A Moment to Pause …. When You Are Feeling Anxious

A couple of months ago, I was experiencing some health problems. My doctor shared in the confusion of my symptoms and ran several blood tests before telling me to follow up in a couple of weeks. When I returned to her office, I sat on the exam table while she looked at the test results. All of them came back normal. 

Then she asked, “Have you been experiencing any stress?” I’ve been asked this question by doctors before and have always been quick to downplay any symptoms that could be related. However, on this particular day, I decided to open up about other symptoms I was experiencing. 

I expressed it had been hard to concentrate lately and that I was more tired than normal. Sitting down and making a menu plan – or grocery shopping seemed like more than I could handle. So, I had gotten into the routine of running into the store daily for a few items to avoid the brain work. She kindly told me that wasn’t normal and that she thought it was possible I could be dealing with anxiety. I had just thought brain fog was a normal part of motherhood. 

Anxiety is weird in the way that it is subtle but can feel like it can take complete control, and it seems like almost anything can cause it.

Motherhood. Health. Relationships. Finances. Everyday life.

In these moments, let us pause…

Lord, sometimes anxiety consumes us.

It stops us in our tracks and can make us question our faith.

It can make us feel as if we are walking through our day blindfolded.

It can make us want to check out, numbing the itch of a scratch we can’t reach.

It can feel as if it’s hard to breathe.

We despise it. We despise ourselves for not knowing how to let it go.

And when we succeed in releasing it in one area of our lives, it latches on like a leech in a new one.

When we feel anxious, remind us that You are everything we are not. Nor can we be, or were we designed to be.

Help us to remember that when anxiety has a hold on us, it has absolutely no hold on You.

Even when life feels chaotic, and we can’t shake the anxiety, we thank you that we can always find peace in knowing You alone are in control.