Anxiety and Me
Anxiety and me – we go a long way back.
I am greatly familiar with anxiety . . . it is almost genetic. Maybe I was born of a family of worriers, people who looked for all the worst possibilities, and then ruined a perfectly good day by focusing on things that might – or might not – ever happen.
Today’s reading from Forward Day by Day was just what I needed now, with a tiny newborn grandson who is coughing, and a house inspection which shows some things that need to be done, and a moving process about to take place, and an earth-shaking retirement . . . if you are the praying kind, I would ask for your prayers for peace of mind, strength in service and courage in the face of adversities and challenges.
FRIDAY, February 19
Philippians 4:1-9. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanks-giving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing…if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Anxiety is a kind of fear–not of God, but of the unknown future. It is unreality. We draw the unreal future into the present and proceed to stab ourselves with it.
How passionately Jesus strove to overcome our delusion of crossing bridges before we come to them! Imagine an able and loving father whose children ran about in panic lest next year they might not have food to eat or clothes to wear.
Anxiety is a symptom. The disease is mis¬trust of our heavenly Father. The cure is to look around and see what he has done for us already and to thank him for it. How many lovely things, how much to praise him for! If anything is needed, ask: and then leave it to God. If he doesn’t give it, so much the better. It wasn’t needed. What God always will give–if we trust him–is his peace, the best gift. (1946)
PRAY for the Diocese of Bath and Wells (Canterbury, England)
Ps 95 & 31 * 35; Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32; John 17:9-19
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My prayers will always be with you and your family, especially now.
Most of my family is in Georgia and there’s a lot upper respiratory bugs going around – the bright side is to remember exposure is how we build up immunities so I’m sure the new grandson is going to be fine (and hopefully not too uncomfortable until he’s better.)
Some people are surprised that good things are often causes of stress and you’re in the middle of several – birth, moving, retirement, purchasing a home. You’re anxiety is perfectly natural and expected. It is even good as your past life experiences let you evaluate theses situations so that you may plan and prepare for them instead of having to deal with them as complete surprises. As long as you don’t become negatively affected – so consumed by anxiety that you can’t make decisions or function; you are doing fine.
I know when you moved to Qatar you had mentioned it would probably be a possible short-term transfer. I was wondering about your earlier comments regarding purchasing a home in Fla – was it a future retirement home, were you helping your children buy a house. Did I miss a retirement post or is that just sort of slipping in little by little? 🙂
Hope you and AM have a wonderful time with your children and grandson.
Peace be with you,
K
LLOOLL, Ken, I think I kind of slipped it in a couple places . . . we have known we would be retiring, but we are already two years later than we planned. We were just having too much fun, I guess. AdventureMan had always promised our son that when grandchildren started coming along, we would come home and help raise them. We are big on keeping promises. 🙂 So you are totally right, these are all GOOD stresses. And even good stresses need prayers! Thank you for yours!
I thing God is always present in our lives, even if we cannot see Him with our eyes. His grace is immanent and helps everybody.
I have been suffering from anxiety since I was a child, then I succeeded on getting rid of it. I live in Enna, a town located in the centre of Sicily. The way how I got rid of my anxiety is written in my book “Travels of the mind”. It is available at http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TravelsOfTheMind.html
Without the God’s grace I never could succeed in winning my battle. For healing myself, I began to travel and in those travels I came across many people or angels who helped me. These encounters happened in Rome, London, in the Natuzza Evolo’s house and so on. Everything is written in this book. If you have any questions, I am most willing to offer my views on this topic.
Ettore Grillo