Give Thanks in Anxiety
Open Your Bible
Habakkuk 3:17-19, Matthew 6:25-34, John 6:4-14, 1 Peter 5:6-7
BY Vina Mogg
My favorite place in the Pacific Northwest is Mt. Rainier. In the summer, thousands of wildflowers carpet the hills with shades of purple and gold and crimson and blue. The air is filled with the scent of blossoms flourishing below the majestic crown of the mountain. This splendor is described in the verse we read today: “Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these” (Matthew 6:28–29).
But something inside us is wired to labor and spin. We worry about kids, marriages, health, world events, work, what we will prepare for dinner, and what we will wear. Though these things are good, somehow through comparison or pride, our perspective becomes distorted when we believe everything is under our control. And what about the Big Worries? The ones too difficult to even speak? How will we release our hold on those?
There is a silent satisfaction we take in accomplishing and doing instead of just being. But our laboring can turn into a vortex of do lists, worries, and fears of what may or may not happen. Our labors can turn from acts of love into a frenzy of spinning thoughts and endless worries.
Matthew encourages us as we observe the beauty of the wildflowers as an alternative to this labor. That can sound easy to say but harder to live out when our pattern each day is to grab each thought as it comes to ponder or worry over. But Matthew tells us to take on none of these thoughts. The writers of today’s passages instead guide us to do the opposite of our habitual response of worry: Matthew tells us of Jesus’s call to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). Habakkuk tells us to “celebrate in the Lord.” Jesus says, “Have the people sit down” (John 6:10). Peter says, “Humble yourself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God” (1Peter 5:6).
Seek first. Celebrate. Sit down. Humble yourself.
These deliberate actions turn us from spinning to slowing down. They ask us to give into moments of grace and gratitude, exchanging anxious thoughts for waves of peace—peace that soothes when we sit down to read His word, lightness we sense when celebrate the Lord through the melody of a worship song, and freedom we feel when we humble our hearts and let go of directing our own way by surrendering to His.
The cords of anxiety loosen as we turn from spinning our web of anxious thoughts to praising the God who made the heavens and the earth. As we praise, we observe our humble place before a mighty God.
Posturing into this place of humility does not lessen us. Instead, it exalts God as the mighty One who cares so much for His creation—about me, about you—to spin and clothe and adorn us and provide just what is needed, and more, when we seek Him first.
59 thoughts on "Give Thanks in Anxiety"
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Seek first, celebrate, sit down, humble yourself.
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Love it when the Lord knows exactly what I need today <3
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Amen
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Seeking first His kingdom: Interesting how nothing in my day feels quite right until I have had my “quiet time”with the Lord, praying, and studying His word.
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“Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7. I absolutely needed this. Thank you Heavenly Father.❤️
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I love where it said “there is a silent satisfaction we take in accomplishing and doing instead of just being.” I have had anxiety my whole life but never knew what it was until well into my adult life. Well past 35 or so. I am 46 now and was always in fight mode…never flight when things got hectic inside my alcoholic ridden house (Dad abused alcohol until I was 15). It’s hard but I am clinging to His promises in His Word. I had always tried for perfection to please my chronically angry father all growing up since he would yell at the drop of a hat at everything. I never can relax even being saved over 31 yrs now. I hope that there is more for me to do for God before I go to glory. Always had to fend for myself because no one else does with the exception of The Lord. Can you pray for me and all this crap I have been towing ? Dad will be gone 12 yrs on 12/30/23 and I STILL try pleasing everyone but making myself miserable and everyone else around me as well. I have great intentions but get let down since my expectations are ridiculously high for all around me as much was expected of me. I need something to give. I am just exhausted. I need to find rest in Him my Lord. Thanks SRT Ladies! This study has been much needed. Will work at practicing all I have learned and been shown. ❤️
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I love this reminder today as I have felt very anxious. I just feel like I have been running around trying to take care of my family today, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I don’t need to control things, because God has it under his control. I pray that I Wild be able to surrender my day to him, for he cares for me. ❤️
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It’s funny how God delivers what you need right when you need it. It just takes some slowing down and listening on our part. I have been riddled with anxiety all week. In these moments, I have been struggling not to take the reins and try to micro-manage a situation that is truly out of my control. It has been a practice of obedience as I hand over this burden to God. Much easier said than done. My heart understands fully that I must put my trust in God, but wow, my mind LOVES to go rogue! As I am sure you all have felt, I have these moments of solitude and confidence, where I have released control. But as the afternoon limps along, I can feel that fear and doubt creeping back in… Which is what led me here today. I don’t often frequent this page (but listen weekly to the SRT podcasts), but I felt a nudge to log on and see what Today’s Reading would reveal. It’s amazing when you think of all the ways God communicates to us when we pause our spinning brains to listen. Today, I seek. I celebrate that He brought me here. I sit down and pray for and with you all, and I am humbled by the gift that He never fails us.
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