Facing Anxiety

I'm so glad I own this book (Future Grace by John Piper)....and am so disappointed in myself that I haven't read it before now.  It has already challenged me in so many ways, and I'm only on chapter 3!!

This chapter was FILLED with scripture.  I love hearing and reading a person's interpretation of what God is saying through His Word, God truly uses people to speak to others.....but I LOVE having specific scripture to apply and memorize.  (**I'll post more on memorization at the end**)

Who hasn't been anxious??  About at least one thing??  I find that, even though I wouldn't label myself as an anxious person (we often think of someone with anxiety needing medication to control it), but when I truly examine myself and the definition of anxiety as described in the Bible, I am indeed anxious about many things in life.  It makes me sad....1) that I haven't made it a priority to deal with this anxiety and 2) because it means I have little faith in what God can do, how He will do it, and when He will do it.  As was stated in this chapter, "anxiety is a condition of the heart that gives rise to many other sinful states of mind".....here are the examples the book gave of the domino effect of anxiety:

• Anxiety about finances can give rise to coveting, greed, hoarding, stealing
• Anxiety about succeeding at some task can make you irritable, abrupt, surly
• Anxiety about relationships can make you withdrawn, indifferent, uncaring about other people
• Anxiety about how someone will respond to you can make you cover over the truth, lie about things

Jesus identified the root of anxiety in Matthew 6:30, "But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?"  To paraphrase this verse, a direct quote from the book - "Jesus says that the root of anxiety is inadequate faith in our Father's future grace.  As unbelief gets the upper hand in our hearts, one of the effects is anxiety."

This kind of cuts a little deep....it hurts.  It hurts because I know I have failed....I have been living off my own strength....I have been doing what I thought was best....I have been making sure everything I think needs to be taken care of is taken care of, so I can "rest easy".....I have been being self-sufficient.  This is dangerous ground.  And I'm embarrassed and convicted.  I think, down deep in my soul, I always knew that lack of faith led to anxiety, because I do feel anxious when I try to do it all on my own.  So, because I have recognized this anxiety at times, I have tried to give God the controls here and there....but here and there isn't good enough.  It must be complete abandonment of fear, and complete trust - complete faith.  It's so silly....not trusting the Creator of the Universe....wow, who do I think I am???

In Matthew 6:25-34, we have 7 promises from God that He will meet our needs....promises to allow us not to worry about tomorrow.  I think I struggle with worrying about the future the most.  I am often planning how things will work months in advance.  I waste time planning, only for it not to work out how "I planned" in the end.  In the few times (sadly only a few), that I have given complete trust over to God to work it out according to His will....it was amazing how I saw God work and could give Him all the glory.  I steal glory away from God when I try to do things on my own.

Anxiety is definitely an issue for me, and it needs to be dealt with now.  It may always be an issue....but God's Word is full of promises of how He will ALWAYS take care of me and meet me in the middle of my needs.  Here are some scriptures I am committing to memorize....I will give myself until the end of this month to have these memorized and written on my heart.

Philippians 4:6

Philippians 4:19

Isaiah 41:10

2 Corinthians 12:9

Psalm 32:8

Psalm 34:19

Romans 5:3-5

Isaiah 46:4

Romans 14:7-9

Philippians 1:6

Hebrews 7:25