Alone, I sat in the darkness of my bedroom bearing a heaviness I could not shake. Anxiety tightly gripping my chest. I know I can’t give up, I told myself. But I can’t keep going!
Perhaps you’ve felt this way before, too. You’ve given it your all, but you’ve found it’s not enough to free you from the grip anxiety and fear have on you. Believe me when I say, I know the feelings of frustration, anguish, and hopelessness you feel as a result of struggling with anxiety and fear. I know the tears you’ve cried, because I’ve cried them too.
Fear of the future, the unknown, people’s opinions, failure, not being enough, being abandoned or rejected by those you love most—those have been some of the fears that have plagued me for years. I know the torment and debilitating pain that living with anxiety and fear causes—emotionally, spiritually, and physically. However, I can also now say (because of how the Lord has since rescued me from the pit I was stuck in)—I know the peace, healing, and freedom that is found in knowing and relying on God’s unfailing, perfect love and living in full surrender to His plans and purposes for my life.
If you are struggling with living gripped by anxiety and fear, I want you to know that, while it will take time to overcome anxiety and fear, with God’s help and your dedication to the process, you can do just that. God will show you the way. The question you must first ask yourself is: will I choose to ask God for help, so He can begin to show me the way out of living in fear to living perfectly loved?
The Bible says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
This Scripture is an invitation for you to draw closer to God, who is Love, and to become more deeply rooted in His perfect love. God sees your pain. He knows the depth of your struggle, and He wants to meet you right in the middle of it—in the hardened, dark places of your heart that feel void of all hope, joy, and life; and in the deep-down hidden places where shame, doubt, anxiety, and fear like to hide out. God wants you to learn to rely on His perfect love, because it’s His perfect love that will render each and every one of your fears powerless!
So, go ahead now. Take your first step with God on a journey toward living free from fear in His perfect love by saying a prayer. Simply call out to God, be honest about what you’re feeling, and confess your struggle and your need for His help. He will meet you right where you are at. His Holy Spirit will begin to guide you, empowering and encouraging you to keep putting one foot in front of the other in the direction of His leading. Some days, you may take two steps forward and one step back, or one step forward and two steps back. It’s okay! God will be there to cheer you on all along the way until you finally arrive in His loving embrace, no longer anxious or afraid.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray for my sister or brother in Christ who is struggling today with anxiety and fear. Right now, they feel trapped in their pain and unable to see a way out, but I know you have made a way for them to begin living free from anxiety and fear in your perfect, unfailing love. Will you encourage them by reassuring them of your perfect love for them? Will you invite them into your presence, and reveal to them what first small step they can take this week toward experiencing more joy and peace?
In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
