Tag: anxiety

Thankful for God’s Comforting Presence

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

As everyone knows, today is Election Day in the United States and I hope you are all doing your civic duty and voting. My husband is working at the polls as a poll watcher. He enjoys getting out into the public and talking to folks who come to vote. I already voted since I knew that he would be at the polls all day today.

I awakened this morning with a headache and I attribute it to the weather change (the high today is in the 50’s and it has been almost 80 degrees for the last three days) as well as just a little bit of stress. What could cause that stress? Well, other than the election that is so important for our nation, but that isn’t really why. Our grandson has to go see the surgeon again on November 21st about his broken clavicle. It seems to be healing, but it is doing so very slowly. We are going to Maryland for Thanksgiving so I get to see family there. Grandchildren! Our fiftieth anniversary is coming up in April and we have been working on plans for a train trip across the U.S. Christmas is coming and I need to shop. And my youngest sister in Florida has a Cat 1 hurricane headed her way. So, why the stress? All of the above but not all at the same time. Anxious thoughts seem to wait until I am having a quiet moment and then, boom! They start attacking from all sides. Yes, I have my armor on and my helmet of salvation is firmly in place. But I need more and I find it in the comfort of God’s presence. That is what I am thankful for today. When my heart is rocketing around like a space ship out of control and the pain in my head is forcefully letting me know that I need to relax, then God shows Himself strong on my behalf, speaks calming words to me through His Word and the praise music that I listen to and gradually, my focus changes from the problems and task list to the Almighty God who is worthy to be praised.

God knows just the right words to speak to my heart to keep me focused on His goodness and not on the problems. He is so merciful and gracious to me and I sincerely appreciate His always being there, right on time!

No matter what you are facing today, remember that God is in control…of elections, trips, money issues, and even hurricanes. May you have a blessed and peaceful day!

Anxiety

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

When unexpected events happen in my life, it is then that I find out what parts of my life I have not yet surrendered to God. That is when the anxiety that is always lurking and ready to attack surfaces and I have to be ready to give it all to Jesus again. This week, I found myself anxious about our grandson Tyler’s appointment with the surgeon. But because God had reassured me repeatedly that He is taking care of Tyler, the anxiety did not get the best of me. Rather. I prayed and then waited for word from my daughter. Normally, I would have been texting repeatedly about the time of the appointment, the outcome of the appointment, the exact words of the surgeon. Instead, I rested in the assurance of the Lord. The results weren’t all that I wanted, but they were enough to let me know that God has the situation under control and He doesn’t need my help to manage it. The surgeon told Tyler that the fracture of his clavicle is severe and is taking a while to heal. He took him out of the brace and the sling but cautioned him that he cannot lift anything. He also gave him gentle exercises to do as he showers in order to get strength back into his left arm that he hasn’t used since August. Finally, he wants to see him again in a month. The clavicle has moved back into the correct position, so that is a big praise and a huge relief! God is good, even when we try to rush Him or move Him quickly towards our desired outcome. He moves in His time and with His purpose. So, the anxiety that I had felt before this week, leading up to the appointment, did not do anything but make me uncomfortable. I had to hand things over to the Father to handle and then I felt the “ahh” relief that comes from knowing that although I couldn’t do anything, God could and was working on Tyler’s behalf.

Letting go and letting God is freeing and brings rejoicing, maybe not immediately or during the circumstances, but in the end, the rejoicing comes.

Just as the ocean washes away the debris from the beach, so God is washing away my tendency to be anxious. He wants me to relax and trust Him and every day is a new day to try to do just that. Last week was Tyler’s appointment. Who knows what this week will bring? But as I texted Tyler, nothing is going to happen to me today that God and I cannot handle together. God is making sure that I know that and I’m looking forward to see where He will lead me next in my quest for total trust and assurance in Him.

Have a blessed day, filled with rejoicing and the knowledge that God has everything under control!

Answers

On By vickleaIn Scripture6 Comments

I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating that God always answers our prayers. It may not be at the time we expect or how we expect, but there is always an answer. The answer is always Yes, No, or Not yet.

Yesterday was a waiting period for me for answers. I had a high blood pressure reading that refused to go down. I stayed in the bedroom where I’m sleeping, praying, reading, calling my daughter to agree with me in prayer. After a couple of hours, my headache was worse and when I checked my blood pressure, it was higher still. Having had a stroke already, I knew I had to remain calm and focus on positive things. Thus, yesterday’s post about thoughts.

This has been a verse that I have leaned on repeatedly. I really need Jesus to always guard my heart and mind so those anxious thoughts don’t slip in and make themselves at home there.

After about six hours of the headache and elevated blood pressure and continued prayer, the pain eased and the pressure started to go down. Finally, in mid-afternoon, I felt normal again. God’s timing is always perfect, even when I think He’s arriving with an answer a little late. Just after I started praising God for feeling better, my sister got a phone call telling her that the issue at her doctor’s office was resolved. She was approved for the medicine she needed. Big praise from me there! Her negative attitude did not stop right away but it got better and so did I. Sometimes, it takes more praise and less anxiety for the answer to be revealed. But God never stopped working on my behalf or for my sister, the root of my anxiety.

I don’t know what today will bring. I haven’t taken my BP yet this morning. But whatever comes, I know that God is in control. As my friend here on WordPress said in her post, God is THE boss!

God knows where I am and He is examining the path before me, moving obstacles and helping me not to stray or stumble.

Have a blessed and wonderful day, enjoying God’s presence in your life and watching for answers to prayers.

Anxiety vs. Peace

On By vickleaIn prayer, Scripture4 Comments

I must confess that some things that happen cause more anxiety than others. Like when Tyler, our grandson, was badly injured in an accident. I was immediately caught up into the world of “what ifs” instead of using my God given gift of faith. Only a few seconds of heart-racing anxiety reigned before I recalled God’s love, power and faithfulness and began praying and calling on others to join me in prayer.

The peace that I felt as I prayed defied all logic. I was nine hours away and waiting for word from my daughter at the ER about Tyler’s condition. Many hours later, we got the news that his brain was not damaged. Again, hours passed, and we received the news of the extent of his injuries and that he was being sent home and later to specialists.

But the waiting did not end there. Neither did the prayers. So, an update on Tyler. He returned to the ENT this week about his ruptured ear drum. The doctor was amazed at the fact that Tyler’s ear drum had already repaired itself. He said that almost never happens so quickly. So, praise God! Continued prayer is needed though because Tyler’s ear drum did not totally attach itself to the surrounding tissue, so it is flapping around and creating annoying noises for him. And he cannot hear anything in that ear. The ENT says there is nothing else he can do but wait and see if the ear drum attaches and if the hearing returns to normal. However, I believe in the God of miracles, so I am believing for the ear to be made whole.

Tyler’s clavicle was fractured and when he want to the orthopedist, they told him that it was not aligning correctly and gave him a brace to wear for a few weeks, in hopes that it will pull it back where it belongs. When he returns to ortho, they will determine if he needs corrective surgery or not. Again, this is reason for anxiety, but more, it is a reason for my faith to kick in and for me to pray for his clavicle to get back where it belongs and to heal properly.

So, it’s my choice, just as it is yours. Are you overcome by anxiety or ruled by faith? Sometimes, the fear rears its ugly head and I have to choose to push it back and pray through the fear to the peace. God is always waiting there with open arms, offering me His peace. He has told me repeatedly that Tyler is His child and He loves him and is working things out for him. I believe…help my unbelief, and my anxious thoughts!

May your day be blessed with the peace that only comes from God and many answered prayers.