Don't Give Anxiety a Minute!

This past week I experienced some difficult complications from the cancer I’m battling.  They came on suddenly, no warning, seemingly out of nowhere.  They were traumatic.  I've had them before, but it was still a shock when they hit my body.  Usually they are months apart.  This time I had 2 rounds of them just 3 days apart.  I was still trying to recover from the first round when the 2nd round hit.

All this has left me feeling anxious.  I don't know when I'll be "hit" again.  I've dealt with anxiety before in the last hard years, but this is anxiety at a new and deeper level.  I'm having to learn how to press deeper into the Lord, to cling to Him each time I feel anxious.

I've learned through the years that I will deal with something, learn from it and how to cope with it.  I then feel like I've "conquered" the lesson.....but it will come up again.  It's not that I've failed or haven't learned the lesson - it's just the Lord allowing me to learn it at a much deeper level.  I think that's what is happening now.  Fear, worry, and anxiety are not from the Lord!  Already I'm learning not to give the anxiety a minute's hold on my heart and mind.  I must take it immediately to the Lord to receive His peace and grace.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

"I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears."  Psalm 34:4

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles."  Psalm 34:17

"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy."  Psalm 94:19 

"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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6,7 

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  2 Timothy 1:7

"Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you."  1 Peter 5:7 

"Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  Matthew 6:34 

These are a small sampling of dozens and dozens of verses about not being anxious.  When anxiety crops up in my heart and mind - I proclaim and pray these verses.  It helps me immediately.  I'm so grateful I don't have to walk alone through the trials of life.  The Lord has already provided promises and instruction for how to deal with them.