Answering Anxiety

The Anxious Heart

Anxiety hurts. If you are reading this, then you are probably experiencing it – either in your own life or in the life of someone you care about. 

Does God have an answer for anxiety? Do we have to be medicated to cope, or is there a biblical solution for the anxieties of the soul? 

The God of the Bible cares for hurting people. This is seen in both the Old Testament and in the New. In the person of Jesus, mankind meets the God of all mercy face to face. 

God does have an answer for anxiety, and that answer is found in 1 Peter 5:5-11.

First, we must think about what anxiety is. In 1 Peter, Peter speaks about casting your anxieties on Him. But what is it that he’s talking about? What is it that we are to cast on the Lord?

The word Peter chooses in his letter when he speaks about anxiety can be defined as “a feeling of apprehension or distress in view of possible danger or misfortune – ‘anxiety, worry, anxious concern.’” Jesus uses this word in the parable of the sower when He describes the Word of God being choked out by the cares of the world. Jesus warned about people being unprepared for His return because of the cares of the world. Paul describes the daily pressure he felt due to his care for all the churches.

So, Peter is writing about a soul that’s full of cares, a heart that is troubled. Let’s consider some of anxiety’s expressions:

Do you worry? Worry is one expression of anxiety.

What about a general sense of unrest? As someone might put it, you just are not happy.

What if we use the word discouragement?

What about the word depression or fear? 

In Psalm 42, we are given a great biblical description of anxiety. We are introduced to a man who is troubled by enemies and those who would mock him for his faith. As a result, his heart is depressed. But he also describes the feeling as turmoil. He talks about feeling as if God has forgotten him. 

What is this? This is anxiety.

So, the place to begin when looking for God’s answer to your anxious heart, is the place of admitting your need. We can’t embrace God’s solutions for problems we don’t believe we have. It is when we are honest with our problems, our struggles, our weaknesses – our sins – that we are genuinely ready to listen to God.

Let your heart be filled with hope! Open your heart to the answer Christ offers for the troubles of the soul. 

If you would like to find out more about this topic, we invite you to listen to the episode of the Straight Truth Podcast called “Answering Anxiety” on YouTube https://youtu.be/gPgK0tbUesc or Vimeo https://vimeo.com/252726922

You can also purchase the book "Answering Anxiety" by Richard Caldwell on Amazon: goo.gl/dLhirm 

Copied from Bible.com.

JoJo The Mystial Monk - JJtMM

Do Not Judge - ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. 

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬ - https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.7.1-29.NIV

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Love Each Other

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! 

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.9-21.NLT