Free
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Insight
Wrestling with anxious thoughts is a large part of my story. Being anxious about nothing seems impossible with a brain full of "what if" thoughts and scenarios. If I'm being honest, many of my words over the years centered on fixing myself in hopes that my anxious brain would finally get some rest. I believed that change would come by having the correct thought pattern and just white-knuckling my way through the rest. Surrender, self-control, rest, and breathe are all words I have used to help me through anxious moments. They did work momentarily, but I desired to be truly free of anxiety and could not find the right word to bring that freedom.
I look forward to the end of each year because I know our church will collectively set time aside to focus on ending well. At this time last year, my heart needed to understand anxiety in a fresh way. I prayed that God would reveal how He could use my concern to form me into who He was growing. I started a study by Max Lucado called Anxious for Nothing, which was the beginning of genuine freedom for me. Digging into scripture and taking time to focus on the real heroes of the Bible revealed that I was certainly not alone. God has filled His word with every possible struggle and shows that He has overcome it.
The Apostle Paul wrote about the thorn in his flesh and how after praying three times for God to remove it, the Lord reminded him that God's grace was sufficient. Even Jesus, the night before His crucifixion, was so anxious that He sweat drops of blood. So, I began to look at my anxiety as a thorn. What if it never went away? How could I live a wholly free life while anxiety tagged along in my brain, chest, and breath?
While searching for the word "anxious" in scripture, I stumbled upon Philippians 4, which says, "Do not be anxious but rejoice." What? Rejoice for anxiety? I quickly looked for another scripture because that was not going to happen! But, I kept reading: "Rejoice in the Lord always. In every situation, pray and be thankful." In verse 8, it says to focus on the following: "Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy." My anxiety needed to yield to the truth that God uses everything and if I believed that I could indeed be free.
So, My One Word for 2022 was “Rejoice!” When anxious thoughts would come into my brain, I would immediately say 100,000 times, "Lord, You use everything, and I trust You," and my mind would rest. I only have to say it ten times a day now.
With the freedom I experienced through last year’s word, I have chosen MOW for 2023: "Free!" I believe that my anxious mind may never leave me. Still, if God can use it to keep me close to Him and help teach me that He is in all the details of my life, that His Grace is sufficient, and His perfect plan for me is true, I can keep my focus on Him and continue redirecting back to Him every moment I feel anxious.
Reflection
What areas in your life do you feel God is using to show Your need for Him? How is that thorn in your flesh transforming your heart and character?
What would freedom in Jesus look like for you?
Prayer
Thank you, Father, for being a good Father. For continuing to go before, beside, and behind me in every step of my life. I believe that You have created me for a bigger purpose than I can even understand and that I can find freedom in knowing You are in all the spaces of my life. Thank you for holding me through the struggles where hope never ends. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
Cindy Stauffer, Administrative Assistant at the Wilmington Campus, wrote today's devotional.