ROOTED RENEGADE

Nehemiah 2:11-20, 4:1-23, Psalm 56

There is a natural anxiety that we get before a test in school, a big presentation at work, a meeting with our boss, etc. It’s our body’s way of dealing with stress. When left unchecked, it turns into something worse. Anxiety that never seems to leave and brings along worry as it’s best friend.

That is when we face giants that are not welcome. When thoughts become overwhelming, our bodies respond to the increased negative thinking. And we become one hot mess! 

Many people go on medication to ease it, but it never really seems to go away. It’s because giants have found a way into our lives and they cause torment.

Nehemiah and King David are two men who refused to let these giants cause them to crumble and fall.

When Sanballat and Tobiah continued their assaults and torment, Nehemiah boldly confronted them and turned to God for support and intervention. King David cried out to God during his distress and chose to praise God despite his circumstances. Neither of them doubted God’s power to save them.

But how we defeat giants of anxiety and worry in our day and age? A few ways. Prayer, trust, and praise. We have to first ask Holy Spirit to show us ways we don’t trust God to provide or come through. Then we take the things He shows us and we pray for healing and deliverance. And we praise God for the work He is doing, continues to do and has already done for us. This brings us back into alignment with the truth.

God is always our provider. I watched a dear friend go through a time where she was not working and had to rely on God to send the provision to pay her bills and make her car note. Even put groceries on the table.

It wasn’t that she never experienced anxiety over her situation or worry. It was that she chose in those moments to press into Jesus and believe that He would provide all her needs. I can’t tell you the countless times she would tell me of checks that just showed up in the mail. God got her through and He will us too.

But when anxiety rules our hearts and worry consumes our minds, we aren’t able to focus on His promises. We are barely able to focus on anything other than what we don’t have. And this absolutely causes us to not trust that He will provide.

Our circumstances are never bigger than His provision. They are no suprise to Him even if they may be to us. There is already a plan to work them all out for good. But whether we chose to believe the Word and God’s promises or believe the giants who want us trapped in anxiety and worry is really up to us. We are the ones who have a decision to make. 

We can be bold like Nehemiah and press in like King David, or we can succumb and allow the giants to rule our hearts. 

I have faced these giants myself and it can feel debiliating to fight them. Their goal is to consume you so you can’t focus on God. But we were given all that we needed to fight them inside of us and through the living Word, Water, and Fire, we can prevail.

There are a great many messages out there on how to overcome worry and anxiety. People promote medications, weird spiritual healing practices, and more. But the one message that will never be outdated is that of the gosepl of Jesus.

If we cling to Jesus during the times where our circumstances are screaming at us, anxiety and worry are beating down the doors of our hearts and minds, we can overcome and prevail.

The blood of Jesus still speaks today and His Name still shatters giants hold on us. Hold close to the ONE who knows you by name. He won’t fail you!

Faythe