It was two o’clock in the morning, and I was on the floor in my kitchen, unable to catch my breath. My heart was racing, and my husband was away on a trip to visit family. I crawled to my phone and dialed my neighbor’s number. It was a risk as she was a widow in her seventies, likely unable to hear her phone ring in the middle of the night. She answered. “Please come over, something is wrong, and I need help.” She came over and sat with me as we dialed 911.
What felt like heart failure was a panic attack—my first of many in a season of fear, worry, and doubt. I doubted if God could bring peace to an anxious mind. I knew Philippians 4:6-7 backward and forwards: “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Yet, in the middle of an episode, it was hard to grasp the peace of God. Would I ever recover my “normal”?
Hebrews 6 addresses this uncertainty—is God faithful to His promises? When Abraham’s ability to create a family seemed impossible, God promised to multiply his offspring. And to prove that He would follow through He swore an oath. Typically, in the court of law, when we give a testimony, we swear to tell the whole truth “so help me God.” We swear on a higher power, but God is the highest power so He “swore by himself” (Hebrews 6:13). Why?
Because God wanted to show his unchangeable power even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things…we…might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. —Hebrews 6:17–18
Not only does God’s oath alone secure His promises, but God, in His love and mercy despite our doubt, sent Jesus Christ. Jesus, “the guarantee of a better covenant” (Hebrews 7:22), is the certainty of our hope. As we patiently wait for healing, answered prayer, a new community, a clean bill of health, salvation for a family member, and all the other things we are afraid to release to God, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). We now inherit all the promises of God due to Jesus, the perfect priest, who intercedes for us (Romans 8:34).
As I worked through my anxiety, God’s promise of peace delivered me, and my anxiety became manageable. Still, I wrestle with it, and when the doubt creeps in, I like to sing the bridge of the song
“Build My Life” by Pat Berrett:
“I will build my life upon Your love
It is a firm foundation
I will put my trust in You alone
And I will not be shaken.”
@Dorothy: praying for you. What an outrageous trespass, these hackers are unbelievable. On top of everything you already go through. BUT GOD. BUT GOD. He will be your defender. He is the Judge & Avenger.
@Gramsiesue: may the Lord comfort you and give you strength, praying for Steve.
@Kathy: praying for new joy and hope for you in this season as you lead your students. This too shall pass. Weeping may be at night but joy comes in the morning.
@Bailey: praying for you. I agree it’s hard when the enemy uses his tools to come against us like a flood. What an ordeal in the middle of the night story you shared. Unless we went through the storm, we would not know Jesus could calm that storm. May you experience the calmness among the storm of anxiety/fear/panic attack, and enjoy the sweet days of the abundant life He came to give. It’s your portion, rightfully.
WOW!!! So much to take in today and the last few days. I’ve just been trying to absorb it. My life has changed so much in the last five days. God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and SRT have been my saving grace. The house we thought, yes I said thought, we were going to rent ended up with so many problems and code violations that now we are trying to get out of the lease. To top it off my sister went “crazy” on me yesterday. She got a phone call from some hackers and they got into her laptop but they were also on the phone with her for a bit. She now wears oxygen and when she goes with out it for a while she doesn’t think straight, well she thought they were in the house. They told her to send them Target gift cards — $1500 worth of them. They had told her they were her security company. When my son found out he heading into town right away. He called the police and a friend of the family to check on her because my sister told my son the hacker was in the house with her. I was at work at this time. They got to my sister before she bought all the gift cards but she had withdrawn the money. There was no one in the house with my sister, we don’t believe there ever was because she tried to tell the police and my son the person had been here all day. I was with her until she left for the doctor and no one was in the house with us. I did discover her oxygen had come unhooked during the day so that possibly could have contributed to her confusion — she also doesn’t wear it when she goes out of the house even though she has one of those small portable ones. Sorry ladies I guess I got carried away.
Be blessed and know God loves and cares about you always.
Thank you Bailey for sharing! Anxiety is real and I have family members who suffer from this as well. It’s my prayer that they too can realize these Truths, The Triune God holds us us and can Not be shaken. He alone is our anchor.
Oh my goodness! You ladies have lifted and encouraged me with your comments. ❤️
“The winds came and the storms blew, but I built my house on You.”
“We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.”
The storm is really strong now. All I can do is pray, cry, and hang on tight to Jesus. Steve has clear scans But he is is constant, extreme pain in every joint in his body. No one can tell us why…
I watch him struggle to get out of his chair. He can’t sleep for the pain. He’s losing weight. He’s not going to work now. I don’t know what the future holds, But God does! God has the perfect plan. He has the best for us. Sometimes the best is not what we have in mind, But God…
He never leaves us. He sustains us. He provides all we need.
And to that I cling.
Prayers for Amanda, Heidi, Lynn & Jack, and so many other sisters this morning.
Hugs to all ❤️
FEAR, HE IS A LIAR
by Zach Williams
When he told you you’re not good enough
When he told you you’re not right
When he told you you’re not strong enough
To put up a good fight
When he told you you’re not worthy
When he told you you’re not loved
When he told you you’re not beautiful
That you’ll never be enough
Fear he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
Cause fear he is a liar
When he told you were troubled
You’ll forever be alone
When he told you you should run away
You’ll never find a home
When he told you you were dirty
And you should be ashamed
When he told you you could be the one
That grace could never change
Fear he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
Cause fear he is a liar
Let Your fire fall and cast out all my fears
Let Your fire fall Your love is all I feel
Fear he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
Cause fear he is a liar
Songwriters: Jason Ingram, Zach Williams, Jonathan Lindley Smith
I tend to get lots of congestion from food. I woke up feeling full and difficult to move it. My throat and nose was full but dry…weird. It makes me very uncomfortable. I have gone to several doctors with a little help, but the problem still occurs. It has thrown me off today.
I cannot remember who wrote this, but I resinate with “Fear robs us of all peace.” Isn’t that the truth?! I pray that God helps me get my fears and worries under control.
Life has been a lot this past week – lots of tragedy and sickness. At one point during school yesterday I had to go to the bathroom and just stand in the handicapped stall and get myself together before my next group of students came in. This morning when I started my quiet time I told the Lord that I was just weary and tired, frustrated, and maybe even a little angry at all the sadness we have been enduring. Then I opened my study book and read, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
BUT GOD…
He is my Rock and my Anchor. He alone is my hope and my firm foundation. The storm is really strong for the people I love and care for and all I can do is pray and cry along with them. I don’t have any answers, but this is what I do know. God is in control. He is sovereign. Nothing takes Him by surprise. I will rest in Jesus, a better hope, a better high priest who intercedes for us.
I love this quote from Charles Spurgeon, “I kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.”
Have a blessed Tuesday, sisters.
I think of Abraham and how he was so quick to follow Gods lead and give up his only son. A true reflection of what God would do later for us. Of course, we don’t have to give up our kids in sacrifice because God gave up His, but what are we still holding back and not giving God that we could be? If we can give up everything like God did, we will truly be free. Our reliance should be only on Him. Not on our plans or resources or challenges.