Words of Wisdom for Anxious Vibes
- Feb 6, 2017
- 4 min read
Let me be the first to say that anxiety is not fun. Anything associated with the word anxiety usually means I am going to have some work to do. Whether that be doing a task or trying to relieve the anxiety. Anxiety and I have had a love-hate relationship over the past few years. Anxiety has helped me to try my hardest in school, but anxiety has also taken way to many of my sleeping hours. No amount of fluffy language can sway me my dislike of anxiety. However, concrete solutions have helped me to live with anxiety.
Now, before you say: "Well, whats the difference between fluffy words and concrete solutions?", let me fill you in on a little secret. YOU are the sole deciding factor of whether of not it is fluffy words or concrete solutions. As a wise person once told me, "there are many types of ice cream, but that doesn't mean that you are going to like them all." Same idea goes with words. Some coping mechanisms that work for me that might not work the same way for you. Anxiety is tricky that way, unfortunately. Yet, exposing yourself to different flavors of coping might allow you to find your favorite flavor.
Below I have a handful of verses and quote that I use to focus my mind on while go through with these anxious vibes.
Genesis 2:7
"The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."
Over this past summer I was going through the book of Genesis and I stumbled upon this verse. I had read Genesis when I was younger, but I had not spent the time to think about how it affects me as a person. For me, how I am breathing really determines if I feel like I am dealing with anxiety in a positive way. Monitoring my breath gives me a sense of control of how I can help myself better handle stress. So after reading this verse I couldn't help but think that God is the breath I need to live with anxiety in my life. He is the reason I know I can go though anything. From giving a daunting presentation to having anxieties about the future, He can provide by giving me the air I need to breath through any situation.
James 1:2-4
"Consider is pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
I first read this verse back when I was in my sophomore year of college, when my course load was stacked with hard science classes, all I could think was how this is not applied to my situation. The bible was supposed to be a life circumstances, not school circumstances. Until I realized just because its a school circumstance doesn't mean that it cannot also be a life circumstance. No matter what sort of circumstance, we should be joyful in the circumstances. These trials are making us better people. We might have more knowledge, more compassion, more understanding, more mercy, more creativity, more flexibility, more wisdom from these trials. While the trial might be a lot to handle, there is something beautiful that can come from it.
Philippians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
"The peace of God transcends all understanding." Wow, that's powerful. The peace God can give is more powerful than science or any knowledge that humans can understand. This type of peace is not something us humans are able to create. This type of peace goes beyond numbing yourself with Earthly things. It is the gift of piece only God is able to grant us. Trusting God with our anxieties and releasing them to God is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves. He's got us in his hands.
Mark 1:35
"Very early in the Morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
Even Jesus needed quiet time. As a self-proclaimed introvert, I need time to be alone. Being alone allows me to figure out my own thoughts and feelings. It gives me the time to revitalize my spirits. Knowing that Jesus went through trials and desired solitude during those time, validates my own desires of needing to be alone during trials. Don't get me wrong, I still need time to vent or talk with friends about trials and tribulations. The are a great source of guidance, wisdom and understanding. However, there are still times when I need to spend some time alone with God to see how I can best understand my anxieties.
Bonus Quote
"Will this matter a year from now?"
This is one of those quotes that I saw on Pinterest that has stuck with me ever since I first pinned it. It is such a simple question, but it helps to put things into perspective. It's so easy to get caught up in the trial without seeing the bigger picture. Having this reminder telling me to get out of my own head is so beneficial. Because more often than not I am placing more pressure or more thought into something that should not require so much attention.
Your anxieties, trouble and tribulations matter to God. He cares.
And remember, you are a Gem.
<3 Elsie
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