Help Wanted
By Ana Blackwell
Not only am I completely blind, I also have chronic headaches almost daily. I get dizzy and fatigue is my constant companion. Life is full of pain. Life is also full of beauty. It all depends on what you choose to focus on. I have learned that if I feel as though there is more darkness than light in my day, that perhaps I need to turn the light switch on. We all go through different circumstances but the response is often one of these; sadness, anger, or anxiety. What if our response during a trial was one that brought peace? I may not be able to change my situation in the moment, but I can change the way I think in the moment.
If you have a belly button, you have experienced dreadful times while breathing on this space rock. So how do we survive? Better yet, how do we thrive despite hard days.
I have the secret weapon and I guard it closely. Whenever I need to slay fear, doubt, anger, sadness, and all the other dark forces ready to devour, I have defense and offense tools to deal with all things. That’s right, there is not a single thing I cannot defeat while geared up. I am speaking of the Bible and the Holy Spirit.
Look what Proverbs 2:6 has to say “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding”. The Word of God is filled with practical ways to deal with life’s affairs. Psalm 119, verse 160 goes on to say “the sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever”.
The word of God has guided people for thousands of years. Time has proven over and over that those who apply God’s words in their lives, will be blessed individuals. I have seen the working power of scriptures throughout my personal journey. I am not one who expects life to be always sunny and the flowers constantly in bloom. That is why I will not lie to you and say that the Bible has a magic formula to make everything right. I will share with you verses for circumstances when I am sad, anxious, or angry because the Word of God is powerful and has helped me tremendously. If it can restore a woman who has lost loved ones, lost eyesight, and lost the ability to dream, then I am sure the words of life can help you also.
First, it is normal to feel sad sometimes. Too much sadness can crush a soul and ware down a person’s health, which is why it is important to learn to deal with it properly. I like to read Psalm 6 when I am going through sorrow. It reminds me that everyone goes through anguish. Look at the words of the psalmist “have mercy on me Lord for I am faint; heal me Lord for my bones are in agony” (Psalm 6:2). This individual was having a real bad day. When someone goes through pain and they cry until their voice goes out, it feels as though there is only that moment. That is how overwhelming sadness can be. I have learned to feel the feeling before anything else. I encourage you to read the entire psalm, it is quite short, I promise. The writer isn’t afraid to point out all the pain coursing through their soul and body. That’s right, sadness can feel like physical pain. So do not ignore it and pretend it is a feeling for babies or whiners. If King David who is known as one of the bravest men in the Bible, can express his feelings like this, then you can too. Oh yes, did I mention that the author of Psalm 6 isn’t an overly emotional teenage girl but rather the guy who tore the jaws of a bear and a lion with his own hands.
After expressing sadness, the person wishes to know how much time has to pass until they can feel alright again. Look what verse 3 says “…my soul is in deep anguish. How long Lord, how long?”. We all want to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. What I appreciate about David, is that he went to the Lord with his problems. Some may go to their therapist or to a friend. No one can help them like God can though. Sure, people we trust can be there to give us wisdom which is amazing and needed. I actually recommend to go to the Lord first though. First, no one knows our innerworkings like our Creator. It also shows that we trust Him first. And why shouldn’t we ? He is the one that can work miracles.
In the end, pay attention to what David writes, “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer” (psalm 6:9). Do you hear the confidence in King David’s writing? He knows God will come to His rescue. Why? Because David had past experiences with God, when the Almighty delivered him. If He came through for you in the past, believe God will do it again. It is a great way to strengthen your soul while going through hard times.
Second, people deal with anger. Not all anger is wrong, but if it controls us. Then it is a sin. We can become a slave to anger if we are not careful. Jesus was angry and yet this feeling prompted Him to do something good. You may wonder how driving animals out and turning tables is a good thing. Well, what the Israelis were doing in the temple wasn’t only a misuse of the time and place but they were completely disobedient to God’s law, which they were there to honor. What an oxymoron. I would dare say it was almost blasphemous.
If you’re going to be angry, make sure you follow the example of Jesus. First, he did not hurt people in his anger. Second, it wasn’t a feeling of rage that overtook Him that day in the temple. In fact He was calculated. Here is the story from John, Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the temple; He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers coins over the floor and turned over their tables” (John 2:15).
Notice how he had to make a whip. This means it took time. He did not walk in the temple and was suddenly overcome with anger and started creating havoc. No, Jesus took the time to think about what He was about to do. Therefore, allow anger to be an indicator that something is very wrong. Do not allow that anger to make you act in a way that would hurt others though. Jesus did not whip any people, He simply cleaned His Father’s house. “Then going over to the people who sold doves He said ‘get these things out of here, stop turning my Father’s house into a market’” (John 2:16).
After that, people came to Him in the temple because they were not scared of Jesus. The book of Matthew tells us about that event also. It says, “then the lame and the blind went to Him to be healed in the temple” (Matt 21:14). It seems that people weren’t afraid of Jesus after His display of zeal.
The kind of anger the Savior displayed is the kind that we can also. Again, he did not physically or verbally hurt another. Also Jesus was not overcome with rage, and I believe Him taking the time to make that whip helped the Teacher hone in his feelings. That of course is nothing but a personal opinion. I do know that Jesus was tempted like the rest of us though, as the Bible says.
Thirdly, we all encounter anxiety. It is the fear of something that has not happened yet. Isn’t it amazing how we can be crippled about something that hasn’t occurred yet. Jesus says, “therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mat 6:34). No wonder people call Jesus the Teacher. There has never been more sound advice in regards to anxiety about the future. In this passage, the Teacher discusses how the Father takes care of all. God takes care of the birds and flowers of the field, how much more for the creatures created in His likeness. It may not be obvious at first glance, but Jesus is telling people to deal with the problems at hand. We are not meant to be passive. If I have a bill due at the end of the month, what am I doing today to work towards a solution. Perhaps cutting out that Starbucks and breakfast sandwhich in the morning to save money is a good idea. Sometimes big problems can be solved with small daily solutions. Do what you can today, and do what you can tomorrow. God wants you to have peace today.
With that said, anxiety comes in different shapes and sizes. There is social anxiety, work anxiety, relationship anxiety, and many other types of anxieties. Yet take a look at what else Jesus has to say “and which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life” (Mat 6:27). This is so simple yet profound. We cannot add anything to our life or situation simply by worrying about it. In other words, it doesn’t change the circumstance simply because we constantly think about it. Anxiety can come from a chemical imbalance in the brain, but more often than not, it is because of fear.
When I find myself acting in fear I go to God. In his first letter, Peter advices people to “cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you” (5:7). This shows that our God cares and understands that we will face times when fear overrides that sensible part of us. There are times when all I need to read is Matthew 6 in order to stop worrying. Other times I need to talk to Jesus about it. Once I tell Him all I am afraid of, I read Isaiah 35:4. It says, “say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘be strong, fear not, behold your God will come with vengeance with the recompense of God; He will come to save you”. See, God isn’t angry with those who have anxiety, He wants them to know that the Master is coming to deliver them. If it seems God isn’t showing up though, fear not. There is a reason you are going through a dark valley. If you feel anxious about something, remember that is your heart indicating to you, it is time to face something in order to become who you were called to be.
There are times when God scoops us up and carries us out of a situation. Other times he allows us to face our fears or anxieties in order to grow. Think of a baby that needs to learn to get from point A to point B. Learning to crawl or walk is frustrating and the baby’s anxiety is amped up when the parent doesn’t pick them up. How will that baby ever hit their milestones if the parent always picks them up when they cry. That baby must realize that they are built to do it on their own. They are called to grow and thrive, not to depend on a care giver their whole life. It may bring anxiety but it is part of the maturing process.
As Romans says “all things work together for the good of those who trust in God” (8:28). We have to trust that God is either on His way to rescue us from our circumstance, or He is letting us grow by allowing us to face our fears head on.
As you can see, the Bible has advice for both dyer and miniscule trials. I have recently dealt with sadness, anger, and anxiety but I am eternally grateful to have God’s word at my disposal. There are no wiser words that were ever written. I hope that my examples encourage you to seek God’s council through the Bible. Your answer is found in the Word. Pray and God will guide you to just the right passage. There is nothing we cannot slay with the Word of God.
