Relief from Anxiety

 Let me begin with this concept from the book of Hebrews. Heb 11:6 KJV  "...he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

I don't want to state that we have to believe God just for great things (miracles, deliverance), it does have that application but I suggest it can simply mean that we believe God hears, that he cares, and that he desires to intervene in some meaningful way in every aspect of life when we seek Him, even the more simple personal struggles.

Let me also say that I believe in being entirely honest with God (God is truth and in Him is no lie). In other words, don't pretend you're having a good day if you are under a cloud of oppression. Don't gin up a positive  confession because that is what you feel you must do, simply tell God straight up how you are feeling. While it is true that we must command our souls to bless the Lord but let us not forget honesty, one man honesty said to Jesus, "Lord, I believe, help though my unbelief". Honest heartfelt confession to the Savior of his struggle.

What I am suggesting is that along with that honest confession let there be reserved within your heart the concept that God will hear me and that God will be merciful and I can expect a meaningful touch from Him. 

What Actually Happens When We Cry Out

It really is a mystery how it all happens but what we know is that grace gives us the ability to do in the moment it's received, what seemed impossible 10 minutes ago. I am distressed, in fear, perhaps even in panic and in a desperate moment I cry out to God, I ask for His help and I allow myself to believe He can and will help. 

I persist until I feel something happening, it can begin small and then grow or it can come all at once but His Spirit begins to work and I am bolstered, I feel up to the challenge, I feel grace to meet the day. 

This is the short term fix but something else more wonderful begins to happen. Over time I begin to gain confidence in Him, I begin to know when I seek Him He will help me. I cherish this confidence so very much!! Then as more time passes what happens is I feel anxious less often, I feel panic less often, depression becomes a distant memory and what I am left with is a substance that upholds my life.

Neither I, nor anyone else, can exactly prescribe how He will connect with you as you seek Him. It has to be in your own way and in a way that works for you. For some it will be vocal, for some it will be silent. For some it will be pacing while for others it will be sitting. These are postures we observe in any given prayer meeting, everyone has a different way of connecting with God. For some it will be reading for others during a time of silent meditation. If it is not working one way then try other ways but don't lose heart, hold to this foundation. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I can assure you it will take place if you are sincere and persistent.

What if our condition is our own fault?

It is true that on many occasions we are stressed because of things that either are or things we perceive are our own fault (I'm not being a good Christian, why am I the way I am, why can't I be different). The lie that the enemy is going to tell us is that because "you're not perfect" and because "the distress is your own fault, God is going to let you to suffer". He tells us, "what makes you think God cares?"

This is why I say unequivocally that you must strive to reserve a place in your heart where you believe that he is and that he will reward those that seek him.  Perhaps we may think that seeking God is for just the great events of life, the big decisions such as where I will live, who will I marry, will I go to university. But my experience in this personal relationship of ours with God is that He wants us to seek Him for all things that affect us. We are told in Peter's epistle:  1Pe 5:7 KJV Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

We're also told: Heb 4:15-16 KJV 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yetwithout sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

This is the foundation to believing that he is and that he is a rewarder of those that seek Him for their distresses with their needs etc.  Hold onto this Let's reserve within our hearts the knowledge that he cares about our emotional and spiritual well-being.

In this small essay let me give my own personal testimony. In and throughout my life, just like anyone else, I have experienced all of the above but it has been my joy to see God working for me in many of the distresses of life. In fact I would go as far as to say that calling out to God in my distress has actually become a way of life to me and it is my earnest desire to impart that confidence in God to others as well so that they might find God to be a merciful high priest for them. 

Conclusion

Again, the foundation of this entire essay is this that God cares and that God answers in some tangible way by filling our spirit with peace and joy in the midst of emotional and spiritual suffering. I have gotten into the way of asking God sometimes every single morning for the quickening of the Spirit so that I can endure the trials of the day. And it is my opinion and my experience that God has comforted me, strengthened me and filled me with enough of His Spirit to face each challenge without being overwhelmed. May this too be your testimony.

What we we like is what we are known for?

Matthew 6:21  "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

I was privy to a conversation between a conference president and his staff. When they were preparing for the conference, they had a discussion concerning how many of the attendees could be relied upon to give a helping hand. The staff at once began to call off names of those they knew would help. They knew this because they had helped many times in the past, it was what they were known for. I have come to realize through that example that I witnessed that God knows what he can expect from us. God would like to be able to depend on us for certaint behaviors. The question I put to myself is, what does God know he can expect from me? What behavior does he know I will follow? Will I behave myself in a way that brings glory to him or will I be selfish and self-centered? What can behavior can God depend on me for?

Job 23:10 KJV 10 "But he knoweth the way that I take..." God knew what to expect from job, He knew the man Job and he knew what He could expect from him, in fact, it is found in the next few verses.  Job 23:11-12 11 "My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food."

He knew what to expect from Job, and he knows what to expect from me and in fact from each one of us. Will it be to keep his commandments? Will it be to value those things he holds in greatest esteem? Or will it be self-gratification or selfish pursuits or even pettiness? Will we unite or will we divide? Can God depend on us to make a choice for him or for ourselves? We know that God looks for such answers because he has told us so when he describes the wilderness journey to his people:

He told them that he tried them to see what was in their heart, to see what choices they would make. Would they choose for him or when they choose for themselves?  Deu 8:2 KJV "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no."

We can also use the example of Hezekiah as God told us that he had left Hezekiah to try him. Was it not to see what he would do? The Lord left him to try him. 2Ch 32:31 KJV "Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart."

He tries man every moment of the day (to know what to expect from us). Job 7:17-18 KJV 17 "What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?" God knows us in adversity by the choices we will make under pressure. Psa 31:7 KJV "I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;"

We must seek to be governed by the (reverential) fear of the Lord, it will help us to overcome deep flaws in our character. We do not want to be ashamed when we stand before Him. And so, what can he expect from us? If His law is written in our hearts according to the mandate of the New Covenant (Jer 31) then He knows we will strive to be obedient to His commands.  If we desire and value the things He does then we will know Him and we will follow Him. This does not mean He expects sinless perfection but what it does mean is we will walk circumspectly before Him and put HIs ways before our own.

Above all else God wants us to be a Christian, to behave as a Christian. What we do for Him should flow out from charity and a desire to be Holy (as He is holy) and to have a servants heart. But what can He expect from us, what can He rely on us to do? Will it be to behave as a Christian or will we follow the world, be overcome by the flesh or allow bitterness to make us slaves to our adversary through resentment and offense?

What can the Savior expect from us?

How about those around us, our family, our friends, our brethren? What can they expect from us? Can they expect from us to do the right thing? When God tested Saul, what did he learn about him? He learned Saul would not obey...

1Sa 13:12-13 KJV 12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

And so we conclude where we began, what we love is what we will be like. God knows what we truly love so let us cry out to Him for a pure heart, pure motives and a heart that loves what He loves. He is building an eternal  kingdom and He is looking for those who will govern with Him. It will be those who love what He loves and as a result are like Him.