A breakthrough in controlling anxiety
The pillow must activate the cotton candy machine in my head. All day long I control my feelings, then I lie down and my thoughts swirl around the edges of my mind, collecting more junk with every revolution. It grows into big, sticky mess.
STOP IT!
My own voice in the dark interrupted my obsessions and startled me as much as the sleeping dog nearby. Way too much real estate in my brain is occupied by these ruminations and I’m sick of it and sick from it.
Stop it now
Controlling #anxiety requires controlling thoughts Click To TweetThis habit is my focus and it has to stop because it’s not worthy of my attention which rightfully belongs to God.
Isaiah 26:3, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” ESV
BREAKTHROUGH
Lying under the covers, I made a commitment to put away my worry. For a moment I hesitated and narrowed the eyes of my mind to stare at it one last time before I put it in a box and slammed the lid. Allowing the latch to fall into place, I slid the lock through the eye and snapped it tight. I put it out of my mind. Oh, of course I tip-toed back to the box several times and mentally fingered the lock before the Holy Spirit nudged my hand away.
Stop it. Why would I want to go back there?
I should never let my mind wander, it falls into a cavernous rut and doesn’t come back. It’s enough to make me feel like I’ve totally lost it and need a search party.
Psalm 139:23, “Search me, God, and know my anxious heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” NIV
Giving up the self-talk, I turned to God.
Search me ~ He did
Know my anxious heart ~ He does
Test me ~ He will
Know my anxious thoughts ~ Here we go again
Seriously, this has to stop.
Psalm 139:24, “See if there is any offensive way and lead me in the way everlasting.” NIV
See there’s the problem; I like to lead, not follow.
My thoughts need to follow His thoughts, but they are so unlike mine. His ways aren’t like mine either or none of this would be happening. What does that even mean, follow His thoughts? Trust. Trust He is leading me to good places, put on my faith eyes and quit walking by sight. His word is a light for the next right step, so take it.
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen to God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go…” MSG
THE LIGHT IS BACK ON
For the first time in a while, I’m smiling again. Not only that, I’ve laughed so hard I could barely sit up. I wish I could tell you I’m totally free from traveling down that mental dead end road. Maybe someday. My breakthrough came when I put my thoughts in reverse and backed out of this quagmire. No one promised it would be easy, but the effort is worth it, because I’m getting there and you can too.
Lamentations 3:40, “Let us search out and examine our ways and turn back to the Lord.” HCSB
You can read the previous posts in this series: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. If these prescriptions for anxiety have helped you, share with others.
Just what I needed to hear. Thank you for allowing the LORD to use you in such a mighty way. Now I know why I don’t like cotton candy!
Sticky, icky mess
Thank you, Vickie, a transparent post that encourages me to trust God the author and finisher of our faith!
Thank you. He’s got a lot of finishing to do in me
Yes! I’m like this too…just had a few nights where I couldn’t even sleep. I’m going to try the box thing and locking it and throwing the key far away;)
Great post Vickie!
I won’t say it’s a cure all but it has seriously helped me
Such an important topic here. A friend of mine deals with anxiety, so this is encouraging to me to read. Thank you.
As I am writing this series I am beginning to see how epidemic anxiety is. Thanks for stopping by
This is so good — we do have a choice about where we place our focus! I need this reminder!
I write to remind myself. Thanks so much
Anxiety can be debilitating. You’re so right–it can take us away from focusing on the Lord, Who can ultimately be our Healer from anxiety. I loved how you broke down the verse about God searching us and knowing us and our anxious thoughts, etc. “Here we go again…” Yep. With you on that one.
That came straight from the Lord after I was in bed with the lights out. I couldn’t wait to read the verse and it really spoke to me Thank you