MENTAL HEALTH
By: Claudene Sebolai Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Anxiety is the body’s natural defense mechanism against stress. It is a state of fear or worry about what’s to come. Common anxiety signs and symptoms include feeling nervous, restless or tense, having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom, having an increased heart rate, feeling weak or tired, or trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry, etc. When in our darkest night and we don’t have peace and we don’t know how or why or when or if. We can ask God for guidance through moments of anxiety and stress. True peace comes when we learn to hold God’s Word up to what worries us. There, we learn we can’t fix ourselves; we can’t protect ourselves. Instead, the Bible tells us we can rest, knowing that Jesus walked into the broken, sad, scary places to rescue us and love us. He is the One who fixes. His is the only protection that matters. Paul gives us a natural response for coming to face with our anxieties, a spiritual petition to something greater. Instead of trying to establish control, we are encouraged to offer our experiences to God. Remember, when the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. This is not an intuitive process, in many ways, petitioning is the exact opposite of establishing control. However, in the process, even if our circumstances do not change, we are offered the gift of peace that transcends all understanding.
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PRAYER Father, in the name of Jesus, cast away my anxious heart and anxious and overthinking mind. You are in control of my life and I am safe in the Shadow of Your wings. Your promise to never leave or forsake me still stands and I trust fully in Your ability to keep me in perfect peace. I receive Your offer of peace that transcends all understanding, into my heart and mind. Thank you that I can cast my cares upon You, because You care for me. Thank You for calming my soul. You did not give me a Spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind! Amen. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34).
