The Power of God’s Presence in Overcoming Anxiety

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to carry a distinct aroma with them? Like a grandmother's house that leaves its scent on you long after you've left. There's a profound difference between merely being around someone and truly being with them. The same applies to our relationship with Jesus.

Being around Jesus might not change much in your life. But being with Jesus? That leaves an unmistakable fragrance, a noticeable difference that sets you apart. The good news is that as much as we might desire to be with Jesus, He desires to be with us infinitely more.

When we talk about God's presence, we're not just referring to His omnipresence - the fact that He's everywhere. We're talking about His manifest, experienced presence. It's about moving from merely being around Jesus to being with Him, especially in times of anxiety.

So how do we miss God's presence? Two common pitfalls emerge:

1. Allowing anxiety to increase our cynicism: It's easy to become friends with anxiety, to let it be the constant in our lives. But this friendship with anxiety often leads to cynicism, closing our hearts off to the joy available in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. Letting the noise of anxiety drown out Jesus' voice: Anxiety is loud and constant. It insists on being heard, often drowning out the gentle invitation of Jesus to listen to His voice through the Bible.

But what does it truly mean that God is with us in our anxiety? The story of Joshua provides powerful insights.

As Joshua stood at the edge of the Promised Land, facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, God spoke these powerful words: "For the LORD your God is with you" (Joshua 1:9). This simple phrase carries profound implications:

1. God is closer than your anxiety: When we draw near to God, whatever is causing anxiety shrinks in comparison to His greatness. We're either in awe of God or something else. Awe of God brings peace; awe of anything else brings anxiety.

2. God carries you in your anxiety: Just as a father scoops up his tired child, God carries us through our anxious moments. We don't need to have everything figured out or done perfectly. We simply need to say yes to God's presence and allow Him to carry us.

3. God's presence is personal and relational: The covenant name of God (YHWH) used in Joshua 1:9 emphasizes the personal, relational nature of God's presence. He's not distant or transactional; He's intimately involved in our lives.

So how can we become more aware of God's presence in our anxiety?

1. Mute the noise around us: Just as Joshua positioned himself to hear from God, we need to create space in our lives to listen. This might mean reducing our screen time, setting aside moments for prayer, or finding quiet spaces in our day.

2. Remind ourselves of God's love through Jesus Christ: Anxiety often lies to us, telling us we're alone and unloved. But the cross of Christ stands as an eternal reminder of God's never-ending, never-giving-up love for us. Jesus endured the ultimate anxiety and isolation so that we would never have to face our anxieties alone.

The warmth of God's love in Jesus Christ has the power to evaporate our anxiety. It's not enough to be around Jesus; we must draw near to feel the heat of His love on our lives. When we truly experience the depth of God's love for us, it becomes the most powerful antidote to anxiety.

Remember the words of Jesus: "Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I'm gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

This invitation stands open to all of us, especially in our moments of deepest anxiety. We don't need to try and fix everything on our own. Instead, we're called to draw near to the warmth of Christ's love, to surrender our anxieties to Him.

Practical steps we can take:

1. For every anxious thought, give five thoughts to Jesus. Balance your mental diet.

2. Spend as much time in prayer and Bible reading as you do on your phone or other anxiety-inducing activities.

3. Cry out to God aloud in your prayers. Don't hold back your anxieties; pour them out before Him.

4. Regularly remind yourself of God's love through Christ. Meditate on scriptures that speak of His care and presence.

In the face of anxiety, we don't need more control, we need to know that Jesus loves us and is in control. We don't need to escape our circumstances, but to lean into Jesus' presence within them. We don't need all the answers, but we need the revelation that Jesus is with us.

As we learn to be strong and courageous in the face of anxiety, we do so not by mustering up our own strength, but by acknowledging our weakness and relying on God's strength within us. We can face the alarms of anxiety because Jesus is with us, in us, and His love guarantees that He is for us.

So today, whatever anxieties you're facing, hear this invitation: Draw near to the warmth of Christ's love. Let His presence be the aroma that clings to you, changing you from the inside out. In His presence, you'll find the strength to face your fears, the peace to quiet your anxious thoughts, and the love that casts out all fear.

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