We live in a world plagued by anxiety—even at Christmas! In fact, it seems it’s rare to know anyone who lives in unwavering peace. It’s a topic God frequently teaches me about because no matter how strong we are in the Lord, it’s still so easy to have our peace derailed by anxiety! If you search this website, you will find multiple devotionals and even videos on overcoming anxiety. We ALL struggle with it.
God has to remind me how to overcome anxiety—over and over again!
Even the secular media—which is biased about politics and nearly every other subject—AGREES that anxiety is a colossal problem in our culture! For example, according to the Wall Street Journal:
A recent federal survey reports 27% of respondents had symptoms of an anxiety disorder, up from 8% in 2019. That’s scary. Youth emergency-room visits for mental health have gone up significantly.
The Mayo Clinic’s list of signs and symptoms includes feeling nervous, feeling a sense of impending danger or panic, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating and trouble concentrating. Apart from those with nerves of steel, I’ll bet we’ve all had at least one of these symptoms. A survey by KFF suggests that half of 18- to 24-year-olds report anxiety or depression symptoms. Not everyone can deal with them.
Gymnast Simone Biles and tennis player Naomi Osaka have withdrawn from competitions because of anxiety. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan took a leave of absence for anxiety right after the merger announcement with Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-is-anxiety-rising-covid-climate-social-politics-mental-health-5f033f53
So what is the right answer to this huge problem of anxiety? How do we learn to live in peace that defies our circumstances? Well, we must consider our source of truth. Generally, most people look to three sources for answers: a secular answer, God’s truth; or a combination of both.
The prevalent answer of our secular culture has little to nothing to do with a relationship with God. Rather, our secular culture recommends more therapy (with or without God), more psychotropic medication, more illegal drugs or alcohol, more entertainment, more self-improvement, more material goods, new relationships, more sexual pleasure, more money, nicer toys, etc. Consider how well these options are working. Why does anxiety continue to spread and increase? Why is it now invading the lives of even younger children who should be experiencing the carefree wonders of childhood?
Our culture’s answers to anxiety may be providing a short-term reprieve, but are clearly NOT curing the disease.
God’s Word gives us some insight as to why.
According to the Bible, we were created to be sustained, satisfied, and find absolute peace—within a relationship with God. But instead of pursuing a relationship through the gift of salvation, we’re often determined to try anything else that might satisfy the “God-shaped hole” in our heart. Thus, we end up like a fish without water; a bird without a sky; a lion in a cage; a child without a mother—gasping, crying, mourning, yearning—all because we know that we were created for supernatural vitality and satisfaction.
Despite our prosperity—we are struggling and grasping for anything that will keep us feeling alive.
My friend, did you know that GOD has a magnificent plan—not just for our eternal life—but for this life here and now?
That is a HUGE reason we celebrate Christmas.
Jesus was born to die so we could be reconciled to Him. God created us with a VITAL need for a relationship with HIM. When that need is not met, our soul experiences the same anxiety that our body does when we’re deprived of water. A human who is dying of thirst, will drink just about anything to survive, right? To an even greater degree, our eternal soul needs God. His presence within us is VITAL both to—our life now—and the life to come. But to have His presence within us, we must receive His gift of salvation. Through the gift of salvation, our desperate need for love and PEACE is satisfied.
“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and NOT be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2-3 NKJV
God’s gift of salvation is our deep well of peace in this desert of life.
We can drink deeply from God’s well; we can freely share it with others. We do NOT have to live in anxiety because God’s well never runs dry. God’s love for us is beyond remarkable. Through the experience of His love, we are given His peace. Without Him, we cannot have His peace. The proof of God’s peace within us isn’t maintaining some isolating mountain place of meditation, staying high on weed, singing Kumbaya, or whatever our culture tells us will bring us peace. The evidence that we possess God’s peace in our life is in how we love like He does. It staggers my imagination to know that IN HIM, I possess the ability to love like He does! Jesus said:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35 NKJV
God’s gift of salvation gives us His PEACE; and the proof we have it is in how we LOVE.
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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2 Responses
Without love we are nothing . We must demonstrate the love God gives us. Only he can satisfy our soul.
Amen—He sure does!