Anxious for Nothing for Young Readers by Max LucadoSample

Today we’ll be discussing the final letter in our acronym to combat anxiety. M – Meditate on Good Things.

When Rebecca Taylor was just thirteen years old, she had already had more than fifty-five surgeries. She had spent about one thousand days in the hospital. Rebecca has pancreatitis that has caused her to feel sick for most of her life so far.

Rebecca’s mom, Christyn, has a blog about Rebecca and her health to keep all of her friends and family updated. In one post she wrote about how Rebecca’s doctors told her that because of her disease, she could have what is called a hemorrhagic stroke.

Those words hemorrhagic stroke really scared Christyn, but she was able to find peace in the middle of the storm. Listen to what she wrote in this blog post:

This past week’s new land mine was the phrase “possible hemorrhagic stroke,” a phrase I heard dozens of times used by numerous physicians. Over and over and over that phrase filled my mind and consumed my thoughts. It was emotionally crippling.

This past Sunday our preacher, Max Lucado, started a very fitting series on anxiety. We reviewed the familiar Philippians 4:6 verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

I presented my requests to the Lord as I had so many times before, but this time, THIS time, I needed more. And so, using Philippians 4:8–9 as a guide, I found my answer:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true . . .” What was true in my life at this particular moment? The blessing of all family members eating dinner together.

“Whatever is noble.” The blessing of enjoying each other’s presence outside of a hospital room.

“Whatever is right.” The blessing of experiencing my two sons’ daily lives.

“Whatever is pure.” The blessing of all three children laughing and playing with each other.

“Whatever is lovely.” The blessing of watching Rebecca sleep peacefully in her bed at night.

“Whatever is admirable.” The blessing of an honorable team working tirelessly on Rebecca’s care.

“If anything is excellent.” The blessing of watching a miracle unfold.

“Or praiseworthy.” The blessing of worshipping a Lord who is worthy to be praised.

“Think about such things.”

I did. As I meditated on these things, I stopped the dreaded phrase “hemorrhagic stroke” from sucking any joy out of my life. . . . And when I dwelt on the bountiful blessings in my life happening AT THAT VERY MOMENT, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,” DID guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. A true, unexpected miracle. Thank You, Lord.

Did you see what Christyn did? The words hemorrhagic stroke hovered over her life like a thundercloud. Yet she stopped the awful phrase from sucking joy out of her life by following Paul’s teaching in Philippians 4:8 “Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected”  

The NKJV translation of this verse says to “meditate on these things” 

Meditate means to think about something with your full attention. So Paul was telling us to completely focus on the good things. Give zero attention to the mishaps, the struggles, and the disappointments. Because how we think affects how we feel and act.

Rebecca’s mom was able to control her fear by controlling her thoughts. She focused on the positive instead of the negative. She picked what she pondered. The good news is that you can do this too!

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” Do you want to feel happy tomorrow? Then think happy thoughts today. Do you want to guarantee tomorrow’s misery? Then let yourself drown in the mud of self-pity or guilt or anxiety today. Thoughts have consequences.

Healing from anxiety means you must think in a healthy way. The hard thing you are facing isn’t making you feel anxious. Your thoughts about that hard thing are making you anxious. Think about that!

Satan knows this about us.  John 8:44 describes the Devil as the “father of lies.” And John 10:10 says he comes to kill, steal, and destroy. The Devil is especially good at putting negative and anxious thoughts in our heads and convincing us that these lies are true.

You are the air traffic controller of your mind. When thoughts from the Devil circle, send them away. And invite new, positive, true thoughts to land.

Anytime you begin thinking negative thoughts, fight back with the kinds of thoughts Paul listed in Philippians 4:8—thoughts that are true, honorable, right, pure, beautiful, and respected.

I’m happy to report that right before her thirteenth birthday, Rebecca went back for a doctor’s visit. Remember that just seven months earlier Rebecca was barely surviving. Now, Rebecca was full of life. She had gained thirty pounds. Her health was improving. Her doctors called her a “walking miracle.”

Her mom, Christyn, wrote on her blog: “I watched these interactions with a silent sense of awe. It is easy to praise God during seasons of wellness. But it was during my greatest distress when I felt the Lord’s presence poured upon me. And it was in those heart-breaking moments I learned to trust this God who provided unimaginable strength during unimaginable pain.”

God will help you too. Guard your thoughts and trust your Father.

A new day awaits you, my friend. A new season in which you will worry less and trust more. A season with less fear and stronger faith. 

Just remember our acronym C-A-L-M.

C – Celebrate God and His Goodness.  

A – Ask God for Help. 

L– Look on the Bright Side.  

M – Meditate on Good Things. 

Can you imagine a life in which you are anxious for nothing? God can. And with His help, you will experience it. 

This lesson plan is for young adults, teens, and tweens who struggle with anxiety. If feelings of anxiety grow to a level where daily activities are severely affected or are causing other serious harm, please do not hesitate to seek professional help by calling 1-800-662-4357. A trained professional will listen to how you’re feeling and will help you decide how to get help.