Free from Anxiety Because He Loves Us

As we live in this fallen world, we experience the bitter outcome of a world full of sin. It is natural in our brokenness to feel the heavy weight of anxiety. How does God respond to us when we’re suffering with anxiety? In scripture, we see a pattern of God reminding us of His character. The solution to our anxiety is dwelling on the character of our perfect Father.

I want to mention the life Job suffered while he was here on earth. He was a blameless man who loses everything, his wealth, family and friends. We as readers know that Satan challenges Job’s faith. Satan accuses Job of being a righteous man only because of the blessings God has given him. God, knowing the true posture of Jobs heart, permits this challenge. Throughout scripture, we witness his faithfulness in the Lord even when these hardships continued on. God never tells Job why he went through these hardships. Instead, we see when the Lord speaks to Job in Job 38 reminding us of His character. I love how God tells Job to “brace himself like a man.” Naturally, Job questions why all these things are happening and God tells him to act like a man. Job was a real man who suffered so much and had every reason to feel the heavy weight of anxiety. But he knew who his Father was and recognized that God’s peace was the only thing he needed.

We may never know why we experience the things we do but we do know the character of God. I want to end this devotional with Philippians 4:5-7 as a reminder of God’s reality. “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 request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Amen.

https://coe22.com/devotional/stand-firm-with-gretchen-martin-w2d2/