Overcoming Stress and Anxiety

If you are like me I stress about EVERYTHING and then I start getting overwhelmed and that's when anxiety kicks in. I try to control everything and if something doesn't go as planned I get frustrated. Sometimes I stress about my future because when I think about what I want to do for my career I wonder if that is what God wants for me. I think about when are Justin and I going to have time to start a family. Where are we going to live after the military? How are we going to pay for a house? These thoughts just flood my mind and I feel like I'm drowning. We need to find an effective way to manage and cope with our stress and anxiety in a healthy way. Whenever my mind starts running I give it all to the Lord. Well how do you do that? We pray, we cry out to him, we read his word, we wait for his voice, we pour out our hearts to him!

In Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) it says, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you , because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I gave you is light." He promises that He will give us rest. Wait for Him, he will come to you no matter your situation no matter how big or small. When the devil starts attacking you God will be there to protect you.

1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV) " So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you"... Let me say that one more time "Give all your worries and cares about you." (Continuing)… "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith, Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen." You see the devil is like an archer waiting for his target. He knows what your weaknesses are and when he has you where he wants you he will strike. He wants you to turn away from God and lose faith, that's what he does. But lean on the lord "give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you". God will give you rest and help you with whatever you are dealing with.

Overall when stress and anxiety hits remember He has a plan for you. When you are stressing about how you are going to put food on the table, the hand of God will provide. When you didn't get into the school you wanted the hand of God is going to bring you something better. When you feel lost, the hand of God will guide you. When anxiety strikes, the hand of God will protect you. When you are feeling lonely the hand of God will give you comfort. Pray, cry out to him, wait for his voice, pour out your heart to him. Just give it all to him because He cares about YOU.