Grow: Releasing Anxiety

Read Luke 21:29-33

And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Reflect

How can I overcome the anxieties of life?Do I turn to the Bible as a source of strength and hope, or am I looking for a quick fix to my problems?What does it mean to me when Jesus tells me this His words "will never pass away?"

It's easy to feel lonely and isolated when we are in the middle of suffering and pain. We retreat into ourselves, forgetting that God reaches His hand to us, ready to rescue us from our suffering. We feel unstable, unbalanced, like the world is tilting off-kilter and the ground is shifting beneath our feet. Yet one thing remains steady, a rock-solid foundation in times of trouble: God's Word. "My words will never pass away," Jesus reminds us--they are always there, available, an ever-flowing wellspring of hope and promise to quench every anxiety and fear.

God is our source of strength and hope, but He needs us to turn toward Him in order to receive His love. We need to be an active participant in this transformation from desolation and hopelessness to renewal and light. It doesn't just happen on its own. One of the ways we can begin this turn toward God is by returning to His Word, again and again, day after day. He speaks a message crafted especially for each one of us. All we have to do is open the pages of His book to discover what He wants to tell us.

Pray

Lord, fill my heart with the trust to know, truly know, that You are the stronghold in my life, always present, always available, no matter what. Amen.