Beyond Understanding

“Instead of having anxiety, something supernatural happens, and I am able to be what God called me to be.”

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

I’ve spent a lot of years dealing with anxiety. It’s social anxiety, so I worry about all the things that could go wrong in social settings. 

What if I say something weird?

What if I have to make a phone call?

What if I’m not supposed to be here?

What if someone notices me, and I’m being weird, and they think I’m weird?

Or mom things like:

What if my kid misbehaves and someone looks at me and judges me?

What if I’ve forgotten something that my kid needs?

What if someone thinks I’m crazy because I have 4 kids?

I think the easiest thing to do to battle anxiety is to go to the world for help. What can I buy to make my life easier? What can I do to fit in and not stand out at all? Should I scroll Facebook or Instagram to distract myself? But those things don’t really help. We need something more, something supernatural. 

Jesus promises to give differently than the world gives. He doesn’t say it, but it can be implied, that what He gives is better. Jesus promised His disciples (and us!) that He was leaving so He could leave us peace and give us peace. He sends the peace through His Helper, The Holy Spirit. 

Anyone who knows me in real life would not guess that I’m a shy introvert with social anxiety because God has put me in places and roles that were outside my comfort zone. Without my Helper, it would be difficult and draining for me to fill the roles I’ve been called to (and it was, at first). But God equipped me for those roles supernaturally, through the Holy Spirit. Instead of having anxiety, something supernatural happens, and I am able to be what God called me to be. 

Instead of troubled hearts, fear and anxiety, we can have true peace. Call on Jesus to send you His Holy Spirit to fill you with a supernatural peace beyond your understanding.

Action Steps:

• When you experience anxiety, what do you turn to? Social media? Amazon? Or the Holy Spirit?

• Have you ever been called to something outside your comfort zone? How did you respond? Did you trust the Holy Spirit to give you supernatural peace about it?

• Listen to “See Me Through It” by Brandon Heath

Prayer: Holy Spirit, come into my troubled, anxious, fearful heart, and give me peace. I don’t want what the world offers, I want what You offer. I thank You for everything You do for me. In Jesus’s name I pray, amen. 

Written by Cathrine, mom of 4, probably overanalyzing a conversation she had with you