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Check out these links if you missed the earlier posts from Monday or Wednesday on Battling Anxiety
As someone who has personally struggled with anxiety, I know what it’s like to get frustrated and beat yourself up for persistent anxiety and worry. I also know that steps such as “Believe Truth” or “Surrender” aren’t necessarily going to cure your anxiety (although I believe they can bring an extra measure of peace to our lives because they bring us closer to God).
There are Bible verses that instruct us not to be anxious. And we try so hard to obey. We may logically know that God is in control and that he will provide–yet still suffer from unexplained anxiety.
I want to encourage you . . .
Don’t let your anxiety make you feel like a failure. 
Of course, continue to pray about it. Ask God to remove your anxiety. Tell him you believe he will fully provide for all your needs and that you know he’s in control. Leave it in his hands. But . . .
Consider that God may use your anxiety to draw you closer to him.
If you still suffer from anxiety, use it as a means to draw close to God every day. Know that nothing in all creation can separate you from his love.
Nothing.
Fear cannot separate you from God’s love. Anxiety cannot separate you. Worry cannot separate you.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
When I was a child, I would worry about how much I worried. Mainly because the adults around me told me I worried too much (and that I was going to get an ulcer. Which I never did, by the way.)
So, take the advice of one who has been there. Don’t be anxious about being anxious. God’s love for you is bigger than you can imagine. Draw close to him. According to the wise words of Oswald Chambers,
“Never let cares or tribulations separate you from the fact that God loves you.” Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, May 19.
And I’ll leave you with a final quote from my upcoming release, Truth, Lies, and the Single Woman:
Join in the discussion . . . leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on anxiety and faith. Or whether you’ve ever been told you’re going to get an ulcer from worrying too much! 🙂
Be blessed!
Photo by: Michael McGaha
Allison K. Flexer, Author 
Totally resonate with what you said about worrying about worrying. And so funny when you think of how many of our worries never come to fruition in the real world!
So true, Darcy! I heard once that worry is like meditation, but worry is dwelling on the bad and meditation is dwelling on the peaceful/good. Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for this! I must admit I don’t often think about God using my anxiety to bring me closer to him. I often think of it in terms of God may use it to make me more obedient—i.e., I know I shouldn’t worry, so if I simply “give it to him,” then I’m being obedient. In my mind, I’ve divorced being close to God from obeying his commands, which is inaccurate, of course. 🙂
Mary, I have struggled with some of the same thoughts…”I’m not obedient enough because I’m anxious.” It’s good (and such a relief) to know it’s all about God and not about me! 🙂
Wow, Allison. You really hit the nail on the head for me here. Thank you, for reminding me of God’s Word and the unfailing love and hope we have in Jesus…nice to connect with you. Looking forward to following along. 🙂
Krista, I’m so glad the post resonated with you! I love your phrase “unfailing love and hope in Jesus”…that is certainly the Gospel. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I look forward to checking out your posts as well!