My anxiety has been through the roof lately.
Two weeks ago, I took a trip to Disney with my husband and son. On the way home, I could barely help drive thanks to the panic that overtook my body and mind throughout the 17-hour car ride. I ended up driving a total of about 3 hours, compared to my husband’s 14. Thankfully, most of my time behind the wheel was stopped in traffic…
These are my first words here since those stressful hours in the car. I have kept a steady stream of anxiety flowing ever since that day, but it is finally starting to dissipate. One thing bringing me peace is my current Bible study, Living So That by Wendy Blight.
Last week, she referenced the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8. Jesus tells his disciples about how seed, representing the Word of God, can be placed in 4 different types of soil. The soil refers to different types of hearts and how well we can receive and live the Word, depending on the state of our heart.
I am definitely thorny soil…
“The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear and receive the Word, but their hearts are so distracted by the things of the world that they choke out what they have heard.”
~Wendy Blight
I know about God’s promises about peace. One of my favorite scriptures:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 4:6-7
Somehow when life happens to me, I easily forget these truths.
That day in the car, I couldn’t stop thinking about a doctor’s appointment I would take my daughter to the day after we got home. We were finally to learn if a lump on her thyroid could possibly be a cancerous tumor. We had waited months to find out.
The doctor told us to follow up in a year and he feels strongly it is nothing for us to worry about. Clearly, he doesn’t know me at all. I worry… It’s just what I do. All the time.
This week, my precious daughter suffered through a few days of complications from her diabetes. As I watched her sleep, I worked on the Living So That section on prayer. I love how God brings us the words we need to hear at exactly the right moment.
Our memory verse for the week:
So I prayed. I approached His throne with confidence and asked for her healing, then called on my beautiful Group 7 ladies to join me in prayer. I knew He would have her back to her adorable little sassy self, just as He always has done. Gone was the woman who couldn’t even drive because of a lack of trust that He would take care of my little girl.
Life is going to happen. Kids get sick. We get overwhelmed. My emotions take crazy roller coaster rides though anxiety and depression.
God always pulls us through. We can trust Him. Thanks to this study and the extra time I’m spending opening my Bible because of it, my soil is starting to clean up. The thorns are beginning to disappear.
Is your heart distracted? Are the things of this world choking out the scripture you know to be true? Approach His throne with confidence, my friend. He will see you through…
What a BEAUTIFUL post Candace. We are so much alike! I struggle with the exact things you do and fail my precious Savior the same way. Thank you for sharing this. You have no idea how much I needed this today. I am praying for you my sister in Christ<3
Thanks so much, Heather! We are so similar, my friend. I always think that when I’m at your blog :). Praying for you as well!
SO happy those thorns are disappearing, as you say!!
I’ve missed you Candace! I’ve not been online much myself, but I did notice recently that you were not blogging as much and hoped it was just a little downtime you were grabbing. Sorry to hear of your difficulties, but thankfully, things are getting better!
TTYS 🙂
Hi Chris! I have missed you too! I’m looking forward to catching up on your posts this weekend. I finally feel like I can breathe :). Things are good!
I’m so sorry you have been struggling my friend, but it is so good to read these encouraging words from you. I will be praying for you and your family. I’m really enjoying this study too but I am so far behind. Hope you have an anxiety free day!
Thank you for your prayers, Sandy! Don’t worry about being behind on the study. I missed the whole first week and just got caught up last weekend. My anxiety is doing much better. I hope all is well with you and your precious family!
Candace, this is just beautiful! I am so sorry to hear about your struggles. I can relate to some of them! But what I’ve loved about this study is that I’m finding myself reading the Bible more, and understanding it! As a result, the peace comes. The thorns are cut down. God is going to take care of you and your family!
Thanks for your sweet encouragement, Veronica! That is my favorite thing about this study too- how much it leads us to the Bible. I’m not one to just open it and read it, but I think I’ll be more likely to do that after the study ends. Im feeling more confident in it :).
Candace, I love this! I think you speak for a lot of us in this Bible Study and writing! We want everything perfect in our eyes, which may not be the road God has for us. But trusting in Him, prayers of friends and OBS BS friends has been one ofthe biggest joys of my life. So blessed to read your words this morning. I find encouragement and know that my struggle is not the only one in the world! Be blessed today and ever day! <3
Thank you for your honesty and openness.
Hi Mary! I’m so blessed to have you and our awesome group 7 ladies. You all made me feel so loved and encouraged. Thank you for your support, my friend!
“I love how God brings us the words we need to hear at exactly the right moment.” Amen to that. I needed to hear this today, thank you.
It is amazing to me that if I stay aware, I notice so many great things He is trying to tell me. So glad to have you here today! I’ve enjoyed my time off but definitely missed all my sweet friends like you, Laura :).
I thought the same thing when I read those words, my soil is thorny, too. I want to fully trust, but I keep letting my fear and anxiety get in the way. I am appreciative, because I have found many kindreds along the fear/anxiety/worry/panic road, but at the same time, I’m sad because we’ve let our trust and faith be overcome by those grace-suckers. I am so grateful for this study – I’m in the right place at the right time. Thank you so much for your heart today.
There are so many of us out there! Anxiety reaches far and wide. I’m so thankful to have you on this journey with me, Kristin! This study has been wonderful for me too and His timing was, of course, perfect :).
Amen. Thank you for sharing this wonderful post today. So many of us forget that it is ok to be afraid, but it is a true blessing to have complete Faith in our Lord. So that we can live in his Word, and let our soil become the rich fertile soil that we all want. Sending prayers this week for you and your daughter. God bless you.
What a beautiful reminder, Rosemary! “It is ok to be afraid.” Sometimes I spend so much energy trying not to feel fear, when I should be using it to pray and strengthen my faith. Thanks for the prayers! Blessings to you as well.
Candace, your blog always speaks right to my heart. I always hate to hear my sisters are struggling but I love to rejoice when I hear God is pulling you through. I just told Deb this morning I thought part 4 of chapter 3 was written just for her & now that I’ve read this I believe it was written for both of you! Can’t wait till you read it!
I loved part 4! The book is really helping me right now. This study was timed perfectly :). Thanks for your love and support, Tonya! September can’t get here fast enough!!
Hey Candance, I love reading your posts. I’m going to look for that book, I’ve been meaning to go to Mardel’s. I’m sure the many prayers for your daughter will be answered.
It is a great book, Sonya! I ordered mine from Amazon. My daughter is feeling much better. There are still some issues that are always of concern, just as we all have with our kids. Us mommies have so much to worry about :). It can easily consume us. This study is really helping me shift my focus.
Thanks for sharing….I think worry is something we can all relate to in one way or another! I’m grateful God is drawing you close and leading you to trust Him more! We know He is the prince of peace, but experiencing that is a whole new thing!! Looks like He is taking it from your head to your heart…grateful He’s doing the same for me as well!! Blessings to you!
I’m so glad to hear you are having a positive experience as well, Jill! I love your statement: “We know He is the prince of peace, but experiencing that is a whole new thing!” What truth that is! Worry is a tough beast I have struggled with my entire life. He is really bringing me some long awaited peace.
Yes, I, too, get anxiety and fearful at times. It is okay to be afraid. I am so thankful that God is always with us and holds us in His loving arms. 🙂 I am a work in progress and I am thankful for God’s patience.
I’m so thankful for His patience too, Melissa! I ignored Him for many years. My faith is stronger than ever. Even though I still have worry/anxiety/fear… issues, it is easier than it once was. I’m “a work in progress” as well :)!
I’m glad to be here, reading your post today. It’s been a while, but as always, every time I visit your blog, I feel as if you had written it for me…even though it is about your personal experience, it surely touches me really deeply. I ALWAYS worry too. I am a natural born-worrier…so I totally understand. Worrying about our children is just consuming and debilitating. I know it so well. But what you said at the end, “life will happen” is a true reminder of how we must put our trust in the Lord. Life WILL happen…but the Lord WILL be there every time…even when we don’t feel Him, hear Him, see Him or believe Him. Big hugs to you dear. Prayers for you and your precious family.
Thank you for your prayers and always beautiful encouragement, Gisela! I feel like we are so alike in our worry and other issues. I always think that when I’m visiting your wonderful blog :). I’m so looking forward to reading your posts from the past couple of weeks and catching up with you!
Absolutely loved your post…it was beautiful as always! I hate that you’ve been struggling; it seems like a lot of us go through the same things at the same times, doesn’t it? Do you think that means we are doing something right? God bringing us all together has been so amazing for me and I’m thankful for and love all the ladies in our group! I cannot wait for the retreat! I am so glad that you and your daughter are both doing better and that you are back to blogging! 🙂 I’ve missed your blogs.
We are definitely doing something right, Kim! I’m so thankful for our wonderful group also. We are so blessed to have been brought together. The retreat is going to be a blast. It seems so far away, but will hopefully be here before we know it. I’ve missed your blog too! I wanted to catch up on it last night, but sleep won :). I’m looking forward to reading all I’ve missed over the weekend.
I love this, Candace. Thank you for being so open and transparent with us. I think we can all relate – or at least I can. And I’m so happy that your daughter’s news from the doctor was good! I also have to visit my doctor every year for the very same reason. I’m so thankful we can plant our feet firmly on the foundation of God’s Word. And how amazing that He knows exactly what we need and when we need it? Amazing love.
Thank you, Shelly! Those health issues can be so overwhelming. I was thrilled to get the good report from the doctor, but there is always another issue to come. As you said, “we can plant our feet firmly on the foundation of God’s Word.” That is the key to dealing with all these difficulties that arise in life. Always great to see you :)!
Candace, could I relate to your post! I immediately knew my soil was thorny too. And I worry. This study is so healing. Your post was so healing. Praying for your sweet daughter. I think it is amazing He has you in this study at the very time you needed it! WOW!
I’m so glad to hear you are finding healing in the study, Lynda! Thank you for the prayers. They are greatly appreciated. She is feeling better, but with diabetes, it seems there is always something else around the corner. I pray your worry and thorns are disappearing :)!
What a beautiful and honest post! Thanks for much for sharing you heart, I loved the scriptures you shared as well. I often finding myself worrying about things and I try to remind myself of God’s promises. He said he would take our burdens so why do I hesitate to give mine to him? But He is still faithful 🙂
Thank you, Lauren! It is so easy to read and learn His promises, but remembering them in a crisis is a struggle. I completely understand. Thankfully, as you so beautifully stated, “He is still faithful” :)!!
Candy Cane, its been awhile. Our struggles are everyday in different ways, never loose hope.
Hi Camii!! It has been awhile, my friend. So good to ‘see’ you :)!
I needed this tonight! Overwhelmed with anxiety and mom worries! Thank you!
Praying for you now, Ryann. I completely understand those mommy worries. I’m a work in progress in this difficult struggle :). So glad this helped you!