Article: Turn anxiety into joy | Sanil Abraham, Vengoor
We do live in a world of struggles ,sorrows and anxieties. In the book of Proverb chapter 12 verses 25 says “ An anxious heart weighs a man down , but a kind of word cheers him up”. Then how is this anxious mind generated? Or what makes one have an anxious mind? An anxious mind is generated from the problems or intrusive thoughts that come in our lives. Yes , a problem causes an anxious heart. We do think a lot to find the solution for the problem when it comes. And if the problem is too difficult or complicated to be resolved , indeed that leads to anxiety. Once the anxious mind is generated , there is no doubt it will put us down. That we have read in the Book of Proverb chapter 12 verses 25. And this anxious mind causes an improper solution for the problem. Then how do we find a proper solution?
The same versus gives the answer. “But a kind of word cheers him up”. Means there is a word that will indeed help us to resolve the problem smoothly without any physical or mental damages in us. Is that word much more powerful or stronger? Yes, it is. Then from where do we receive this word? And how do we get this?
In the book of first Samuel chapter one verses 15 to 18 says “ Hannah replied I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer. I was pouring my soul to the Lord. Don’t take your servant for a wicked woman. I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief. Eli answered : Go in peace . May the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him. She said may your servant find favor in your eyes. And she went her way and ate something. Her face was no longer downcast.”
Here we are seeing a woman called Hannah, wife of Elkanah, who was in trouble. As we know ,Elkanah had two wives , Hannah and Penninah. Penninah could give birth to children , but Hannah couldn’t. And Penninah used to provoke Hannah in order to irritate her. And as we know , this kind of issue was unable to be resolved by Hannah or any of the human beings. This disappointed her much and led to an anxious mind. But she was not ready to give up. She prayed to the Lord Almighty for the same. And finally in the versus 15 and 16 we do find that she received the stronger and powerful word from God through Eli the priest.That turned her mind from anxiety into joy. Then what was the powerful word of God? In verse 17 says , “the God Israel grants you what you have asked of him”. Here we find the answer of two questions that we have quoted in the beginning.First, where do we receive the powerful word? Second, how do we get it? Here are the answers for the same.We do receive the word from God Almighty and we get this by keeping our issues to the Lord in our prayer.
So if we are in trouble or facing issues that we are unable to resolve , put the same into our God’s hands.He will reply with the powerful word of solution.In the book of Philipians chapter 4 verses 6 to 7 says. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. Trust, nothing is impossible with our God. Amen
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