A Season of Anxiety
Is anyone besides me feeling anxious with our daily news detailing the exploding financial disasters, Wall Street on a roller coaster, and with our politics heating to a fever pitch? Add any personal concerns and is it any wonder that anxiety overtakes me and fear grabs at my heart, a season of upheaval, disruption. At times like these I’m instructed and encouraged by the words of
Is anyone besides me feeling anxious with our daily news detailing the exploding financial disasters, Wall Street on a roller coaster, and with our politics heating to a fever pitch? Add any personal concerns and is it any wonder that anxiety overtakes me and fear grabs at my heart, a season of upheaval, disruption. At times like these I’m instructed and encouraged by the words of
Psalm 131:
O Lord, my heart is not proud,
nor do I have a haughty look.
I do not have great aspirations,
or concern myself with things that are beyond me.
Indeed I am composed and quiet,
like a young child carried by its mother;
I am content like the young child I carry.
O Israel, hope in the Lord now and forevermore!
The stock market is beyond me; even my one vote will not greatly affect the outcome of the election, and often personal issues are beyond my control. I think this Psalm encourages me to resist the prideful temptation to place myself in the center of my universe with an illusion of control. Rather let me choose to embrace the reality that my hope is not in the Dow nor in the outcome of the upcoming election. I will find quiet and peace for my soul only when I choose to curl up in the comfort of being God’s dear child and place my hope in Him, and not just now but forevermore. How quickly I forget as the news washes over me. How much I need to remember this Psalm, especially in these days. How I must choose to resist concerning myself with things that are beyond me, far beyond me.
Gwynne Johnson
Gwynne Johnson currently serves on the Board of Entrust, Inc., an international education and training mission where she authored the Entrust curriculum, Developing a Discerning Heart. She recently served as Co-Chair of the training project, Christian Women in Partnership, Russia and as Senior Director of Women's Ministry at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Gwynne has a M.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She currently lives in Huntsville, Texas with her husband of 58 years, Don. She works part-time in her daughter and granddaughter's bakery "The Best Box Ever," where she gets paid in cookies.
6 Comments
Sharifa Stevens
Gwynne,
I always appreciate
Gwynne,
I always appreciate your candor, and the way you speak to current events and the issues that affect our communities!
The times are tumultuous, but our Creator reigns eternally. So…we do what we can as good stewards of the responsibilities that God has given us, and rest in the knowledge that His will shall assuredly be done.
Gwynne Johnson
Amen, Sharifa
May His kingdom come! (And quickly:):)
Anonymous
Thankyou, what security when
Thankyou, what security when we rest and trust in our Almighty God. And just one addition, let us make sure we continue to love and serve him in whatever callings he has placed us, to his praise.
Gwynne Johnson
An example to others
I agree and we have an opportunity during this election season to evidence our trust in God whatever the outcome.
NewLife
A Season of Anxiety
Hi Gwyne…I just stumbled upon this website and read your blog above. My husband keeps the TV tuned to Fox news nearly every evening. I can relate to finding myself worring about the current election coverage, as well, as the finacial economy crisis.
It is easy to take our minds off what is truly important, and find ourselves overwhelmed with the financial fall of our nation…and the soon to come results of the election. The Lord reminds me. That regardless of these things we are still victorious. We, who have received Christ as our Lord and Savior, no longer have to worry about the world’s woes, because they will soon be gone. Contentment is the key, it comes from realizing that God is in control. This doesn’t mean we should not vote, or take account of our financial situations. Being consumed by them is our downfall. An hour wasted in worrying about them, could very well be an hour spent with our Lord in prayer for the issues at hand. Press on for the goal. Trust God in all things. He has our best in mind. He promises us, a hope and a future that no man can offer.
Gwynne Johnson
Let’s keep praying
I like the idea of exchanging the hour of news for an hour of prayer! Would likely make a greater difference:)..Gwynne