I struggle with anxiety. Well, I guess that struggle is not the right word to use. It is more like I fight anxiety. Struggle is too gentle of word. A struggle sounds like a mild inconvenience. I definitely fight with anxiety.
When I let my guard down and allow anxious thoughts to run rampant in my mind, I can not focus on anything else. Your brain can’t be grateful and anxious at the same time. When anxiety takes hold, the best way to fight it is to look for gratitude.
The Bible tells us to not be anxious. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) The word of God promises you hope and a future. Fear, worry, and anxiety are all weapons of Satan to keep us from trusting in God and walking by faith with Him.
Anxiety is an emotion that can overwhelm and keep you paralyzed. I suffer from really bad knees. Sometimes the mere thought of walking into a grocery store can cause me to suffer from extreme anxiety. What will people think if I walk with a limp? What happens if my legs give way? What if I move too slowly and I am in the way of others? If I ride on an electric scooter, will others think I’m lazy? The anxiety at times has been crippling, even more than my knee pain.
On our recent cruise, we rented an electric scooter for me to be able to move around the ship and the ports of call. It was the absolute best decision we could have made. I was able to enjoy myself. I fought past the anxiety with gratitude. I focused on how thankful I was to be able to travel. How thankful I was to be on this amazing vacation with my husband. The more I focused on the gifts God had blessed me with, the more I was able to relax and become more comfortable.
Learning how to be free from worry and anxiety by focusing on God’s word and casting your cares upon Jesus is an absolute game changer! I am trying to take small steps every day toward living fully free from the anxieties that plague my mind.
This week’s recipe is inspired by the tropical flavors we enjoyed on our cruise. We had so many good tropical fruits. Mango is one of my favorites. It is so sweet and works perfectly in this yummy salad. It is the perfect salad to make for meal prep. It tastes delicious and lasts for days in your refrigerator. You can enjoy it on a bed of leafy greens or as a sandwich on a buttery croissant. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does.
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you
as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:31-34
April 19, 2024
