all, if they’re on our minds, it must be because they are important. A big worry or anxious thought that interrupts a prayer could become the centre of that conversation with God. God wants us to be real as we talk with Him and open up about our biggest stresses and struggles. He is not surprised by anything we say. His interest in us is like the attention we would get from our closest friend. That’s why we are told to give all of our worries and cares to God—because He cares for us (1 PETER 5:7). JBS
Thinking it over . . .
How easy or hard do you find praying? What do you do if you end up just replaying your anxieties over and over again while you’re talking with God?
ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU; SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND; KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED TO YOU. MATTHEW 7:7
FOCUS ARTICLE
GOD IS WITH ME IN MY PANIC ATTACKS
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was hanging out with some of my friends. We went to get something to eat and were having fun together. I was enjoying myself, laughing and cracking jokes.
Then suddenly I looked around at all the people around our tables—friends and strangers who were all filling the café. I became uncomfortably aware of all the conversations going around me, the sound of people chewing food, utensils clattering on plates and food orders being yelled in the kitchen. The smells of the different foods around me became too much to take in and I started getting dizzy. Knots tightened in my stomach and it was becoming difficult to breathe calmly. I quickly got up from my chair and made straight for the exit. It wasn’t much better outside though, since we were in the city centre and it was a busy evening. People and cars seemed to be swarming all around me. Within seconds it had all completely overwhelmed me; it was something I had zero control over. I simply couldn’t handle the busyness and noise anymore. The tears started coming and I felt myself going down another one of my dark spirals of fear, confusion and insecurity. I walked and walked until I found a small, lonely alley and tried to calm down enough to do the breathing exercises I had been taught. Standing in that alley trying to ground myself in reality again felt like it took forever, but the intense fear finally faded and I felt safe again. That kind of thing has happened many times in the three years since my battle with anxiety started. It has happened in cafés, in shops, in church, in friends’ homes, on the bus and other places. I panic when my brain realises it can’t control its surroundings and the way they make me feel. The struggle is constant and ongoing. Panic comes unexpectedly and for no obvious reason. Often I’m frustrated with myself—why can’t I be like the rest of my friends who can just go out and enjoy themselves without falling apart?
God Comforts Me
But even in the fear and confusion, I am increasingly realising that God is near. No matter what we’re going through, God always has what we need (PSALM 91:15). And He has been teaching me to listen to His voice, even when I feel anxious and overwhelmed, so that I can push past my feelings and hear what He has to say.
God created me, and He knows all my weaknesses and problems. As I learn to trust Him through my hardships, I see more of His generosity and love. He has surrounded me with close friends who understand my struggles, who know when to keep me company or talk me through my panic. I do not take this for granted. Each time I have a panic attack, I also discover how much comfort even the simplest prayer or insight can bring. One day a friend shared with me a quote from a Christian author: “I get the invitation every morning when I wake up to actually live a life of complete engagement . . . it’s brought in by a sunrise, the sound of a bird or the smell of coffee drifting lazily from the kitchen. It’s the invitation (from God) to actually live, to fully participate in this amazing life for one more day.” I’m starting to realise that my senses and feelings are a gift from God so that I can experience His amazing creation. God wants me to take hold of His gifts and enjoy His goodness which is everywhere to be found (SEE ISAIAH 6:3 AND ROMANS 1:20). My senses don’t have to control me; I can use them to focus on my God who is always with me in everything I see, and who is my “ever-present help in trouble” (PSALM 46:1).
Learning to Love Others
With this in mind, I am learning how to take my panic-attack triggers, turn them around and practise seeing God in them. Most of my triggers are people-related (crowds, outdoor noises and busyness), so I am trying to see past my difficulty and love people around me more. After a panic attack, I will often focus on being useful or kind to people around me, largely so I can take my mind off my panic. Sometimes I pray for anyone I can see. Other times I stop and look for someone I can help (which can be anything from giving a person directions, to helping clear away the table after a meal). It’s amazing what happens when we take time to look around us and see how we can serve others. This is what Jesus did (MATTHEW 14:13-14), and as His followers, we’re to do the same. This can be very hard to do when we’re caught up in our own issues. It is difficult for me to even see light at the end of the tunnel most days. I have often found great relief and peace by focusing on other people and looking out for them, rather than myself.
Be Willing to Ask for Help
Improving mental health is a process. If you are struggling with panic attacks or anxiety, please know that getting better really is possible, even if it takes time. Prayer and Bible reading have been vital for me, but they were not enough on their own. I had a one-to-one mentor for some time, to help me learn to start breaking the cycle that led to panic. God also uses doctors and other medical professionals—and there is no shame in getting help from them. Whatever we do, and whoever we talk to, the most important thing is that we do talk. The worst thing we can do is keep our battles to ourselves. Who can you open up with about your mental and emotional battles? Through all our struggles, God is right here with us. Even in our darkest places, we can come close to Him. We just have to be open to Him—spend time with Him and make it a priority to talk with Him throughout our day. Don’t push away those who care for you and want to be there for you. Everyday day there are invitations to experience God’s love and grace. Even on your worst day, there is still a God of love and power holding you and seeing you through it all: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you . . . For I am the L ord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour” (ISAIAH 43:2-3).
Scripture taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved. © 2019 by Our Daily Bread Ministries. All rights reserved.
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