Overcoming Anxiety, Pt. 2

God is still for us even when He tells us no. He is not holding out on us;
He has a better plan, even if it takes us a long time to understand.

Overcoming Anxiety, Pt. 2

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

(Philippians 4:6-8)

I received an email from one of our church members where she shared with me how her alcoholic father and her had not ended their relationship well. He died before she was able to make things right with him. While still dealing with this painful reality, she attended a conference at her church where the speaker said she felt led to change her topic. She told the audience that she felt like God wanted her to speak about children of alcoholic fathers. My friend shed many tears and afterward spoke to the conference speaker who told her, "You are angry with the Father for giving you the dad that you have, and you need to get past that and ask Him to forgive you." My friend replied, "I need my dad's forgiveness." The speaker said, "It's too late for that; you can't get it now, but you can get the Lord's." My friend and fellow church member here totally forgave her dad and made things right with God. She wrote, "The next four months I spent praying, reading God's Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to counsel me. I came to the point where I not only realized I had the Lord's forgiveness, but I was able to forgive myself. . . . If I had never gone through this, I would not have been able to reach so many people who were in mental prisons because of their pasts due to alcoholism. The Lord does work all things for good for those who love Him. It changed my way of thinking about crises and tough times; it helped me to understand that I grow the most when I go through them."

Please do not listen to one of the Devil's primary lies that God is holding out on you. Your anxious heart will find rest as you learn to trust God and understand that He always loves you; He has not forsaken you. He allows things to happen that He will redeem for His glory, for your good, and for you to help others.

God is still for us even when He tells us no. I am sure you can look back on key moments in your life when God said no, and it was very upsetting to you in the moment, but looking back, you are most grateful. He knows more and better, so we must trust Him, even if we must wait until eternity to see the full picture. But most of the time, God in His kindness allows us to see why He did what He did or allowed what He allowed.

2 Corinthians 12:9 states, "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Ask the Lord to help you to be at peace, pray, forgive, trust God, and walk forward in anxiety-free living.