Rest for When You Feel Anxious

Anxiety feeds us lies about the limits of what the Lord can do and keeps us distracted from His goodness, His faithfulness, His deliverance, His love for us.

God knows that anxious thoughts are a common war tactic of satan. Maybe that’s why He tells us over and over again to not be anxious about anything. And we need the reminders. We are a pretty forgetful lot.

So, here’s another reminder: The Lord will not abandon you to your anxious thoughts. He offers you rest from them.

Even at 3am.

That time of night when you lie awake in the very room designed for rest with your weighted blanket and Egyptian cotton sheets and side-sleeper pillow (or just a regular ol’ blanket and $4.99 pillow from Target). When our anxious thoughts fight against sleep, the Lord invites us to rest in the shadow of His wings and remember Who He is and Who we are in Him.

The next time anxiety shakes you awake think of Him. Praise Him. Breathe in and exhale out slowly while telling Him: I remember You. (or: HELP ME remember You.) And repeat.

He will meet you there.

“On my bed, I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadows of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:6-8

An important note: In the US, nearly 20 percent of adults experience anxiety disorders...and nearly 1 in 3 teenagers will experience one. This could help people with an anxiety disorder but is not a substitute for counseling. If you need to speak with a counselor, please find one in your local area. Many are offering virtual and in-person sessions.

Need more rest? Join the club.

Well, it’s not an actual club with a free secret decoder ring, but you will receive a digital download of my 4-Day Devotional, Simplifying Rest, as a free gift. Plus, the 4th of each month I’ll send you 4 resources to help you get the rest you need. YES! I need more rest!