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Monday, 27 July 2020 18:26

Worrier to Warrior

Philippians 4 6

 

 

Hannah moved back home in March due to Covid-19. Now twenty-one years old, our adult
daughter joined us in our empty nest. It took some adjusting but we are accustomed to our new
unit of three. At the end of this month she returns to Indiana as a senior in college. Our normal
August good-byes are complicated by a nation in turmoil and a pandemic. Will she be safe? Will
she be wise? Will the added stress trigger her anxiety?
 
Worries are not allowed to have free rental space in our heads. That space is to be used for
God’s word. Easier said than done but we are wise to listen to Matthew 6:27 (NIV) “Can any one
of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” That answer would be NOPE. We are to trust
Jesus with our thoughts. Psalm 9:10 (NIV) “Those who know your name trust in you, for you,
Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
 
For the most part all my thoughts are in place but occasionally, one goes skittering through as if
it has a will of its own. Especially at night, half asleep, when we should be at rest; they pester
us. Whether it is a nagging member of our to-do list or a worry that has no place there we need
the tools to shut it down. It needs a good cleaning but how do you do that?
 
2 Corinthians 10:5 in the NIV says “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself
up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to
Christ.” First, we must recognize we are to demolish them. Not hopefully we can demolish
them, nope. Remember warrior of God, this is your job and you have the tools to do so. (Judges
6:12) This applies to the worries, but it also applies to the list of responsibilities that don’t go
away. Rest is a necessary part of our battle plan. We are to command any swirling thought to be
quiet until morning. Take it captive – write it down. Revisit it in the morning. This will make it
obedient to Christ. With practice, our minds learn to stay quiet. I want to stress that this is
something we need to practice as a discipline.
 
Let’s look at Philippians 4:6 in detail. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about
everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (NLT).
1. Don’t worry.
2. Pray about everything. That literally means all things. Every detail matters to God and it
is ok to share it with Him. He will listen.
3. Ask God to provide for you and those you love. This is your time to fight. Remember you
are standing on the victory already provided for you. (Romans 8:37)
4. Thank Him. Gratitude is an amazing weapon against anxiety.
His promises will quiet the wayward thought. This takes practice. One of my favorite prayers is
simple. “I trust you Jesus.” Sometimes it is on repeat until His peace surrounds me and fills me.
Not because it takes repetition to get Him to answer but because I need to believe it myself.
​
Instead of worrying let’s turn it to a prayer of thanksgiving. She’s growing up so fast turns to
thank you Lord she’s able to go to school. He’s leaving home becomes thank you he has this
new adventure to follow his dream. They might not make it without me converts to thank you
they are learning independence. Through God’s grace we can quiet those pesky thoughts and
rest knowing God is in control.
 
It is not a one and done. This takes time and it is harder when life is difficult. We can feel fear
and worry, we are not to stay there. If this is an ongoing issue remember you don’t have to live
this way. There is no shame in getting help. Your mental health is as important as your medical
health; you're to live in freedom.
 
God is infinitely greater than everything. That is a huge statement. His power is boundless.
Creativity was birthed in His being. God is the source, the beginning – the end. You know this. I
know this. But do we live this way? In transforming into the woman He desires us to be we must
rely on His power. He can turn a worrier into a warrior. Does it surprise you that I referred to you
as a warrior of God? Who me? Yes, you. This battle is the internal battle we each fight.
Remember you are fighting from a place of victory. Do not give up! Keep fighting my friend.
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Wednesday, 01 July 2020 19:19

Assurance of Hope

Believing for things not seen

I clenched my hands in my lap as my daughter slipped into last place after swimming a difficult race. Once out of the pool, she sunk to the floor, her body heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Come on girl, it wasn’t that bad. Teammates gathered around her. Should I go down there? I’ve never seen this in her before.

I’d just witnessed my child having the first of many panic attacks. It was a surreal experience, and it reminded me that as a parent, my ability to control my child’s world is an illusion. We could not fix this for her. Seeing my child spiral in her own mental health magnifies my own temptation to worry. As we escorted her back to health, she saw doctors and counselors and gained tools to battle this beast.

As a senior in high school, fear of the future fed her anxiety. Feeling pressured to determine a lifelong career, she struggled to balance her current responsibilities with the best choice to continue her education. We watched as her battle ebbed and flowed, her triggers unpredictable. Unbeknownst to us, this inner conflict had been brewing under the surface for years.

As senior year progressed, her growth in health and faith complemented one another. She took control of her diet and exercise. She questioned promises in Scripture, pressing into the One who created her. She began to understand the Holy Spirit guided her daily through this difficult journey.

She left for college one year into the healing process. Far from us, I cried myself to sleep. Could she do this without our daily support?

As her parents, we prayed and determined to trust Jesus. On particularly bad nights, I lay in bed and repeated “I trust you. I trust you,” until my own fears quieted and I drifted to sleep. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us our “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Our hope rested in Jesus: Even when we did not see her healing, we knew Jesus was at work.

Our faith rested in Jesus.

Our faith hoped for healing.

Our hearts knew Jesus was present even when we didn’t see the evidence.

His presence brought peace when our world seemed so dark.

Today, she is a thriving college junior. Her battle continues, but she wins most days. The healing we hoped for is gradually occurring. Her struggle developed her independence and growth in her own faith.

Our current world circumstances push at our faith to anger and fear but our faith doesn’t rest in what we see. Trust Jesus in the waiting. He brings peace and hope when circumstances feel out of our control.

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