Action Steps For Anxiety

A Quote from a Quote from a Quote:
The following is copied from the blog by the pastor of Coral Ridge Church. (Tullian is a grandson of Billy Graham). He is quoting another article. I need this; I hope you don't. ???

Tullian Tchividjian
Pastor and Author


Action Steps For Anxiety

Given the trying times all of us are having to endure in one way or another, I found Susan Fiske's excellent article in the Fall 2009 edition of byFaith (the official magazine of the PCA) entitled Be Anxious for Nothing-Now? especially relevant-and deeply helpful.

In it she writes, "It is in prying open our hands from our abilities, accomplishments, and possessions that we can discover the true promise of God: Himself. [Paul] Tripp says, ‘The hardest thing to hold onto, but the most beautiful when we get it, is that what God promises to us in times of suffering is not first relief of the suffering. His promise is to give us Himself.'"

She then, very helpfully, outlines Paul Tripp's six action steps for anxiety (these are golden):

Remind Yourself That God Is In Control: When you convince yourself that your world is out of control, you are on the verge of paralysis. Watch your self-talk. Are you saying to yourself: "God is in control of this circumstance, He is my Father, and He is ruling this for my benefit"?

Accept Confusion: Believing in God's sovereignty doesn't mean life will make sense. Believing in God's sovereignty is needed because life doesn't make sense. Your rest is not in figuring out your circumstances-your rest is in the God behind the circumstances.

Don't Allow Emotions to Rule: As much as the emotions you experience will be right, good, and appropriate, don't let them set tDon't Allow Emotions To Rulehe agenda. There is a temptation to do that, but allowing yourself to be pulled away by the emotions of the moment could cause you to regret your decisions later.

Distinguish Needs From Wants: Be very careful what you put in your catalog of "need." The minute you tell yourself something is a need, you're saying it is essential for life. Then you are going to determine that you can't live without it. It's easy to attach yourself and your sense of security to the gift rather than to the Giver.

Know Your Job Description: God promises to provide. Your job is to live the way God has called you to live. Instead of giving way to discouragement, look for ways you can contribute to God's people at the moment.

Run To God, Not Away From Him: God's promise to us is not first the relief of the suffering-His promise is to give us Himself. He will never turn a deaf ear to the natural cries of a person of faith when life doesn't make sense. God hears and answers and works and comforts.

FEELINGS

FEELINGS

 

The words if a song by that title say…..

 

“Feelings, nothing more than feelings
Trying to forget my feelings…….

Teardrops rolling down on my face
Trying to forget my feelings …..”

 

Feelings are real. Feelings are good, unless they control us.

As a Believer, the words written by Martin Luther have been a great source of comfort and strength for me:

   

"Feelings come and feelings go, 
And feelings are deceiving; 
My warrant is the Word of God-- 
Naught else is worth believing. 

Though all my heart should feel condemned 
For want of some sweet token, 
There is One greater than my heart 
Whose Word cannot be broken. 

I'll trust in God's unchanging Word 
Till soul and body sever, 
For, though all things shall pass away, 
HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!" 
— Martin Luther

 I have been depressed.  Who hasn’t?  I realize that the depression I have experienced in the past is nothing compared to what you may be going through.  It’s sort of like ‘Puppy Love’; it’s real to the puppy.  The question is:  what do we do about it?   Ignore it and maybe it will go away?  Talk about?  That seems to help some.  Medicate it?  That too will help temporarily until the cure becomes worse than the problem.

 As a Child of the King, the only answer, I believe, is to put it in the proper perspective. God loves me! That is a fact.  There is nothing I can ever do to make Him love me any more and there is nothing I can do that will make Him love me any less.  HE LOVES ME!  Period.  I know that because of the promises of His Word.

 I must keep the order straight:

         FACT......FAITH......FEELINGS

 Do Not Depend on Feelings 

The promise of God's Word, the Bible -- not our feelings -- is our authority. The Christian lives by faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word. If I understand the Fact of God's Word, have Faith in it, Feelings will follow.

Do any of the following words describe your feelings?

 

Dignity/ Respect/Self-Worth Ashamed Beaten down Cut down Criticized Dehumanized Disrespected Embarrassed Humiliated Inferior Insulted Invalidated Labeled Lectured to Mocked Offended Put down Resentful Ridiculed Stereotyped Teased Underestimated

Freedom/Control Bossed around Controlled Imprisoned Inhibited Forced Manipulated Obligated Over-controlled Over-ruled Powerless Pressured Restricted Suffocated Trapped

Love/Connection/ Importance Abandoned Alone Brushed off Confused Disapproved of Discouraged Ignored Insignificant Invisible Left out Lonely Misunderstood Neglected Rejected Uncared about Unheard Unknown Unimportant Uninformed Unloved Unsupported Unwanted

Justice Accused Cheated Falsely accused Guilt-tripped Interrogated Judged Lied about Lied to Misled Punished Robbed

Safety Abused Afraid Attacked Defensive Frightened Insecure Intimidated Over-protected Scared Terrified Threatened Under-protected Unsafe Violated

Trust Cynical Guarded Skeptical Suspicious Untrusted Untrusting

 Read Martin Luther’s words again!