Tag Archives: anxiety

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

Posted on by brokenredeemed

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:22-33, ESV

As I finished reading my toddler her bible before bed on Friday night, I noticed as I was marking the page that the next story was about Jesus walking on the water. And I suddenly got the impulse to share it with you. Why? Maybe, because with all the panic going on around us–all the waves and wind–we need to remind ourselves that we serve the One who not only walks on the waves, but He who controls and calms the storms that rage around us (Matthew 4:35-41; Matthew 8:23-27).

Nothing takes God by surprise. He’s got everything under control and there’s no reason to live in fear and anxiety. We just have to trust that God will protect and provide during this time. In other words, our eyes need to stay focused on the Savior, rather than the waves. This may have just been something I needed to remember, but I thought I’d share anyways. Have a good week y’all, turn off the news, and get outside. Don’t stress. Pray.

God bless. 💕

Lifter of my Head

Posted on by brokenredeemed

My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad. ~ Psalm 34:2

Day 2 of my Cookie Girl being sick with what appears to be the flu (update, she has strep)…I read some scripture, and then began to peruse through my bible study notebook, and came across something I wrote a while back but hadn’t shared. It seems pretty fitting for the moment.

I’ve been reading through the book of Psalm for a while now. The verse above had me asking, “what does this mean?” It means that my life–everything that I do, everything that I have–declares His glory. Even those of us who feel like we have, and/or are, very little, have much to boast about in the Lord.

Here are some examples of things we may have been blessed with: life, health, love, a home, peace, family, hope, grace, food, redemption, salvation, life-everlasting, a job, clothing, freedom…

Ther Word goes on to state that when we need and seek the Lord He hears us and delivers us from our fears (Psalm 34:4). I’d like to note, however, that is not always the situation that He delivers us from, but our fear and anxiety.

I know it’s easy to boast in the Lord when all is well, and all our needs are met, but what about when we’re in need? The humble and afflicted need to see that even when things don’t go as we wish, when we’re struggling– physically, emotionally, financially–we still have so much to boast in.

He walks beside us. He never leaves us. He strengthens us when we are weak. He’s the lifter of our head; our strong tower of refuge. He envelopes us with peace and love during the most trying of circumstances, but only when we call upon His name, and allow Him to take those burdens from us.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. ~ Matthew 11:28-30

What will you give up to Him today? I know one thing I’m constantly asking Him to take away is fear regarding my children’s health. It’s practically a daily struggle; but they are His and I have to trust Him.

I Dreamed a Dream

Posted on by brokenredeemed

I don’t dream very often, and if I do, I certainly don’t remember it, but within the past two weeks I’ve had two very interesting dreams that have really spoken to me. They’re the kind of dreams you wake up from, thinking, “Wow! That was a weird dream,” and then you can’t stop thinking about them throughout the day.

Yesterday, I was feeling frustrated, anxious, and really tense about my financial situation. I have so much money going out and what seems like not enough coming in, and I’m not the type of person to spend money on frivolous things, either! After talking things over with God, I went to bed repeating to myself “My God is bigger than my problems.” And it’s true! I’ve always been able to make ends meet. There’s never been a day that I’ve gone hungry or that I wasn’t taken care of; but sometimes I really need to be reminded of this.

Well, in my dream last night, I was being accused of being someone that I wasn’t, and someone was chasing me down and trying to kill me. They attached an explosive device to my cell phone, and when that failed, they hunted me down while I slept. I kept yelling “I am not this person that you think I am!”

As I thought about this dream on my way into work, I realized how like the accuser to attempt to steal our joy, kill our hope, and destroy our future, by accusing us of being someone that we’re not—or, perhaps once were. We try to walk our lives alongside Christ, but the accuser throws everything at us in attempt to make us unhappy, anxious, or fearful, because it’s during these times that we are so focused on our situation and self-absorbed by our circumstances that our eyes aren’t where they should be—on Christ.

John 10:10 says “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Jesus came that we would have life, and life at its fullest! Therefore, we need to take our eyes off our circumstances, trusting that God will see us through as He always has. In the words of King & Psalmist, David, “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22). 1 Peter 5:7 reiterates this statement with, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” He cares for us!

Our joy and hope are found in Christ, and our future is in His hands. We shouldn’t let the accuser steal this truth from us.