Overcoming anxiety, depression, and fear

A little background

I am six (6) days away from a surgical consultation regarding my Congenital hydrocephalus. That being said, my anxiety, which is always high, is even worse now. Because of that, I began a seven day devotional reading today that addresses anxiety, depression, and fear and, more specifically, how prayer and Scripture reading can help us through those tough times.

Finding our identity

Yesterday, as I was eating lunch, I was reading an article in my TableTalk devotional magazine titled Where do you find your identity? It was talking about how some people's only identity is the wealth they possess. Basically, if they lose that, they are nobody and waste away into oblivion.

Written by Reverend Stephen Mueller, it began talking about Lazarus and the "rich man" and posed the question why Heavenly Father simply identified by what he possessed rather than calling him by name. Pastor Stephen Mueller - author of the article - suggested if was due to the fact that other than his worldly possessions, his life was totally empty and void of substance. I can't imagine such a miserable existence.

What is your true identity?

If you are born again, yo and know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, where do you draw your strength and hope? If it is anything other than Jesus Christ, you are headed down that same path of despair as the rich man. Only Christ can provide you with true and lasting identity and value. Won't you reach out to him today?

Being the hands of Christ and ministering to others

God saved you and me so that we would serve as examples to others of His love and mercy at work in and through a human life.

Many people seem to think the only reason for salvation is so that a person will go to heaven when he dies. Eternal life is part of God’s plan of forgiveness, but that’s not the sole reason for our salvation. God saved us so that we each might reflect His nature—that we might be His people on this earth, doing the kinds of works that Jesus Himself would do if He were walking in our shoes, through our world, during our lifetimes. He desires to manifest His character through our personalities and giftedness.

When we allow His Holy Spirit to work in us and through us to others, we become vessels of His love in action. We begin to reflect His compassion, love, and mercy to others. And in so doing, we become His witnesses.

God calls us to serve one another just as Jesus did. He didn’t save you or call you to service so that you might be exalted, praised, glorified, or put on a pedestal. He saved you so you could serve Him and others. When we do this, we honor Him with our lives. The most important thing you can do outside of accepting Christ as your Savior is to give your life to Him and allow Him to lead you each day.

Some mistakenly think that what we do is unimportant to God, but this is far from true. He has a plan for each one of us. When we make a decision to walk by faith, He will reveal it to us and that plan always includes service and dedication to Him and to those He brings into our lives.

God loved us so that we might love others. He blesses us so that we might bless others. That’s what the Christian life is all about.

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(Photo credit: Atlanta Journal-Constituition)

You might wonder what a newspaper photograph of a motor vehicle accident has to do with serving/ministering to others. What are the firefighters, EMTs, and tow truck operators doing? They are ministering to the driver's of the vehicles in their time of need.

As I was reading the passage at the top of the blog earlier today, and despite having been saved since I was 27, it had never occurred to me that our service to others was so intertwined with our salvation. It makes perfect since though because we are made in His likeness and what did he do? He served others.

Did you notice the emergency personnel seen impervious to the fact that the AJC photographer was making their picture? I guarantee they knew he/she was making their picture but, as the devotional told us, they weren't doing it for praise or notoriety, they were - through their service - honoring God.

Turning your life over to Christ (John 3:16)

Give Your Heart to Christ  (Read: Ephesians 2:8 & 9)

Spiritual redemption is the first key toward developing a positive self-image. People who don’t know Christ may claim they think the world of themselves, but they won’t draw that conclusion if they’re honest. Most unbelievers who state they’re self-sufficient and don’t need Christ are miserable people in crises. They’re like beautiful flowering weeds with no strong root system. They only have themselves to rely on for strength, energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. Eventually, they get to the end of themselves. They don’t have the Holy Spirit in them to build them up in Christ in a way that’s comforting and based on truth, even in times of chastisement.

Having a relationship with Jesus Christ resolves many issues that undermine emotional wholeness:

·

 Feeling guilty. Guilt is created when you have unforgiven sin. When you ask for God’s forgiveness, you’re forgiven. Guilt is washed away (Rom. 8:1).

Feeling unloved. When you turn to Christ, you must accept God loves you and desires to have an eternal relationship with you (Rom. 8:38-39).

· Having a spirit of revenge against others. Once you’ve accepted God’s free gift of salvation, you should recognize that God also wants to forgive others. What God has done for you, He desires to do for all people, regardless of their past (Col. 3:13).

· Striving to earn favor with God. God’s gift of salvation to you is free. You can’t earn it, buy it, or achieve it through good works. You don’t deserve it. When you’re born anew spiritually, you must accept that any favor you have with God is based on what Christ has done (Eph. 2:8-9).

If you want to be emotionally whole today, give your life to Christ. Once you’ve accepted Christ Jesus as your personal Savior, you must follow Him as your Lord. This daily following of Christ includes confessing sins, a daily cleansing of your spirit that’s just as vital to your spiritual health as a daily bath is to your physical health. You seek God’s forgiveness first for your sin nature and then for the sins you commit as you follow Christ.

Remember, no one’s capable of following Christ perfectly. Everyone is prone to both willful and innocent errors—what some call sins of commission and sins of omission. It’s for these sins that you seek ongoing forgiveness. And when you do, your loving heavenly Father promises to extend His grace and mercy to you (Eph. 1:7).

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The family of God (The Cathedral Quarter)

I remember my salvation experience just like it was yesterday even though its been over 20 years since it happened. I woke up on a Tuesday morning and I had an empty feeling in my heart . . . not like I was sick, just like something was missing. I went on about my day, but I couldn't shake that feeling. After lunch, I called my niece, Amy, and told her about what I was experiencing and ask if she could come over to the house later that evening. She must have known in her spirit what was going on because, when I met her at the front door, she had her Bible with her. We started talking and she asked me if I knew Jesus as my Savior. I told her "no" but I thought that was the source of the emptiness had all that day. She opened her Bible to John 3:16 and let me read it, then she asked me if I wanted to pray. For the first time in my life, I couldn't get the words to come out, so she prayed with me and, that night, I turned my life around.

 

Fear Not, I Will Help You

“Those who contended with you, those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing. For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you’” (Isa. 41:12–13).

Back in the days of the Hatfields and McCoys, when you messed with one member of the family, you basically picked a fight with the whole clan. Right or wrong, your family was behind you. I believe that is God’s message here; anyone who messes with you has Me to contend with.

Don’t underestimate the value of the Lord holding your hand either. Sometimes we just need the encouragement of someone standing along beside us to give us the strength to fight the battle. “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Eccles. 4:12). When God is part of your cord, there is certainly no reason to fear. So what are you anxious about today? What is weighing you down? Or maybe something is weighing down your friend, your spouse, or perhaps your child. If you are a believer, then you are part of the body of Christ. You may need to be Jesus to someone today, His arms or His hands. Maybe today you will need to be the one who comes alongside someone and hold their right hand or wrap your arms around them.

Remember when you were a child and had a bad dream, and you needed someone to hold your hand or hug you and reassure you that everything would be okay? Maybe they told you, Don’t be afraid, mommy and daddy are here to protect you. Well, your Heavenly Father wants you to know the same thing:

 “Fear not, I will help you.”

If fear is venom, the anti-venom would be Psalm 91. On any day you’re feeling particularly fearful or worrisome, read this entire Psalm. “He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him” (Ps. 91:15, NIV). You can call upon God any time of any day, and you’ll never reach a busy signal. Plus, you have unlimited minutes on His calling plan. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7, NIV).

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You are right there in the middle of the crisis, holding my hand. I will not live in fear. Help me to take my courage and share it with others when they need someone to come alongside of them. In Jesus name, amen.

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I am lucky that, besides my biological family, God has blessed me with "adopted" sisters, my Hydrocephalus family, and my fire service family (pictured in part above). If you mess with me, you are going to have to deal with them and, particularly my sister in Rhode island, is very protective when it comes to me.

We must seek to be humble (D & C 5:24; 1 Peter 5:5)

Doctrine & Covenants (D & C) 5:24

Behold, I say unto him, he exalts himself and does not humble himself sufficiently before me; but if he will bow down before me, and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of his heart, then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he desires to see.

1 Peter 5:5

Behold, I say unto him, he exalts himself and does not humble himself sufficiently before me; but if he will bow down before me, and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of his heart, then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he desires to see.

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Although not the original image I chose to go with this blog, I think it - indirectly - speaks to being humble. What is humility you might ask? It is defined as "freedom from arrogance or pride" and, in order to have a proper relationship with our Heavenly Father, it is essential. Otherwise, we tend to take credit for the blessings bestowed upon us and don't give thanks to the author and finisher of our salvation.

Fear not . . . be of good courage (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

You might wonder what a picture of firefighters battling a fire has to do with being strong and of good courage. Having done it (or, should I say, faced it) I can tell you it takes courage to face the heat and danger that results from a fire in a commercial building -- particularly large structures like a warehouse or a store. But God is there anytime there is fear and uncertainty. For example, last fall, when I was hospitalized for three weeks after my hydrocephalus became symptomatic, all I could do was turn to God. Imagine, if you will, having a headache, blurred vision, and vertigo so severe that the only option is to perform brain surgery. Just one problem: the pressure inside your head (known as intracranial pressure) is so high, that even the slightest change in it could result in a potentially fatal brain bleed. That was my situation and all I could do was ask Heavenly Father to relieve the pressure and pain and bless the doctor's with the wisdom to provide an effective, but safe, treatment. It has taken some time, but I am pretty much back to my baseline to use medical terminology.

Today's prayer

Lord, if I am fearful or uncertain, please give me your peace and remind me that you are with me always . . . even until the end of the age. Amen.

When you wait upon the Lord (Ps. 27:13-14)

Do you feel like you have messed up so badly that there appears to be no way out? God said David was a man after His own heart, yet David committed adultery and murder. So you need to know that no matter how deep a pit you are in, God is ready and willing to lift you out. When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you need to do is look up. 

God has given us a fail-proof recipe for restoration. “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14, NIV). Your part is to humble yourself, pray, and repent; then God will hear, forgive, and heal. David said, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Ps. 27:13–14). David did not lose heart, and you should not either. Wait on the Lord.

The apostle Paul tells us, “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39, NIV). Do not fear; there is nothing that can separate [insert your name here] from God’s love. I repeat: nothing can separate you from God’s love! 

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Do you remember back in the seventies a cartoon character named "Schleprock"? Every time you saw him he had a dark cloud and lightning over his head. The good news for those of us who believe in Christ is that it doesn't have to be that way. Palm 27, verses 13 and 14 admonishes us to "be of good cheer and wait on the Lord".  I will be the first to admit, it's hard to be of good cheer when you are dealing with severe pain or emotional distress, but God is always on time and He never fails us . . . His answer might not be exactly what we had in mind, but it is what's best for us.

Overcoming the 'perfect storm' (part 2)

Meditate on These Things

Paul’s final instruction in his prescription to anxiety is to meditate on the things of God. In other words, pick what you ponder. Picture your thoughts as airplanes in the sky above a busy airport. You are the air traffic controller of that airport. You get to decide which thoughts land and which ones fly away. Want to be happy tomorrow? Let the thoughts of happiness land today. Want to be miserable tomorrow? Let thoughts of guilt, worry, and fear land today.

Healing from anxiety requires healthy thinking. In truth, your challenge is not your challenge; your challenge is the way you think about your challenge. Likewise, your problem is not your problem; the way you look at the problem is your problem. Satan knows this, which is why he is always seeking to plant lies in your thinking. He wants to influence the way you perceive your struggles or uncertainties. But remember that he is not the master of your mind.

Furthermore, you have a power he can never defeat, for you have God on your side. When anxiety threatens to weigh down your heart, you can simply call on God. This slaps the handcuffs on the culprit and marches it before the One who has all authority. This denies worries and fears to have a platform to influence your mind. This guards your thoughts as you trust in God your Father.

Of course, saying this and doing this are two different things. You may want to resolve that today you will think only on things that are true, honorable, and right. . . even if it kills you. But who can really do this?

There is a simpler way: just make it your aim to cling to Christ. Abide in him. Go to him as your source of strength and the One your thoughts need to obey. Read God’s Word. Listen to sermons. Worship him. Set aside distractions and claim time for him. Understand that if anything good comes into your life, he will be the conduit.

The dominant duty of the disciple is to cling to Jesus. And when you cling to Jesus, you fill your mind with God’s truth. You disarm the enemy and keep anxiety at bay. You receive God’s truth. And that truth sets you free—free from fear, free from dread, and, yes, free from anxiety.

Having anxiety just means you are human. It does not mean you are emotionally underdeveloped, stupid, demon possessed, or a failure. It does not mean your parents failed you, or vice versa. And — this is important — it does not mean you are not a Christian. Yes, even Christians battle anxiety. Jesus himself battled anxiety in the Garden of Gethsemane. But he didn’t stay anxious. And neither should you.

A new day awaits you. A new season in which you will worry less and trust more. A season with reduced fear and enhanced faith. Can you imagine a life in which you are anxious for nothing?

God can. And, with His help, you will experience it.

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As I mentioned yesterday, over the past eight months, I have had the opportunity to experience a so-called 'perfect storm' and now I am coming out on the other side. You might wonder, if that is the case, why I posted a picture of a hospital room. Between October 12, 2017 and the week prior to Thanksgiving, I was hospitalized due to complications from my hydrocephalus that included a severe headache, vertigo, and vision problems. The love I was shown during those 21 days was absolutely phenomenal. Folks that had never met each other (and, in some cases, that I had never met) came together for one purpose . . . to let me know that I was loved and that I was going to make it. Did that do away with the anxiety that I felt? Not completely . . . but my "adopted" family can tell when it was troubling me and they would circle the wagons. Christ love in human form.

Overcoming the "perfect storm" (part 1)

The Peace of God Will Guard Your Heart

When mariners describe a tempest that no sailor can escape, they call it a “perfect storm.” Not perfect in the sense of ideal, but perfect in the sense of combining factors. All the elements, such as hurricane-force winds plus a cold front plus a downpour of rain, work together to create an insurmountable disaster. The winds alone would be a challenge—but the winds plus the cold plus the rain? The perfect recipe for disaster.

You don’t need to be a mariner to experience a perfect storm. In fact, you’ve undoubtedly already faced a few in your lifetime. A layoff plus recession. An illness plus a job change. A relationship breakup plus a college rejection. A sudden loss plus an unforeseen event that threatens your future. Individually, these elements might be manageable. But collectively, they are absolutely formidable. It’s enough to make you wonder, Will I even survive?

Paul’s answer to that question is as profound as it is concise. When you present your requests to God with thanksgiving, “the peace of God . . . will guard your heart” (Philippians 4:7 NIV). In other words, as you do your part and release the worry to God, he does his part by bestowing on you his perfect peace. You should be worried . . . but you’re not. You should be upset . . . but you are calm. The peace of God transcends all logic, scheming, and efforts to explain it.

When Paul was faced with a “perfect storm” at sea, he told the sailors, “Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. . . . God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you'" (Acts 27:23–24 NIV). On the deck of a sinking ship, God sent angels to minister to Paul. He will do the same for you. Unlike the world, his resources are limitless and his peace is permanent.

Perhaps you’ve prayed and prayed and heard nothing. Don’t give up! Rest in the truth that just as God sent angels to protect those you read about in the Bible, he will send his angels to protect you—even as your storm continues to rage. When you gave your life to him, he took you into his family as a cherished child. He has purpose for your days, and he invites you to join in accomplishing his will in the world. He will use the storms to grow your faith and trust in him.

When you seek the Lord, you will find him. So seek him first. Lead with worship and thanksgiving. Go first to your Father in prayer and praise. Confess to him your fears. Gather with his people. Set your face toward God. Cry out for help. Admit your weakness. Then, once God moves, take a step and move with him.

Expect to see the God of ages fight for you. He is near, as near as your next breath. You may be facing the perfect storm, but Jesus offers the perfect peace.

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I am a firm believer that nothing in our life "just happens" or is mere happenstance . . . God doesn't work that way. My devotional this morning (copied above) is a prime example because I have just weathered one of those perfect storms. It started one year ago next month (May, 2017) when my beloved wife MaryLou began showing early indications of dementia. For my readers who might not be familiar with it, dementia (Alzheimer's Association, 2018) is a general term used to describe a condition that results in the decline of a person's mental abilities to the point it interferes with their day-to-day activities. Despite the fact her diagnosis was intermediate dementia, I was determined to care for her at home as long as I possibly could. From late May until early August, I did just that despite the fact that it was taking a toll on my health.

Toward the end of August, I had to call EMS after her blood glucose skyrocketed and she blacked out. They kept her overnight in the ER. Early the next morning, her doctor came in and said: 1) He was going to admit her so that I could get some rest; and 2) He was going to start the process to get her in a skilled nursing facility. It was then I realized the toll it had taken on me . . .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alzheimer's Association (2018). What is dementia. Retrieved on April 22, 2018 from https://m.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp

Be anxious for nothing . . .

Let Your Gentleness Be Evident to All

Unchecked anxiety can unleash an Enola Gay of angry outbursts, rash accusations, and fiery retaliations against those in your path who are unfortunate to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. How many people have been wounded as a result of such unbridled stress? On the other hand, how many disasters have been averted because one person decided to be calm?

It is this composure Paul is referring to when he states, “Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Philippians 4:5 NIV). The Greek word translated as gentleness describes a temperament that is seasoned and mature. It envisions an attitude that is fitting to the occasion, levelheaded and tempered. The gentle reaction is one of steadiness, evenhandedness, and fairness.

Jesus promised that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 13:33 NIV). It is as inevitable as the sun rising on a new day—as waves crashing on the shores of a beach. But what you also need to remember is that Jesus has promised to be with you in the midst of those troubles. Before Jesus departed this earth, he said to his disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20 NIV).

In fact, throughout the Bible, God repeatedly pledged to be present with his people. He was with Abram as he traveled to a new land. He was with Hagar when she fled into the wilderness, and with Isaac when he was forced to move from place to place. He was with Joshua when he faced the Canaanites, and with David when he faced the Philistines. He was with Peter in prison, and with Paul whenever and wherever he found himself in dire circumstances.

God was never watching from a distance. In fact, his very name is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” He became flesh. He became sin. He defeated the grave. And he is still with you.

Maybe you’re fighting today to keep a family together, a business afloat, or a school from going under. How you handle that fight will reveal where your trust ultimately lies. If you trust in Jesus and believe he is always with you, the byproduct of releasing the control to him will be a contagious calm that surrounds your life. This calm will allow you to see how God is working in your situation—and others will notice there is something different about you. It will bring healing to your anxiety, mature your faith, and show others that God is always faithful.

Anxiety management is like pulling stumps out of the ground. Some of your worries have deep root systems, and extracting them is hard work. But you don’t have to do it alone. Present the challenge to your Father and ask for help.

Will he solve the issue? Yes, he will. Will he solve it immediately? Maybe. Or maybe part of the test is an advanced course in patience. This much is sure: contagious calm will happen to the degree that you turn to him.

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Occasional anxiety happens to all of us. It is when it affects us to the point that we could complete day-to-day tasks that it becomes problematic. (National Institute, N.D.) But, with the help of our Heavenly Father, we can overcome this "game changer" You might be thinking "But, Walter, how can that be?" Before returning to the right hand of His father, Jesus promised "I will be with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20 [NIV]). With that promise - and the fact that He is omnipresent - we can know for a certainty that He will not forsake us or abandon us. I deal with anxiety day in and day out so I can assure you that turning to God works as well - if not better - than any medication the doctor could prescribe and with no problematic side effects. Here's what I do:

1. If I feel an anxiety attack coming on, I stop what I am doing and pray. It's usually not anything flashy or wordy . . . just "Lord, I am beginning to feel overwhelmed. Please take it away and replace it with your joy. Amen."

2. After finishing my prayer, I pull up YouTube and put on some contemporary Christian hymns (such as Mercy Me) or some old school southern gospel and I am as good as new.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH] (N.D.). Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved on April 21, 2018 from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml