Anxious Living

The Anxious Savior

2014-11-21T11:00:00.000-06:00

The biggest challenge I've faced is anxiety. The lowest of my lows was my two anxiety disorders a year and a half ago. The side affects before I knew I had the issues, and ever received counseling and medicine was the toughest time of my life. That is why I started this blog originally a year ago. It was to help those who deal with situational anxiety, mental illness, disorders, and for those who work or deal with others who have these issues. On "anxiouswithme", I'd like to have every Friday post deal with some aspect of anxiety.

When I read about Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26, it comes off to me as Jesus is anxious. He is sweating blood (shown in Luke), He states He is "deeply grieved, even to the point of death". Imagine knowing you are about to die the most painful death, and how long they would keep you alive to feel the pain. Jesus is God, but also man. All men would be anxious and nervous.

Now for those who are ready to stone me for saying Jesus is anxious I'm not saying He is sinning. In Matthew 6 we learn the principle that when we are anxious and worry, we do all we can do and then give it to God (1 Peter 5:7).

Jesus makes choices to aid His anxious state. We can learn from Jesus when we deal with anxiety.

1. Jesus chose to sit in His anxiety

Anxiety won't last forever. It is physically impossible for you to be anxious for so long. When we think of our anxiety and worries we tend to believe they are everlasting. When we chose to accept our anxiety and sit in it like Jesus, we can realize the temporary nature of anxiety, and it helps calm our worries and fears knowing it will end.

2. He got away

Being in a crowd or big group of people can escalate anxiety. Sometimes just simply getting away can help you relax and think clearly.

3. He was around those who He trusted

This point is ironic due to the fact they fell asleep 3 times and truly weren't a great help. However I do believe there is good point of here of sometimes in troubling times, just being around few trustworthy friends is a great comfort.

4. He gave it to God.

I love to go to family, friends, mentors, and role models for advice or to vent. Why not go to God first? The God of all comfort can do more than all others. Studies show prayer has a significant positive improvement on those who are anxious, depressed, or hurting. Prayer will help relax you mentally, spiritually, and physically.

Jesus showed a great example when He was anxious, let's follow that example!

God Bless, Jon

Turning Tragedy to Triumph

2014-11-20T10:00:00.000-06:00

Imagine being in a plane crash. Now imagine this plane was piloted by your father and in the process your mother and siblings die. How long would it take to recover from that? Could you ever recover? Would you ever get in another plane? Well what if you did and then eight years later you get in another crash. This time your father and step-mother pass in this tragedy.

Eight years. Two crashes. Five family members lost. One member left.

You

Austin Hatch was committed to play basketball in 2011 the Michigan Wolverines when he went through the second crash. He had already had went through traumatic brain injury, a broken collarbone and a punctured lung. He also was placed in a medically induced coma for eight weeks.

Austin has recovered and recently scored a free throw for the wolverines. You can only imagine the feeling he had after scoring for the first time in a game after the second crash. When I think of this story one word comes to mind. Perseverance.

Romans 5:3 "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance."

Austin Hatch has showed a great example of perseverance and he's gotten through his sufferings in multiple ways. Here's 3 ways he pressed through that we can do as well.

1. He turned to his brothers.

Austin turned to his wolverine teammates at the University of Michigan. They provide support, encouragement and love. In the Lord's church we have brothers and sisters who are there to do the same. Let's also make sure we are giving those who are suffering what they need to persevere.

2. He turned to his coach

John Beileine has helped Austin in this time and took on a leadership role. We need to also find those who can be role models, mentors, and leadership figures in our life to show us how to endure these trials.

3. He knew God had a plan.

Austin made the remark in an interview that God had a plan for him. Do we have the maturity to look at trials from a Godly perspective? Let's pray and focus on looking at our sufferings (as hard as it may be at times) in a Godly way.

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding."

If we can endure, we will be rewarded.
James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

God Bless, Jon

Why do I do that?

2014-11-19T11:00:00.000-06:00

Do you ever feel stuck in sin? Caught up in daily bad habits that you can't seem to shake? Day after day you continue to participate in the same activities that cause you harm, grief, guilt, and pain?

I have.

Lately I've been struggling to quit some of the daily sins I do habitually. Whether it's what I say, how I think, what I listen to, what I watch, and my actions, I can't get out. I try to justify my actions.

"It's not that bad."

"I'm not the only one doing it."

"I'm a good person this one thing doesn't affect the rest of me."

We justify because we really have no good excuse for why we continue in sin. We do not understand our actions. Isn't this what we do? Yet after time these sins add up, expand, grow, and cause serious problems. Personally, it's brought me guilt.

Paul voices this in Romans 7:15 "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate."

Later in verses 19 and 20 he states, "Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me."

How do we get sin out of our lives? How can we stop doing the very things we hate?

Here's 5 tips.

1. START

We will never improve and get rid of these habits if we never start! Don't let the devil fool you into waiting!

2. Realize you will continue to fall short

As humans we always fall short, that's why Christ shed His blood. So when we make these mistakes, do not let them kill your motivation. Stand up and start over.

3. Think small

When we want to quit sinning completely, it becomes daunting. Instead set your goal shorter and go from there. Say I want to clean up my speech and stop cursing, saying bad jokes, or gossiping, Instead of thinking forever, start with a week and go from there. You'll be surprised how much easier it can seem!

4. Pray

Prayer is a release of all grief, guilt, and struggle. Give all the details to God What an encouragement in our battle every day to know God is behind us pushing us onward.

5. Find an accountability partner

If you are the only one who knows, you will continue to self justify. Find a reliable and honest friend or mentor and have them keep you on the "straight and narrow."

Fight the good fight!

God Bless, Jon.