GOT ANXIETY?

Anxiety is an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behavior, such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints and rumination. It is the subjectively unpleasant feelings of dread over something unlikely to happen, such as the feeling of imminent death. Anxiety is a feeling of fear, worry, and uneasiness, usually generalized and unfocused as an overreaction to a situat...ion that is only subjectively seen as menacing. YES YOU CAN WORRY YOURSELF TO DEATH. I know, I am a professional worrier. When I stopped running from God, I found a love so pure, so real and so TRUE, that it filled something in me that was lost, empty and scared to death. When I embraced Jesus Christ as my savior and thanked him for dying for my sins — and believed, truly, that he died for my sins — I realized there was no turning back. The truth is, God is in control. He goes with us into our darkest hours. We have someone to turn to, someone more powerful than anyone and anything on earth. Whatever we fear, whatever we’ve done and whatever has been done to us… we have a place to go and seek wisdom. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) Trusting God with your life is not as easy as it sounds. Once upon a time I had no idea what that even meant. I thought it was enough to go to church sometimes and pray, even if I wasn’t sure my prayers were being heard. But putting total faith in God requires us to let go of what we think we know and let him handle it. Once we desire a spirit of truth, we trust that he will steer us in the right direction according to his will. In faith we know that God’s will is the best way for us, even when we do not understand it. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) I can look back at some negative situations in my life and see good in them — God was refining me and building trust. At the time they felt excrutiating, but now I see the errors. When we don’t have God at the center, the world competes for that spot, and that’s when we become deceived. Friends, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. Ricky