Healing Anxiety

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 295: Today, I am grateful anxiety has a purpose. 

Every once in awhile I am reminded that these modern times are not so different from the ones before us. Anxiety is a hot topic now. It was then, too. 

"The ultimate aim is not to escape anxiety but to allow it to usher us into the healing presence of Jesus Christ." -Charles Spurgeon (1834-1982)

Anxiety is often the thing that brings the human heart to surrender. Do we fear what He will ask us to do if we sign up for the mission? Are we afraid that He will not show up as team leader? Will we give the enemy the "win?" 

Everyone deals with anxiety. For some, it is crippling. For others, it is where they surrender to the healing presences of Jesus when they invite him in to their stressful minutes, hours, and days. He is not too busy. The Holy Spirit was left with us to be our comforter and to whisper the beautiful words of hope, healing, and life. 

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." -1 Peter 5:7

The practice of turning to Him first... and not as a last resort... takes practice. It is part of spiritual development and growth. Our super power is our "free will." Choice makes us different from the other heartbeats around us. We have souls that long for a reconciliation with God. He is our missing piece... and our missing peace. 

Yet, Jesus instructed us to learn from the flowers and the animals. 

“"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?" -Matthew 6:24-26

Today, I am grateful anxiety has a purpose.