Anxiety has been a pretty big issue for me this year. A few years ago, I read Elyse Fitzpatrick's Overcoming fear, worry and anxiety. I highly recommend it!
This time around I'm reading Ed Welch's Running Scared (it's also excellent). I was struck by this warning to worriers:
When you see worry - and you will see it - be careful.
Worry is focused inward.
It prefers self-protection over trust.
It can hear many encouraging words - even God's words - and stay unmoved.
It can be life-dominating.
It reveals the things that are valuable to you.
It can reveal that you love something more than Jesus. It crowds Jesus out of your life.
And here is some encouragement for worriers:
Your task is not to transform into a superficial, sunny optimist. It is to grow to be an optimist by faith. ...
When we belong to Christ, it will end with joy.
As for me, I want to watch and endure, not worry. I want to be like the night watchmen who are waiting to see first light (Psalm 130).
God is the God of suspense, but it is a suspense that teaches us peace.
He is the God of surprises, but the surprises are always better than we could have dreamed.
I can't put him in a box and assume that he should act according to my time schedule and according to my less sophisticated version of what is good.
I need the mind of Christ. I can do with nothing less.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame. (Heb 12:2)
Amen!
Quotes are from Ed Welch Running Scared 97, 93.
2 comments:
This has got to be my next bookclub read.
:) Yup, it's a good one! Elyse Fitzpatrick is fantastic too.
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