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ANXIETY - First in a series on Health & Happiness
ALSO : Arthritis - a common cause, study by DR Rex Newnham.
More and more of us know someone who suffers from depression, or anxiety. They might seem to be materially prosperous in every way but experience such hopelessness that they seek medication to help. Anxiety can result in physical symptoms such as panic attacks where the body goes numb, the chest tight and the world spins round, and the pills seem to offer no solution.
For a Christian however the solution can expect to be found in the word of God. Christians know that the bible is just like the instruction manual which comes along with every complicated product produced. Follow the instructions and all goes well. Ignore the instructions and the product will malfunction. In this case, we are the product, God is the manufacturer. He has provided all the instructions to ensure a successful and happy life, but many have ignored those instructions and suffer the malfunctions listed in Deuteronomy 28; from verse 15. If we follow the instructions we gain the success of verses 1-15, but failure to follow them, even through ignorance can result in amongst other things, V15 "madness, blindness and astonishment of heart (‘confusion of mind,’ Hebrew), anxiety.
So, what does the Lord require of us ? In one verse : Micah 6:8 " He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God"
We suffer malfunction when there is something missing from our lives and in particular the solution to anxiety which marks so many lives is found in Philippians 4:6-77 (Moffat) " Never be anxious, but always make your requests known to God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving; so shall God’s peace, that surpasses all our dreams, keep guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Here, the apostle Paul provided the answer to anxiety: prayer, that recognises our Creator, opens our heart to God, and gives thanks.
Let us note that Paul says "Never be anxious". The old King James version says "Be careful for nothing". Nothing that causes us concern is too inconsequential to take before our God. Prayer is simply communication with God and it is not always done on our knees. That is appropriate but we can also communicate with our Creator as we contemplate His creation, as we lie on our bed at night, or wherever we encounter difficulties in our life.
Notice we make our requests known to God with thanksgiving " that is we praise Him for His constant provision of our needs and for His intervention in our lives by filling in that void from which anxiety can emanate, for when God is with us, who or what can stand against us ? Romans 8:31 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"