The Weekly Encourager - June 28, 2011 - Answering Anxiety
My last three posts have been about my friend Laura's struggle with anxiety, and how the Lord is testing her faith. As she continues to deal with the uncertainty of her husband's health, I am seeing her re-learn how to talk to herself. In the field of psychology, this is sometimes called self-talk. In recent years there has been a new awareness that what we tell ourselves works itself out in our thoughts, desires, words, and actions. Therefore, it's not enough to change external behavior; but, we must hear new truths enough times that we believe them and make them our own.
Of course, God already said all this in the Bible, and modern psychology is playing catch-up. The Psalms contain many examples of King David confessing his fears, then reminding himself of God's power, wisdom, and constant care for him, then telling himself to buck up and trust God. Proverbs says,"What a man thinks upon, he becomes." In the New Testament we find that good and evil proceed out of the heart, and you can tell a tree's roots by its fruits. Laura is not just listening to her anxiety and letting it rule her life, she's answering anxiety with truth and trust, and letting God rule her life. I am so proud of what the Lord is teaching her, that I'd like to share more of what she has written.
On coping to the best of her ability, Laura wrote, "I don't have much 'ability' here; my hands are tied, and I can't make these problems go away. I know that where my ability ends, God's strength is manifested in my weakness. I know this cerebrally, but grabbing hold of it in practical living is another story! These realities are forcing me to, once again, re-evaluate where my true joy and hope lies. Brion and I must engage in this battle to fight this cancer, but my ultimate hope just can't be in the earthly healing of my husband. It must be in the Lord of the eternal life to come.
"Many of my friends and family members have experienced suffering and great loss due to cancer. As I sat in the waiting room at Texas Oncology at Christmas time, and witnessed all the hurting people at various stages of cancer treatment, I was faced with this dilemma of where to put my trust and faith---- really. The Christmas tree in the waiting room seemed mocking, and like a desperate attempt to lift spirits. For me, at the time, the only good thing about it was the fact that it symbolized a celebration of the birth of One who came to save us from this horrible life that includes suffering, dying and death. My hope and joy can't be in the things of this world and life, but in Jesus, who has, as Brion said, already healed us of our spiritual disease. Pray for Brion and me to hold on to this truth, and that He would keep our gaze above our circumstances, firmly fixed on Him, the Prize at the end of this race we are running.
"Many of you know I just came through a year of questioning and difficulty with anxiety (and resulting depression), and I am so glad that God has been teaching me how to overcome it."
A few days later, Laura said, "I've been focusing on living a quiet, peaceful life, but not through meditation or mystical centering. The calmness that I seek comes from training in godliness, that the Bible speaks of in I Timothy, chapters 4-6. A book I'm reading by a Puritan writer, Thomas Watson, describes this godliness that the Bible calls 'great gain' when paired with Christian contentment. He says, 'Godliness is the intricate embroidery and workmanship of the Holy Ghost. A soul furnished with godliness is damasked with beauty, it is enameled with purity. This is the clothing of wrought gold which makes the King of heaven fall in love with us. Were there no excellence in holiness, the hypocrite would never try to paint it.' He goes on to tell of its worth to the soul, saying 'And godliness brings profit with it, so it is profitable "for all things" (I Timothy 4:8). What else is, besides godliness? Food will not give a man wisdom; gold will not give him health; honour will not give him beauty. But godliness is useful for all things: it fences off troubles; it supplies all wants; it makes soul and body completely happy.'
"If there is one thing I'm finding, it's the truth that money and beauty and stature and status can't buy you good health. There is a full spectrum of humanity walking the halls of [the] Cancer Center, from every corner of the world. We are all united in that our lives have been touched in one way or another by the ravaging, life-changing, devastating effects of cancer. How does one 'get along' in an environment where you are regularly faced with your own mortality, as you watch people with no hair in wheelchairs or on hospital beds go by? How can you not be scared senseless for yourself and everyone you love?
"The Bible says in I Tim 4:7-10: 'Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially those who believe.' Thomas Watson says 'godliness is a possession we cannot be robbed of. It runs parallel with eternity. Force cannot weaken it; age cannot wither it. It out-braves sufferings; it outlives death (Proverbs 10:2). Death may pluck the stalk of the body but the flower of grace is not hurt.'
"We've spoken of being on 'cancer's dark road', walking with you all, through this 'dark providence'. Where is the light in all this darkness? Well, I'll tell you: it's in knowing for certain that this road is leading to an eternity of bliss and glory that will far outweigh all of this present darkness. As Watson says, we can have a taste of heaven on earth, right now ---- 'Godliness makes God himself our portion: "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance" (Psalm 16:5). If God is our portion, all of our estate lies in jewels. Where God gives himself, he gives everything else. Whoever has the manor has all the royalties belonging to it. God is a portion that can be neither spent nor lost (Psalm 73:26).' All our hope is in Jesus, our Priceless Treasure."
God is faithful,
j
Copyright 2011 Janet A. Marney
Laura Ferratt's quotations used with permission.