Feeling worried, fearful or anxious?

by Shelley Hitz
(Findlay, Ohio)

Feeling worried, fearful or anxious? Then it may be time to change your focus!

Recently I was feeling anxious about some circumstances in my life. I felt my emotions kicking in and the fear starting to build as I thought about it. The more I thought about it, the more anxious I felt. Have you ever felt that way?

I don't like to be controlled by my emotions, especially when it comes to worry, fear or anxiety.

Philippians 4:5-7 says, "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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."

That sounds great, but is it really possible to apply to my life?

Then, I remembered an analogy my mom gave me once...

She said to think of my life like a cup. When it's facing upward the only thing that can influence me is God because my focus is on him and I'm protected by the "walls of the cup" from all the circumstances around me. Because when my cup is laying on its side and my focus is on my circumstances or other people, then I'm wide open to be influenced by them. Does that make sense?

So when your focus is upward and you present your requests to God, then His peace is like that cup that will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. He will guard us from being influenced by those around us.

Sometimes I have to "refocus my cup" every minute or so :)