Faith Over FearExemplo

Our daughter used to vomit nearly every morning. I assumed she’d inherited my sensitive stomach. I later learned I’d passed on something far more uncomfortable—anxiety. 

Unfortunately, for years, she largely suffered in silence after receiving a lifetime of platitudes and religious clichés that spoke to her spiritual side, while neglecting her physical nature. But God addresses our whole selves. When Elijah, the prophet scholars believe suffered from depression, wanted to die, God told him to eat and sleep, recognizing how fatigue can drastically affect our emotions. When Jesus prayed in anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, God didn’t chastise Him saying, “Buck up, Son! Have faith! You know You’ll get through this.” 

Instead, He sent an angel to strengthen Him. Similarly, when our insides are churning and we cry out to God for aid, He doesn’t rebuke or ignore us. Instead, He draws us near, speaking words of love over our conflicted hearts. He comforts us, strengthens us, and guides us toward ever-increasing freedom. For me, that’s meant memorizing Scripture, singing praise songs when my anxiety rises, and, at times, releasing stress through exercise. My daughter, however, requires therapy and medication in conjunction with the self-care tools revealed in Scripture. 

Humans are complex spiritual and physical beings, and we all long for peace. But biblical peace is about reaching a place of wholeness where all our parts are joined together in Christ. This includes the physical and the spiritual. He loves our whole selves—our messy, broken, healing, and redeemed parts, and is continually stitching all our fragmented pieces together so that one day we’ll stand before Him complete, as He created us to be. 

But we’re not there yet. So as we wait, we draw close to Him, lean into Him, get counseling if necessary, and cling to every word of truth and grace He provides, knowing one day our inner angst will end.

~Jennifer Slattery