I Was Drowning In My Anxiety Until I Thought of Jesus
The promised miracle that comes when we seek the Lord's image, (even for just three seconds!!)
(So sorry!! No audio for this one. I’ve been bombarded by math studying & exams🫠)
When the Lord says you have nothing to fear, do you completely believe Him?
Or are you more like me, who tries to do the thing that scares her and still gets frightened of every possibility that could come after that?
Personally, some days are better than others.
Growing up listening in Sunday school, I learn over and over again how trials can be a good thing for our progression and that they can even bring us closer to God.
I like to think symbolically—so when I think trials, I think strong winds, and maybe climbing mt. Everest, lol.
In real life situations, many of us can compare those symbol of trials to losing a child, struggling with a life-long illness, losing a job, recovering from a harsh journey of addiction—and there’s so much more. So, so much more.
And even if several people went through a similar trial, each situation is an entirely unique experience that is very personal to that individual or group.
The Lord sees the good things you do even if no one else does.
We live in a time where the Lord’s Spirit is encouraging us even more to believe Him when He tells us something, just as much as we would believe in His identity and existence.
So, when you lose a job, do you believe God when He says you have nothing to fear?
When you’re single and want to get married so badly but dating seems hopeless, would you believe God’s words when He says you have nothing to fear?
When you witness divorces, experience relationships being threatened by generational trauma, and the Lord says you still have nothing fear—would you believe Him?
Would you believe God when He says you have nothing to fear, even when your family hits a financial crisis?
Would you believe God when He says you have nothing to fear, after relapsing the umpteenth time trying to recover from a relentless addiction?
My husband told me something recently about something that’s been helping him.
He says he thinks of Jesus.
“What do you mean? Like you think of an image of Jesus?” I asked.
”Yeah. I literally think of Him and the familiar images I know of Him.”
So I tried it one time, when I didn’t want to show up for my chores and feeling irritated that I even had to do any of them, lol. (Just me?? 😋)
My brain kept going back and forth from images of Jesus to negative emotions then pictures of Jesus, and on and on and on. Like a cycle. I kind of felt a little crazy, haha. However, it did work to think of Him and I would feel a little calmer.
When I finally got to sit down for a moment and let out a big sigh, it was then that I experienced a more rigorous effort of going from negative thoughts stirring up my emotions again, to thinking of Jesus—and then boom, an image of Him washing my feet came.
When I thought that, my whole body felt calm.
My hands and feet were starting to feel relieved. It was strange. But I thought it was a miracle. It felt so silly because literally remembering and thinking of Jesus may seem so small and simple—but also it made me realize it takes great effort, and that thoughts of Jesus can heal disturbed emotions.
I learned that when we give our minds the space to think of Jesus (even for just three seconds like what I did from time to time), we invite His Spirit to give us the grace and strength we need.
My small experience of simply thinking of images of Jesus made me think of this story in the Book of Mormon.1
17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.
The Lord brings us small miracles of relief, recovery, and progression when we remember Him.
So when you’re full of fear like me (a lot of the times lol) and finding joy in daily repentance feels impossible,
try this very doable three-seconds brain exercise of just thinking of an image, countenance and story of Jesus 🥹🙏🏼
🎼 . . . Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all . . . 🎶
So tell me! When you think of Jesus, what image of Him pops in your mind?
Here’s some more of my mental health stuff… 🫣😌
