Anxiety and Rest

Over the last two weeks the words "stress, anxiety, worry, busyness, and need a break" have been surrounding me. It has been coming not only from my life, but from other lives around me.

A friend of mine here has been dealing with stress and anxiety attacks. She does not know when they will happen, but she is always living in fear that they will come back soon. Her situation in general seems to be improving, but her "bad days" are coming closer and closer together. Thankfully she has called out for help and many of us here are trying to help, but it is difficult for us when we don't know exactly how to help.

I had a large week last week. The church I am working for hosted a NAPARC conference. I don't remember what the letters stand for, but I know that it was a conference where 13 presbyterian or reformed churches from North America were represented. They meet every year and this year they met in Quebec City. I was doing  a lot of work a head of time organizing the men and trying to get their meetings scheduled. The week of the conference itself went well, I was just running around doing errands, giving tours, cleaning and setting up the church. So it was very busy and a bit stressful for me. I also had another Kids Day event two days after the conference ended. The whole week was successful and went smoothly, maybe not for me but at least for everyone else.

With my work and busy schedules keeping me occupied, and with this situation with my friend, the idea of stress and anxiety has really been on my mind recently. But it has also made me think of the words "rest" and "trust." When we are anxious or worry about something, we are not trusting God. A lot of us say we "know" what the Bible says. But do we really? We read the Bible, and  we say we trust God, but do we really? Has not God kept his promises? After the flood, He promised to never flood the entire earth again (Gen. 9:8-17), He promised to make Abraham a great nation (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:5, 13-16), and He has kept those promises. God said to Abraham, "Fear not, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." (Gen 15:1) If God is for us who can be against us? God  still keeps these promises with us, why do we have such trouble seeing it?

"Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gently and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34

"He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord." Psalm 112:7

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:5-8

I have been slowly learning what is it to find rest and refreshment in the Lord. I know I do not seek Him and his word as often as I should, but when I do, it is a great relief. Let us look to the Lord in our struggles, when we worry and are anxious, for He will be our deliverer.

I have been reminded of how important water is so that we can survive (I watched a movie set in the desert) and I have also been reminded in a book that the word of God is(or should be) water to our souls (When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin). I was reminded of how Jesus presented his words to the Samaritan woman as water, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14) We need that water. We need the promises of God. We need His gospel and His word to live. If we really study God's word diligently, we will find the rest and peace that he promises to those who come to him.

This is my prayer: that we will truly put our trust in the Lord and not be anxious about anything and that we will find refreshment in Him and in his word.