For those who love someone who is on the road to destruction/suffering

 When our son was in the thick of his battle with addiction, I was confronted by my tendency to pray in worry form. I would tell myself I was praying for my boy, but I wasn’t. I was worrying while speaking to God in circles. One does not need someone to be struggling with addictions to have experienced this, you just need someone you love and are helpless to deliver from what is tormenting them.

 I was reading this evening from Isaiah 41:10 “ Fear not, for I am with you; Do not be dismayed, For I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “

As I read this a sigh of relief washes over me, but I am on the other side of that horrific battle. Yet, let me tell you, I have a default to worry and do it sometimes while I pray. We need this reminder again and again. God’s call to us to not give into that gripping fear simply because the One who is big enough for the present struggle that is gripping your heart, is present. He promises us that He will not stand idly by but rather, He promises to give us the needed strength. Fear, true fear drains us. Strength is needed and all the positive thinking of this world is not going to cut it. We need a source that is outside of ourselves, and it must be bigger and able to tinker in our hearts in ways that are beyond us or anyone we know.

 Not only is strength offered but help. Perhaps it will come in the form of wisdom to see a pathway through. God is creative and knows exactly what we need and when we need it. I have never found God early in His help, but He is not late.

 God has very large hands, and He promises to hold us up, through the storm. That is a very inviting promise and one I receive today in Jesus’ Name, and I encourage you too as well.

 We do not walk through the valleys of this life alone. He is with us and has important promises He wants us to receive. As we receive this, we are finally able to truly pray and leave these heavy heart burdens at God’s throne. Then, give thanks as now we are able to receive the peace that comes when we acknowledge really who God is and how much He cares for us and our loved ones, whatever they are going through.

The Fight with Anxiety- 3 Steps I use to win!

It is fairly common to battle anxiety. The curious thing about Anxiety is that it is not a 9 to 5 battle. At night , it can intensify. Magazines are full of visualization ideas, positive thinking strategies, however for me, these fall short. They do not address the engine inside me that drives my anxiety.

Today I sat with God and we talked about the anxiety. He reminded me that fear sits right next to it. That is true. If we fail to name the fear that drives our anxiety- we won’t get far. Philippians 4:6-7 are often our go to verse’s. We go to God, lay down our anxieties and the peace of God is supposed to follow. In my experience it does but I have discovered for me, there are a few steps I need to follow. first.

1- Name your fear; what are you worrying about, name just one thing. Think of a backpack and take out only one thing at a time.

2- Now - take a moment to breathe and just rest before God, even if that anxiety is sticking to your hand like glue. Reflect for a moment- who is God? What is He like? What do you know about Him that is true? Now that you have done that. take that fear and lay it down. Thank Him that He is big enough and powerful enough to deal with whatever this is.

3- Ask Him now to turn your fear into Faith that will move mountains and then receive it in the Name of Jesus.

Maybe you are thinking “ Donna this is too simple.” I need simple and that is how my Lord instructs me. This is exactly the steps I walked through with Him this morning. I had two things in my anxiety backpack and I dealt with each one, walking through these three steps. I have peace now. Try it, you have nothing to lose and peace and faith to gain.