Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
In recent years psychologists have seen a rise in anxiety disorders, at the same time that social media usage has exponentially grown. Everything in today’s online world encourages comparison and all marketing technologies are built upon the phenomenon of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
How would you describe your heart today? Does it feel cheerful or heavy, empty or full, hopeful or despondent, anxious or peaceful?
When our hearts are heavy, it can feel like our whole selves are dragged down – our perspective shifts, our eyes downcast, it can be difficult to see beyond our immediate circumstances.
And it is in times like these that we need to cling to God’s kind words of truth – “Seek first the kingdom of God … do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
God, thank you that your word is full of kindness and compassion, that you command us over and over again not to fear. My mind is tempted to worry about all kinds of things that could happen in the future. But today I choose to trust tomorrow into your hands and focus on the manna you have provided for me today.