Philippians
4:6-7 6 Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. 7 Then the peace of God that
surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Being well acquainted with anxiety, this passage caught my
eye on the back cover of a prayer booklet I was reading during Eucharistic
Adoration last Sunday. That evening, I
went to my computer and copied the passage from the Bible Gateway source and
pasted it above. The next morning, I
checked my social media and found the same passage cited on a friend’s
posting. Maybe God is trying to tell me
something.
Having enough faith to put complete trust in God is not easy
for us worriers. Some of our brains are
wired in such a way to overreact to stressful situations. That feeling of panic with a pounding heart,
upset stomach, chest tightness, and the compounding reactions to the reaction
only serve to exacerbate the anxiety.
I have written on this topic before because of the impact it
has had on my life, and the realization that there are likely many people,
especially young people, who are experiencing similar feelings every day.
Unchecked anxiety can make the most mundane situation seem like an insurmountable
obstacle for some.
One of my current anxieties comes from the realization that
I passed this tendency on to my children, all three of which have been
affected. While a genetic component
contributes to this affliction, my anxiety-affected behavior undoubtedly
influenced them as they grew up.
Observing a parent who appears overly cautious in avoiding certain
situations is bound to crimp a child’s self-confidence. I so regret that one of my sons still suffers
greatly.
Today, much help is available that did not exist when I was
young. Awareness of the problem among healthcare
professionals, counselors, and the general population have reduced the stigma
attached to seeking help for mental illnesses.
Just knowing that others experience these feelings, and understanding
the causes can bring some comfort. By
all means, anyone whose daily life is constricted by anxiety and panic should
be encouraged to seek treatment.
That being said, we should be comforted by the words of Paul
in his letter to the Philippians. If we
place our complete trust in God by prayer and petition, the peace of God that
surpasses all understanding will bring us comfort in Christ Jesus. Ask God for help. That help may come in the form of increased
faith and self-confidence, or by obtaining the strength and courage needed to
face those fears, seeking professional help when necessary. Don’t be afraid!
