Word for Today
The cure for anxiety
‘Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.’ 1 Peter 5:7 NKJV
Anxiety is the result of excessive concern. And if left unchecked, it
can rob you of important things like confidence, joy, peace, humour, and
perspective. Anxiety comes from obsessing over something; trying to
figure out what happened, needing to understand what people are
thinking, and struggling to decide what to do. ‘Trust in the LORD
with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your
ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
Trust requires living with unanswered questions, and being satisfied in
knowing that God knows what you don’t know. You will never have all the
answers. You will never have a perfect understanding of things. Even the
apostle Paul acknowledged, ‘For we know in part …’
(1 Corinthians 13:9 KJV). The cure for anxiety may involve the help of a
doctor or medical professional, but it also begins with accepting these
three things: First, that God knows everything. Second, God is never
surprised. Third, God is never without a solution. So here are your
options: carry the burden yourself or cast it on the Lord. ‘Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.’(1 Peter 5:7 NLT).
Note the words ‘all your worries’. Learning to live this way takes
patience and practice, so don’t expect an overnight miracle. The secret
is in learning to catch yourself in the act. When anxiety comes, say, ‘Lord, this is not mine,
it’s yours. So, I’m giving it to you.’ Try it for the next thirty days
and see what happens.
Excerpt from "The Word for Today" published by Vision Christian Media.
A free introductory copy of the devotional may be obtained from Vision Christian Media : 1800 007770 or admin@vision.org.au
Updated 1 September 2023