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Beneath the Surface - Anxiety

Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due.
-William Ralph Inge

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.   -Swedish Proverb

I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.   -Mark Twain

Every evening I turn my worries over to God.  He's going to be up all night anyway.   -Mary C. Crowley

Everyone feels anxious or worried at some point. Worry can make you carry a load you were never meant to carry.

The Bible has a lot to say about worry:

Luke 10:38-42
Matthew 6:25-34

Martha was a classic worrier. Martha was worried and bothered by trying to get everything right. It wasn’t her working that was getting her in trouble - it was her worried working that was the problem.

Put God first. Touch heaven first. Don’t make worry your starting point. Make connecting with God your starting point.

4 Keys to overcoming worry and walking in peace:

1. Make a Choice to Rejoice

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”  
- Philippians 4:4

People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be – Abraham Lincoln

You are a human being, with the human ability to choose.  Joy is a choice. Some people wake up singing. The rest of us grope for a cup of coffee! 

The joy of the Lord is your strength.  Rejoice in the Lord always. I may not be able to rejoice in the stuff that’s happening. But I can rejoice in the Lord.

2. Be Flexible in Relationships

“Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.”    - Philippians 4:5

A lot of stress, trouble, and anxiety can come from relationship stuff. We can find ourselves thinking: “If only they would comply.. THEN everything would be perfect...” 

A forbearing spirit gives grace and space to people in our world.

Be a low maintenance friend.  Let some things slide!

3. Process life from your prayer closet

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”   
- Philippians 4:6-7

Deal with life from your prayer space. Process your issues there - first.

Don’t go to your prayer closet to worry. Go there to pray the promise  - not the problem!  Go with thanksgiving – locating your positives. Go with faith. It’s there that the peace of God surpasses comprehension.

Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right – it’s not the end!

4. Get a Positive Mind Set

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.    - Philippians 4:8

It will be very difficult to locate peace while dwelling on the negatives.

Think on:
Where you’re going – not on where you’ve been
The forgiveness of God – not your mistakes
The help of God – not your inadequacy

A big step to resolving all of our “beneath the surface” emotions is simply this:  trusting in God.  We don’t know what tomorrow will hold, but we do know who holds tomorrow.