| | Cast your Cares | |

 

I struggle with anxiety.

 

There, I said it.

 

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Ever since I can remember, anxiety has been my “kryptonite.”

In fact, even as a child, I remember my mom jokingly warning, “Dee, stop worrying so much. You’ll have an ulcer by the time your twenty.”

 

I shrugged it off, but she was right, you know.

 

As the ‘ole saying goes, stress is my name and overthinking is my game.

The only problem?

It’s a game that I don’t want to play . . . like, at all.

 

Anxiety is so much more than pesky “butterflies” in your stomach before a big meeting or important test. It’s more than a feeling of nervousness before a first date. It’s more than sweaty palms and a rapid heart rate.

It’s an unhealthy expectation of perfection and a crippling fear of failure. It’s perpetually “playing out” worst-case-scenarios and stressing over stress about stress, only creating more stress.

 

And it is my worst enemy.

 

I’ve always placed irrational expectations upon myself, growing frustrated when I fail to meet my own criteria. I’m constantly reminded of past failures, all the while fretting over future mistakes.

I’m consumed by my deficiencies and entirely convinced of my inferiority.

 

But this—–this ought never to be the way we Christians should live.

We are redeemed.

We are renewed.

We are loved.

We are protected.

We are perpetually provided for by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

 

We are SAFE in His ever-loving arms. 

 

Wow. I couldn’t help but smile while typing those words. Let them sink in for a moment, truly let them resonate in your mind . . . and in your heart.

 

As children of God, we are safe in the ever-loving, overwhelmingly gracious, abundantly merciful, all-knowing arms of our Creator, Savior, and Sustainer.

 

Suddenly, our worries seem so small, futile, and insignificant.

The suffocating grip of anxiety is released. We can now breathe a sigh of relief.

 

Phew.

 

Anxiety is a liar, but God is Truth.

 

Whenever you feel anxious, go to Him.

Run into His Prescence, and rest in His arms.

 

We are safe.

“And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?  If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” 

— Luke 12:25-31

 

 

With love,

Delaney.