April 18, 2021 (Sunday)
This is the first of nine blogs on “Personal Problems in Life: Feelings of Anxiety, Loneliness, Depression, Anger, Guilt, Inferiority, Grief, Hostility, and Feelings Associated with Sickness.”
When I was a child, we boys were herded up to the front of the church, lined up behind each other, with our hands on the elbow of the person ahead of us, and pretended to be a train, moving our arms back and forth like a locomotive as we sang. Some of the words to that song: “I am traveling on the Hallelujah line, on the good old gospel train. I am on the right track and I never shall go back to the station of sin again. I need no fare, I’m riding on a pass. ‘Tis the Lamb for Sinners slain..” In other words, I’ve become a Christian now, so no more problems. If only that were so. The promise the Lord made to us was not, “no more troubles,” but “I’ll be with you if you will allow me, in your times of trouble.”
One of those troubles is “anxiety.” Sometimes it can almost overcome us. These are trying times here in our little paradise on the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Herman nearly blew us all away, and some people are still recovering from that monster storm, nearly four years later. On its heels came the Covid Pandemic, with unemployment, business failures, or worse: sickness and death. Then the big freeze and loss of electric power in its wake, plus the frustration and anger of discovering the powers that be had shut off the power when we needed it the most. Plus, the mass shootings day after day keep all of us confused and unnerved. On top of those concerns, the 50/50 division in the way people think these days, and the anger created by that is a daily concern. Relationships are strained to the breaking point. Scarcely anyone in the world is unaffected by anxiety these days.
We need help, and we have a great desire to help others in worse shape than we are. Before the disasters we have had in recent years, we have lived in a time of stress, fear and tensions. Sometimes our feelings can be described as “healthy concern,” but at other times can only be viewed as “fretfulness or worry.” We deal with healthy concerns on a daily basis, but the fret and worry can overwhelm us. It’s not always easy to “take our burdens to the Lord and leave them there.” Nevertheless Jesus’ word to us is “Do not worry.” Paul echoes Jesus’ words when he says “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything.”
Think of something for which you are thankful, no matter how small. Allow yourself to be happy about that. Learn to accept others with their differences of opinion. Pray and focus on the virtues of life: honorable things, right, pure, lovely, good, excellent and praiseworthy. Trust in God. Learn to cope. A Christian psychologist suggests the following, making them a part of your daily life: seek God’s help, admit your fears, etc., talk it over with someone often if necessary, take steps to build self-esteem, strengthen relationships and build new ones, learn to communicate, relax, periodically evaluate where you’ve been, where you are, and where you are headed, and evaluate your priorities. Seek professional help if necessary.
SHELTERED IN THE ARMS OF GOD
Words: Dottie Rambo
Music: Jimmie Davis
1969
I feel the touch of hands so kind and tender
They’re leading me in paths that I must trod
I’ll have no fear ’cause Jesus walks beside me
For I’m sheltered in the arms of God
So let the storms rage high
The dark clouds rise
They won’t worry me
For I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God
He walks with me
And naught of earth shall harm me
For I’m sheltered in the arms of God
Soon I shall hear the call from Heaven’s portals
“Come home, My child, it’s the last mile you have trod.”
I’ll just fall asleep and wake up in God’s new heaven
Forever sheltered in the arms of God
So let the storms rage high
The dark clouds rise
They won’t worry me
For I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God
He walks with me
And naught of earth shall harm me
For I’m sheltered in the arms of God
So let the cold winds blow
It’s so good to know
That I’m sheltered in the arms of God
Darling we have both been sheltered in the arms of God
The arms of God
Bonus video: He Whispers Sweet Peace to Me. I love this song and this arrangement by these singers: