Stories ::: Light of Hope for our Path
There are times in our lives that it feels like we are losing.
It could feel like the world is caving in around us. Even though we are surrounded by loved ones, friends, and coworkers… we still feel all alone, without hope. We feel that no one can understand. We feel that we can handle it, but we know that we simply can’t.
All of this uncertainty and pressure leads to anxiety. It’s an unending feeling of hopelessness that is often sensed as an abnormal and overwhelming sense of fear. It’s often accelerated by the self-doubt which impacts your capacity to cope with what’s happening. It will often create this downward spiral.
What’s our response? What’s the dialogue that runs through your head? It’s often: “No one knows … No one cares …God can’t help me .. people think I’m crazy … I’m embarrassed .. I’ll just hide until it’s over.”
Of course, none of those statements are true…. but it’s the dialogue that’s on a loop in our heads.
How do we overcome this? Prayer, of course, is first and foremost.
We do not want to dismiss that a big part of the solution will be to seek professional assistance. There’s nothing wrong with you sitting down to chat with a doctor, psychologist/psychiatrist, etc. about your anxiety. God has gifted these professionals to diagnose, coach, and potentially prescribe the right solutions for you!
Prayer needs to be at the center of it all. Pray for the right specialist to see, that the diagnosis is correct, etc. Not simply prayers by you, but you need others interceding on your behalf!
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Wait! I need to ask others to be praying for me? Yes, that’s right! Our natural reaction is to hide and not seek prayer from other believers. We just saw that happen at Emerge. A young lady asked for prayers for her as she’s been battling with anxiety and was feeling it slip away. She was losing that hope and feeling all alone. She hesitantly reached out for prayer and God showed up, big time!
Thank you all SO much for your prayers! Jesus has shown up in a big way - I’m feeling MUCH better, like a switch has flipped. In all my years dealing with anxiety (about 20!) it’s never flipped this fast before. I’m tearing up writing this - thank you so much. - the power of prayer is real & Jesus is awesome.
YES!!! The power of prayer is REAL and JESUS is AWESOME!! That is so much the truth. The light of Hope that only Jesus can give was revealed and shone brightly through.