1892) There are many mental, emotional, and even physical ailments that are no longer hidden in shame. These things can be anxiety, \the inability to pay attention, and the more-than-average swings in emotions.
As one who has to deal continually with anxiety, I find myself ashamed of it from time to time. These are my thoughts. If I realized all the things I have to be thankful for, I wouldn’t have anxiety. If I had enough faith, it would leave. If I just find more meaningful things to do, it wouldn’t be so overwhelming. My list of “ifs” goes on and on.
The bottom line is, I have to deal with anxiety regularly and it is not an excuse for me or for my poor behavior. It’s a reality I wish I didn’t have to face.
Evidently, anxiety hasn’t been invented in the 21st century. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us in the original Greek to cast all our anxieties onto God and let him help carry them. What this doesn’t do for me is make it go away. Instead, God shares it with me. Modern metal health describes this as God (or someone else) “sitting” with me; feeling the anxiety along with me. T
his type of “sitting” is a comfort because I can be reminded, I’m not alone. It’s also good because there are lessons to be learned as I walk through this Valley of the Shadow. At other times, God chooses to take the anxiety away.
If you too struggle with anxiety, take heart. It’s not a recent invention. It’s real, but so is God and his comfort to us.
