First let me start by saying that anxiety, depression and failure is very real. It affects the lives of so many people, even those who seem to be okay. You never know what people are going through on a daily basis and so I ask that you pray for everyone that if they have anxiety. depression or feel like a failure, pray that they know the they are God's Masterpiece and they have a purpose. Be there to let them know that it's going to be okay and they have a huge support system to help them through this dark time.
Sometimes it is real, other times its imagined, but the feeling of failure, anxiety or depression is acute. Disappointment in one's self is heart breaking and soul damaging. Paralyzing to the very core.
But as the saying goes, failure, anxiety, or depression is not fatal. Nor is it defining.
You are not a failure.
You're not.
You're an over comer.
No matter how many times you have missed the mark or how great the fall failure is not your destination. So pick yourself up and let these thoughts from Scripture get you back on course.
1. If happens to us all.
" ..for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again." - Proverbs 24:16
We all may trip at times, but we all must get up again.
2. The Lord holds your hand.
" The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand." -Psalm 34:23-24.
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Deep in the depths of failure, anxiety, depression, and self-loathing, it can be difficult to understand the heart of God. Why would He love me when I suffer from anxiety, failure, and depression? When you feel anxiety, failure, and depression, not only does God love you, but He loves you enough to hold your hand. Others may desert you, but Jesus is by your side holding your hand. He is not embarrassed by your mess.
3. The answer is Jesus.
" I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate to do." -Romans 7:15.
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" - Romans 7:24-25.
You promised yourself you wouldn't lose your temper. You vowed to never be that angry again. But in the heat of the moment, you gave in and did the very thing you hate.
Who will free you from failure, anxiety, and depression? Jesus. In whose strength will you overcome? Jesus. No matter how epic the situation, the answer is Jesus.
4. You are forgiven.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." = 1 John 1:9.
You anxiety, failure, and depression are forgiven, covered by the Blood of the Lamb. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. All is left to do is forgive yourself.
5. There is no condemnation.
" Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." - Romans 8:1-2.
Where there are thoughts of failure, anxiety, and depression, condemnation is not far behind. You are not condemned because you belong to Christ. Stop analyzing and dwelling on your shortcomings. The life-giving Spirit has freed you from thoughts of defeat.
6. His grace is all you need.
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christs sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
God's grace is all you need. Grace to cover your anxiety, failure, depression, but also grace to overcome weakness and move forward in victory. His grace is there when you fall, but it also turns weakness into strength.
7. The Lord is your strength.
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." - Psalms 73:26.
Your health may fail, your mind may wander, your spirit may be fragile, but the Lord is your strength- and that makes all the difference. Lean into Him and be reinvigorated with strength for your greatest weakness.
8. There is fresh mercy.
" Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:22-23.
As your own harshest critic, you tend to give yourself very little mercy, am I right? But the faithful love of God is bigger than your anxiety, failure, and depression. His mercy has no end. It is available fresh each day. If you find yourself waking to thoughts of anxiety, failure, and depression, take some of the sweet mercy, and face the day focused on His Faithfulness.
Here is a link to remind us of His Faithfulness:
9. Forget the past.
"Brothers and Sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14.
If the megastars of the Bible had not achieved it, why put such high expectations on yourself? The lesson to learn from greats like Paul is captured here: forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead. So take Paul's advice and do this one thing; stop reliving the past, settle your anxiety, realize you are not a failure, and remember God's joy when depression is strong. It's over. Press on. Push against the resistance. Jesus is calling you onward.
Don't let anxiety, failure, or depression be the final word in your story.
Let's pray:
Lord,
We pray for all our brothers and sisters whom are struggling with anxiety, failure and depression. We pray that You would surround them with Your unfailing, unconditional love, and give them peace to look to You in the midst of their struggles. Please cover them with strength to persevere in times of trail, and faith to stand strong on Your word. We thank You Lord for always being near us. Help us trust in You.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
With Love,
"B"
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