Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6 NIV
Replacing Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental health problems. It is estimated that one in 10 Canadians is affected by them. These disorders can be successfully treated so it is important to recognize the difference between being anxious in response to a real event, and an anxiety disorder which produces fear or distress that is out of proportion to the situation. People who suffer from anxiety disorders have long periods of intense feelings of fear or distress out of proportion to real events.
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Many Canadians are chronically sleep deprived. All of us have nights when we lay awake, unable to quiet our minds, tossing and turning with care and concern. So many of us are carrying a boat load of such cares and concerns. Someone on social media asked how people dealt with anxiety. There were all sorts of answers, and one person listed what they did and then said, “but it doesn’t help much.” I appreciated their honesty. Here is the best way to deal with the cares of the world, found in Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Jesus is always willing to carry the load for us. The apostle Paul, as well as millions of other followers of Jesus have discovered that when we pray, keeping our focus on the Lord and those things for which we have to be thankful, the cares that cause our anxiety are replaced by His peace. It takes as much effort to fear as it does to walk in faith, so why not choose to leave your fears with Jesus.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley