Learn to Face Anxiety Without Forgetting God
Movement Live Notes
Have you ever found yourself saying “enough is enough”? When we consider just how many different decisions we wrestle with that may cause anxiety, it is apparent how we become overwhelmed. At this point, with the world's culture, and in our humanity, how can we not exclaim that enough is enough? You may be wondering, "is it even possible to release anxiety and trust that God's peace will cover me?" What will it take for us to say enough is enough to our anxiety?
Let’s look at the prophet Elijah. 1 Kings 19:1-4 says, “Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and more so if by about this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the life of one of them.” And he was afraid, and got up and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah; and he left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked for himself to die, and said, “Enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” His anxiety caused him to run. Elijah finds himself sitting under a tree, so discouraged that he prayed to die. Elijah had seen and done so much that his focus was on his circumstances instead of on Christ. Have you allowed your focus to turn to your circumstances, causing you to no longer see Jesus? Really think about this.
Many of us, like Elijah, have made mistakes. We run ourselves into the ground, packing more on ourselves, trying to balance things that were never meant for us to manage. Because we have taken on these heavier burdens, our anxiety increases until we finally cannot go on any further. What do we do when we cannot keep running? Rest; be still. Our goal today is to remind all of us to fix our eyes on Jesus. Remember that Philippians 4:4-7 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
In this moment, be still. In the stillness, invite the Holy One in. Although He is always with us, it is necessary for us to invite Him in. Friends, are you ready for God’s peace? Ask yourself that question. Then ask yourself what requests you need to present to God today so that you can receive His peace? We love you all.
Grace and Peace.
