Seeking God in the PsalmsSample

Christ's Consolation

Anxiety can overwhelm us. It can feel overwhelming like an opposing mountain too high to climb, or it can be smothering like being trapped under the sea. An anxious heart is impossible to handle alone. It will continue to eat away at your peace and security until you were totally consumed by fear and failure. Anxiety kills relationships because there’s nothing left to give. Your emotional capacity is sucked dry with worry.

People tend to avoid the anxious because they feel preyed upon. Perpetual anxiety becomes relational deadweight. No one is immune to anxiety, as the wise and wealthy Solomon stated, “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up” (Proverbs 12:25).

Sometimes anxiety attacks you from the rear of a relationship. You believe things are going just fine right before it blows up in your face. You feel rejected and totally out of control. This is your time to refrain from attacking back and instead retreat with Christ. Replace anxiety and anger with trust and patience. Patient follows love. You are patient with the things you love. Love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4).

Allow the Lord to love on you, so you can love on others. Christ is your counselor. He replaces your hurt with forgiveness. He transforms your sorrow with hope. He leads you out of rejection into His sanctuary of rest. Let your heart go there. The council of Christ brings joy to your soul.

The joy of Jesus is your jumping off point in prayer. The comfort of Christ generates joy. Your extreme anxiety is God’s opportunity. Your comfort flows out of your communion with Christ. Have a little talk with Jesus. Tell Him all about your problems. By and by you will say goodbye to anxious thinking and replace it with joyful trust. You become giddy with God when you know He is in control. Have faith in His attributes of mercy and power.

Indeed, Christ consoles you, so you can console others. You are a pass-through for God‘s grace. Do not strive anxiously. Instead, go to God for grace and dispense it liberally. You will be glad you did, and so will those around you who anxiously wait. An ounce of grace is weightier then a ton of anxiety. Do not be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6). Leave it with the Lord, and receive the joy of the Lord. He is your soul's strength!