I Want that Piece of Peace!

Are you one of those people who had experienced these during the pandemic?

Maybe you felt worried about finances and the stability of your business.

Maybe you felt apprehensive if the simple colds and cough you had could mean something more.

Maybe you had difficulty focusing on work because you were working at home, and didn't know how to juggle both so you end up not doing nothing.

You may have stayed up til the wee hours of the morning browsing social media endlessly, and wondering if you had insomnia.

These are all symptoms of anxiety, and if left unchecked, could definitely paralyze us into fear.

According to a brief scientific evidence published by the World Health Organization (WHO), anxiety and depression prevalence worldwide increased significantly by 25% in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation is one of the main causes of this increase. Additional stresses that add to anxiety and depression include loneliness, fear of illness, suffering and death for oneself and loved ones, mourning following a loss, and financial concerns. Last but not least, fatigue among healthcare professionals has been a significant contributor to suicidal thoughts.

Anxiety, in general, is our body’s natural reaction to stress and feeling anxious once in a while is a normal emotion because it’s our brain’s default response towards the unknown or a potential danger that lies ahead.

The word anxiety may not appear all that frequently in the Bible since different translations substitute other words for it, such as trouble, heaviness, distress, and cares. Meaning, the bible understands well that we are not immune from feeling this kind of emotion.

No matter your age or stage in life, we all deal with various stressors every day. However, we have this assurance that the Lord in whom we put our faith is alive because we are children of Christ. And because we are fully aware that our heavenly Father pays attention, faith gives us the assurance we need to hold fast to His promises and find comfort in His presence. (Jeremiah 29:12)

This God who is almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, the Great I am, the Lion of Judah, King of Kings, the Alpha and Omega, the one who created everything, who gives love and took care of Abraham, David, Noah, and Jacob thousands of years ago, is still the same God we believe in today. And he wants to remind each and everyone that He is still in control. That His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) To trust him in truth because he has no plans intended to harm us; rather, only to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

In your times of trouble, I encourage you my brothers and sisters to try these remedies anytime:

1. Pause for a moment and pray.

Jesus is our Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6). When the time comes where you get overwhelmed and don’t know what to do, pause for a while and ask Jesus for his peace. (Matthew 7:7-8) Do not forget to inquire in the Lord. I know that most of us tend to run immediately over things that will give us quick solutions because we are not in sync with God’s “timing.” However, the Lord wants us to pray as our first line of defense and not as our last resort.

2. Have faith in God.

Genuinely believe that God will move and answer your prayers. Be expectant no matter how long it will take or even when it seems like God is doing nothing. Because Hebrews 11:6 says, And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

3. Continue to abide in His word.

Aside from nourishing your physical body with enough rest and appropriate intake of food and nutrients, you must also incorporate in your lifestyle to feed your mind and spirit with the word of the Lord. Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

With this, you can combat the lies and fear the enemy might stir within you. You may try to memorize bible verses as well and carve them in your hearts.

4. Manage your time properly.

As supported by multiple studies, it was reported that ineffective time management can impact your mental health. Pressure from poor time management techniques might lead to anxiety. You can feel stressed up about upcoming deadlines and unmet work demands. As the tension mounts, it causes additional suffering and unfavorable outcomes. When you feel like you never have time to unwind or relax, this discontent and life imbalance can cause depression.

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety in Him, because He cares for you.

To conclude, feeling anxious is normal. Even the bible knows it already that we can feel this way. But God is reminding us that his love is greater than all our fears and worries. One of the ways to combat the daily troubles of life is spending time with God and soaking in his word to feed our spiritual body. However, if you are consistently having feelings of extreme anxiety for at least 6 months and it starts inferring with your life, you might want to reach a professional healthcare provider to have your assessment. Brothers and Sisters, there is nothing wrong in seeking a professional and accompanying it with your faith in God. I do believe that God is our great healer and restorer. And yet I also believe that God can use his people in the field of medicine to reach you.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.