An Opportunity for Growth

Have you ever worked to overcome a problem in your life? Have you sought healing in an area of hurt? Isn’t it lovely when you see that your efforts have worked?

I’ve praised God at moments when I’ve realized that He has transformed me and healed me in some area where I’ve been working on myself.

Sometimes, the healing allows me to set something aside permanently. At other times, though, healing and transformation in one area reveals something else I need to work on—a new opportunity for personal growth.

A Problem

Recently I shared that I’ve been experiencing some anxiety lately. My “some anxiety,” I mean “so much anxiety that it interfered with my ability to function normally.”

Oddly enough, the anxiety has been related to a good thing (a positive change in my husband’s work situation). Furthermore, it is a change for which I have prayed for a couple years.

My response to this answered prayer wasn’t to see God’s hand in the situation and rejoice. Instead, I let my fear and worry weigh me down.

As the anxiety has diminished, I am able to see more clearly just how dysfunctional I became. I forgot to eat, or when I remembered to eat I couldn’t stop. I was barely able to prepare dinner and ended up with unhealthy convenience food more than I would have liked. I had a hard time falling and staying asleep. I couldn’t concentrate, and I became forgetful. I experienced panic attacks (with most of the symptoms listed here).

My anxiety kept me from feeling joy in God’s answer to a prayer. It focused my attention on negatives. It interfered with my marriage, as Big Guy had to deal with my anxiety on top of the transition and details he is having to manage. It interfered with my ability to share my husband’s joy, and it made the experience less positive for him than he needed and deserved.

I can see how the enemy has used my anxiety against me.

Intentional Growth

I’ve always been a worrier and have experienced anxiety for years—but this is the worst it’s ever been. This experience is showing me where I still have significant work to do on myself. I can see that I need to grow in my trust in God. I need to care for myself—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—so I can better combat anxiety in the future. I need to learn how not to let fear become bigger than joy in my life.

Although I’d love to just sit back and let God decide to heal me if He wants to, I know that saying that I want to be healed means that I need to choose to take some steps on my own.

So I’m committing to do the work. Although I don’t have a clear step-by-step plan figured out, I do know some steps to take and have already begun. I know that as I proceed, next steps will present themselves.

Here is some of what I’ll be doing:

• I’ve been using my Bible time to read scripture on anxiety, worry, and trust in God.
• I will prioritize self-care to help me be better able to deal with the kinds of blips in life that trigger my anxiety.
• I am gathering some books and articles to inform and encourage me.
• I am choosing to pray about this and am asking friends for prayer and insight.
• I’ve talked with my pastor and will do so again.
• I will study how Jesus accepted God’s will in the Garden of Gethsemane.

In other words, I am seeking truth, righteousness, and readiness to help me better respond next time the enemy wants to use my anxiety against me.

Your Turn

I want to encourage you today to look at your own opportunities for personal growth. What problems do you need to overcome? What hurts do you need to heal?

If your situation seems debilitating (as my anxiety was for a few days), you may be overwhelmed by the prospect of working on the problem. Or, you may be aware of a problem or a hurt and think it isn’t a big enough deal to spend time addressing.

Whether your problem or hurt is large or small, be intentional in moving forward:

Develop a plan, or at least some first steps. Be willing to do the work.

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7

Rely on God. Even though you will be working on yourself, know that God will do the true work of transformation and healing.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Commit to praying regularly about this.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Seek truth, righteousness, and readiness. Learn, seek God’s Word, and strengthen yourself.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:13-15

If you see an opportunity for personal growth, make a plan and take a step forward.

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