Have you ever thought what is the root root of your anxiety? Can you envision the thought of an anxious-free life? To respond to the introductory question, I have to reflect on the matriarch of my family, my deceased grandmother Daphne Leacock. I had the fortunate privilege to grow up under her. And looking back, she was wise beyond her time; it seemed as she had first-hand knowledge of my future. All her life lessons centered around ‘patience’. Of course, her favorite quote was, “Patience is a virtue,” whenever she noticed my anxiety level rising. With my five well spent years with her before her going home to the Lord, I can safely say she was on point.

Oftentimes, we go after things (ideas included) that are not in God’s will. And even when it is in God’s will, because of the lack of patience, we try to do it on our own breaking morals laws along the way. Can you recall things that you passionately desired in the past? Now thinking forward, you are glad that you did not get it because it would have destroyed you? The job, the house, the car, the wife, husband, girlfriend, the boyfriend, the cruise, the loan, the contract? You know what I mean? James 1:4 says, James 1:4 “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

The ‘lack thereof’ of patience is responsible for the crisis today in the Middle East. It all began with Abram and Sarai who did not trust the promise of God that they would conceive a child because they looked at their ages; forgetting that NOTHING is impossible with God. They both decided to ‘help out God’. Genesis 16-18 says“Sarai was Abram’s wife, but she did not have any children. She had an Egyptian slave named Hagar.  Sarai told Abram, “The Lord has not allowed me to have children, so sleep with my slave. Maybe she can have a son, and I will accept him as my own.” And the fruit of impatience is being lived out today in the Middle East. I encourage you to do your own research on this topic. This is also living proof of Bible prophesy for those who do not believe.

What are you impatient about today? If you want things to be different you would need to exercise patience. Matthew 6:8 says, “Don’t be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Who is the them? The them are those who question the existence of God, who want to do their own thing knowing it is wrong. As we exercise patience through the storms of life today, whatever they are, we will come out like the 3 Hebrew boys in the fire in Daniel 3:26-27 “…..So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them.  They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” Similar to the Hebrew boys, Jesus is with us in ALL of our trials, fiery or not.

The root root of our anxiety is the lack of trust in what God has proclaimed in our lives. Remember his word in 2 Peter 3:8, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” He can and will turn things around in an instant.

I will leave you with the following spiritual formula for anxiety so you can live a life overflowing with patience from here on in:

(1) You are not alone; Jesus is always with you

(2) You are second in command; Jesus is in command and you are yoked to him; where he leads you will follow

(3) Every place you step on is Holy Ground

(4) It is Holy Ground because Jesus has gone ahead and walked the path and made the crooked straight

You think about it!

Good morning!

Remember, ‘nothing changes if nothing changes’ and, ‘the same person will always use’.

Have a Blessed day in the Lord. You deserve it!

From the desk of Andy Ansola