Anxiety

Christian Living Today

Am I the only person who thinks anxiety abounds today?

This common tendency troubles people of all ages — no one is exempt. Fear and anxiety lurk nearby and dampen our day. Even the most treasured life events seem to include some degree of anxiety.

The Bible uses words like care, worry, sorrow, dread and troubled as synonyms for anxious. God created us and our emotions, and of course He knows all about anxiety.

A person with anxiety is one who worries, one who is troubled with the cares that surround us or tends to be overly concerned. It’s hard to keep a good balance between life and our anxious thoughts when we must be diligent and care, but also trust God’s heart and instructions.

Let me share encouraging reminders and admonitions to help us.

Proverb 12:25 says, “Anxiety in our heart/mind weighs us down …” My paraphrase of I Corinthians 7:21 says, “Regardless of your position in life, do not worry about it.”

Perhaps the most notable passages about worry are found in the Gospels, part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount.

Look at Matthew chapter 6: Jesus begins in verse 24, saying, ‘No man can serve two masters’ (priorities and focus) … for this reason I say to you, do not be anxious …” He cites birds of the air, flowers of the field and concludes by challenging the innate power — or lack thereof — of our worry.

These aren’t mere examples of small insignificant things, but a comparison of small to great. In God’s economy and provision, the people He created are more valuable than another created thing.

This includes me, and you, dear reader. Not whomever you consider more powerful or important — but you.

God knows where you live, what you think, words you haven’t expressed and your every fear and concern.

God determined our value in Genesis, when he says each person is created in the image of God. This assigned worth requires our mutual respect, for ourselves and for others.

Oh, if we really believed this, wouldn’t our world be a more pleasant place?

There are many biblical admonitions about worry. This week, read Matthew 6:34, Philippians 4:6, Isaiah 8:13, Psalm 37:1, Psalm 94:7, Luke 12:25 and Philippians 4:7.

Read aloud, and you will be uplifted!

I pray you will have a blessed week.

Until next week, Anita

Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.