Finding Peace in Anxious Times

By: Ruby Kedney


Have you ever had one of those days where all you wanted to do was hide under the covers and never leave? Your heart was so heavy and anxiety seemed to take control of you, so the safest place felt like burying yourself in your bed and hiding from the world. 

I’ve been there. I want you to know that you are not alone if getting out of bed was hard for you to do this morning. Anxiety and depression can weigh down our hearts and our lives. Your eyes may feel tired and heavy as you're reading this. Your soul may feel defeated or numb. Having hope may feel like a made-up fairytale creature at this point. 

You're not alone. There is still hope for peace in our lives.

I want to share with you a quote by one of my favorite authors, speakers and just overall human beings, Jo Saxton! Look her up on Instagram or Facebook for some more great, encouraging content! She says, “Hope still wins but it often has a tear stained face. It has a vulnerable heart. It has bloodied fists, because it keeps on fighting. It has scrapped knees, because it keeps on crawling forward. It’s sweaty; Hope is not necessarily pretty. But you always want Hope on your side because Hope will fight for you. Hope will fight for the hardest parts of your life.” 

I want you to know that hope is not a "happy go lucky" way to live life. Hope is not always pretty and "Instagram worthy." Hope is a daily practice. Holding onto hope is hard and takes commitment. It is easy to let hope slip out of the window when the news is filling you with fear, anxiety and worries. Your heart may feel pulled in a million directions with each new heartbreak you experience.

1 Corinthians 14:33 says, “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”

We can practice the presence of peace by living freely in the grace and love of Christ. He has wrapped us in His arms with peace and hope for our lives. 

May we practice the presence of peace by talking to a counselor.

May we practice the presence of peace by opening up to a loved one about our mental health. 

May we practice the presence of peace by going for a long walk and admiring the beauty of nature.

May we practice the presence of peace by taking deep breaths. 

May we practice the presence of peace by meditating on scripture.

May we practice the presence of peace by celebrating the small victories in our day. 

May we practice the presence of peace by resting in God’s love for us.

Keep holding onto Jesus. He is fighting with you for the hardest parts of your life. Keep holding onto hope.

As we enter into this holiday season of busy schedules, family drama and party planning, we will need to take extra time to rest. I love how Bernice King says, “Rest is holy. Care for you, too.” 

I pray that you will rest in God’s love today. I pray you will allow him to hold you together when you feel like you’re falling apart. 

Isaiah 40:31, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Ruby Kedney is our Next Steps Coordinator here at Shepherd Church.