Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s spot anxiety’s weight lifter.

Psalms 3:3 (AMP) testifies…
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory [and my honor], and the One who lifts my head.

Consider…
In weight lifting, there is a spotter who stands over the weight lifter just in case the weight gets to heavy or the lifter’s strength gives out. Today, we will look at the weight of anxiety and prayerfully realize God is our always present spotter watching over us.

Let’s be honest, there are times when anxiety gets the best of us and we ask ourselves questions, like the Psalmist in Psalm 43:5a (ESV)…
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?

You know, those times when everything seems hopeless and we feel helpless. May I encourage you to know that you are not alone.

God shows us through myriads of stories, that suffering is part of the faith journey. In fact Jesus said…
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 NLT

Embedded in Jesus’ encouragement is God’s acknowledgement that we’re going to go through trials and sorrows. These trials and sorrows are common contributors to our anxiety.

It’s important for us to know that God knows and cares about our fragility as humans. He recognizes our anxieties and feelings of abandonment, judgement, hopelessness and helplessness. In fact, He dedicated the book of Lamentations to allowing an unplugged lament of His chosen people.

Let’s read just a snipit of the lament…
I am a man who has seen much trouble. God beat us with a stick, and I saw it happen. He led and brought me into darkness, not light. He turned his hand against me. He did this again and again, all day. He wore out my flesh and skin. He broke my bones. He built up bitterness and trouble against me. He surrounded me with bitterness and trouble. He put me in the dark, like someone who died long ago. He shut me in, so I could not get out. He put heavy chains on me. Even when I cry out and ask for help, he does not listen to my prayer. – Lamentations 3:1‭-‬8 ERV

Why would God allow such a raw rant to be shared in His Biblical Instructions Before Leaving Earth (BIBLE) for us?

Indeed, why would God permit David to declare…
My God, my God, why have you left me? You seem too far away to save me, too far to hear my cries for help! My God, I kept calling by day, and I was not silent at night. But you did not answer me. – Psalms 22:1‭-‬2 ERV

Moreover, why would our loving Heavenly Father allow us to read His only begotten Son’s agonizing question of abandonment in His most painful moments…
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud [agonized] voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” – Matthew 27:46 AMP

I submit, it’s because God wants us to know that He sees and hears us, even when we don’t think He does. You see, the fact that we can read these crisis moments in the lives of people who were near and dear to God’s heart, is proof that our Omniscient God knows everything.

Sometimes our crisis moments, like the Children of Israel are because of our mistakes, and if we’re being blunt, our sin. However, the Holy Spirit wants to encourage you with Psalms 106:43‭-‬45 (NLT), which testifies…
Again and again he rescued them, but they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin. Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries. He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love.

So the next time your anxious thoughts tempt you to not pray or doubt God’s willingness to answer your prayer, just remember His unfailing love is based on who He is rather than who you are or aren’t.

A transformative reason God makes us privy to the raw rants of distress expressed by heroes of faith, is that it showcases His unfailing love.

Remember that snipit from Lamentations above? Well twelve verses later the author writes…
I remember well all my troubles, and I am very sad. But then I think about this, and I have hope: We are still alive because the Lord’s faithful love never ends. Every morning he shows it in new ways! You are so very true and loyal! I say to myself, “The Lord is my God, and I trust him.” – Lamentations 3:20‭-‬24 ERV

And while Psalm 22 is a chapter of lament, it also includes testimonies of God’s saving grace, like…
Our ancestors trusted you. Yes, they trusted you, and you saved them. They called to you for help and escaped their enemies. They trusted you and were not disappointed! – Psalms 22:4‭-‬5 ERV

Speaking of God’s saving grace, let’s recall Romans 5:6 (ERV)…
Christ died for us when we were unable to help ourselves. We were living against God, but at just the right time Christ died for us.

The verse says we were living against God, and He helped us before we knew we needed it or admitted it.

What’s my point? Although anxiety may bring us down, God never fails to lift us up. The Holy Spirit wants us to know that we’re never abandoned and God never stops working on our behalf.

God says, when anxious thoughts come, remember He said…
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 NLT

It’s like God is saying that, yes you’re going to go through challenges, but just lookup and notice ‘I AM’ (whatever you need) is spotting you.

The Holy Spirit also wants us to know, that when anxious thoughts continually bombard us, He acknowledges that our concerns and issues may be legitimate. However, He also reminds us that what we’re experiencing is temporary. Indeed, trouble won’t last always. That’s why Psalms 30:5b (NLT) encourages…
Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

1 Peter 5:10 (ERV) also encourages…
Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is the God who gives all grace. He chose you to share in his glory in Christ. That glory will continue forever.

Lastly, I leave you with these uplifting verses to help you ride out the storms of anxiety you are facing or will encounter. 2 Corinthians 4:7‭-‬9 (NLT) testifies…
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

So today, no matter how heavy anxiety weighs you down, or how much your heart is doubled over with grief, God is saying don’t despair, because I know and I care.

While we wallow in the doldrums of anxiety, God is standing patiently waiting to help us when we need Him. And when we’re drowning in the sea of despair, Jesus is standing with His hand outstretched offering to lift us up.

Today’s encouragement is, no matter how far anxiety makes us fall, we’re never out of the sight or reach of our soul’s weight Lifter.

Today’s song is…
The Lifter
https://youtu.be/BzbH2koUb1s?si=g6ZLC-CfhTPFAhEL

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)