Anxiety by Paul Gilbertson

  Posted on March 5, 2019  by   No comments

Anxiety

1 Peter 5: 6-7 says ⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

The last few weeks at work have been a test for me–a test of patience and a test of overcoming anxiety.  We have under gone a lot of changes and with each change more and more gets thrown on my plate.   I love challenges but at a certain point it is no longer a challenge but a burden filled with anxiety.  In the past I have been thrown into situations that were way above my ability and know how.  I have had to go on the road to facilities that were not pleased with how our equipment was working and they were looking for me to fix it.

A few years ago I would have loved to be on the road seeing different place and things, but now with a family and the responsibility that brings, I often find myself dreading it.  I get anxious going through the security line at the airport wondering if I will make the flight or miss it.  I get anxious going to the job site not knowing what I may find there and what kind of mood the customer is going to be in.  I also get anxious about doing online changes to the program because one error could bring down the entire system.

In Philippians 4:6-7 it says The Lord is at hand; ⁶do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  I draw on those verses to calm me down.  I often will put everything down and go for a little walk so I can pray about what needs to be done and to ask God for the wisdom to do it.  More often than not when I get back to the job at hand I am calmer and am able to focus more clearly.

My prayer is often asking for the patience to get through the situation and not be anxious at what needs to be done.  I also ask for the wisdom and the focus for what I am doing.  We are so blessed to worship a God that answers or prayers and listens to our needs.  I can not imaging having to go through certain circumstances and not having anyone to turn to.  If you find yourself in that situation, stop what you are doing and turn to your Creator.  He listens.

Blessings, Paul