When Anxiety, Fear and Depression Tag Along by Mary Beth Powers
Oh hey, short on time? No worries! I'd love to join you on your commute or daily walk/run, or shoot, even while you take care of that to-do list. We can't let these things get in the way of this friendship. It's just starting to get good! Click below to listen to the blogcast.
Tag along - it's a phrase usually met with a cheery tone. After all, it's the name of one of the popular Girl Scout cookies.
Little sisters tag along. I know this, because I'm one of them. I tag along less now but growing up, well, I think my Grandma says it best. "You never know just Amy or Candace. They're always together. It's always Amy and Candace."
But, what about the things we wish wouldn't tag along in our days? My friend, Mary Beth Powers, is sharing her reflection of Psalm 75 with us and addressing those times when anxiety, fear and depression tag along. What can we do?
Mary Beth is passionate about seeing women experience Jesus in a life-changing way.
She speaks authentically as a safe place for women to share their struggles. Whether one-on-one or from a podium in a room full of women, she loves to see women thriving in the fullness of Jesus!
Mary Beth is a certified speaker and long-time Bible teacher. She currently serves as a connection Pastor at her church. She is known for her infectious personality and caring for others. With a deep devotion to her family, she is married to her forever crush, Mike, and they parent three children together. They enjoy the empty-nest season, and together, they love to travel and try out new restaurants.
She loves exploring new coffee shops, but most days, you will find her curled up next to her Aussie, Hartlee, coffee in one hand and her journal in the other, finishing a book about God’s unfailing love.
But she has a new role that she finds her favorite: being a Nana to her 3 new grandsons!
You can connect with Mary Beth through:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.b.powers
IG: @girl.be.still
Website: marybethpowers.com
We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. - Psalm 75:1, NLT
The Lord will meet us in the darkest place.
It was one of the darkest times of my life, and I could not feel the Lord's presence. I needed a safe place to land, one of peace and rest. My husband and I decided to escape to our happy place for the weekend. I prayed the darkness would stay behind so I would not connect the dark memories to my happy place.
Sleep was not something I was able to do much of during those darkest days. Anxiety, fear, and depression loved to tag along, keeping me up later and waking me up earlier than I desired. It was two am, and I began to beg God to meet me here and replace my crippling fear with good thoughts.
I needed something to comfort me to know He was near. I quoted the promise He gave us:
I will never leave you or forsake you. - Hebrews 13:5, NLT
As I lay still, trying not to think, He graciously replaced my anxious thoughts with one of the sweetest memories from my childhood. It was a memory of my grandfather at the beach. He would take me by the hand and throw me into the ocean's waves. Saltwater would sting my eyes and nose as I would grasp for air. I thought I might drown. Even when I thought I was going to drown, I would get up and do it all over again. There was a sense of safety that only a child can feel. My hand gripped tightly with his. His hands would make such an impression that I never forgot them after he passed away. I knew the hands that held me close would never let me go. And even if his hands were to fail me, there was One who never would.
It was as if the Lord gently whispered to my spirit, "There will be many times you will be standing on the shore feeling as if the waves are crashing all around you. You will lose your breath, and your eyes will sting with tears of sorrow. You might even think you were drowning in life, but I will never let go of your hand."
Have you been here too, my friend? He was there, making His presence known, listening to my request. He met me in my pain. Let me remind you, too. In times of uncertainty and darkness, reach for His hand because He is near. His hand will feel secure because He promises never to leave or forsake you. His promises are truth. Even when we cannot feel Him, He is faithful.
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you." - Isaiah 41:13 ESV
We thank you, Lord, for meeting us in our darkest place.
Now, It's Your Turn!
Before opening God's Word, take a moment to pray and ask God to meet you there. Then...
Read Psalm 75 a couple times. Highlight what stands out to you.
Circle verbs or specific wording you notice.
Then, write down a bullet point takeaway based on this. "I-statements" help make this personal. Think of this as a challenge statement.
In times of uncertainty and darkness, I will reach for God's hand because He is near. His hand will hold me securely because He promises never to leave or forsake me. His promises are truth. Even when I cannot feel Him, I know my God is faithful.
Then, jot down a question or two to think about today. You don't have to have the answer to this question now. And yield to the Holy Spirit - prayerfully ask God to search your heart and lead you to more truth and grow your faith through the Holy Spirit.
In what area of my life am I needing a safe place to land, one of peace and rest? How can I reach for God's hand here?
Again, we don't have to be Bible scholars and talk only in the thou's and art's of King James version to read this book. ...because when we pray before we read, we are not alone. The Holy Spirit is with us, guiding and teaching us.
Praise God for this!
And praise God for refreshment as we are intentional to spend a summer in the Psalms together, for if we want His truth to ever be on our lips, it must first be planted in our hearts.
Our strength grows as we rely on strength from above. Our joy grows as we see God transforming us from the inside out. Our peace grows as we spend time in God's presence, and we find rest when we intentionally seek the Lord first in our lives, for the Lord is ever our portion.
The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.
I love hearing from you, so go ahead. Leave a comment. Be brave. Maybe your comment will speak life into someone else!
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