Peace in the storms of anxiety

My chronic illnesses and brainstem herniation boiled into a raging storm seven months ago. Each day held so many moments of scary health crisis that I continually asked God to keep me physically safe during the hours my husband had to work. After my beautifully care-giving husband helped me get settled, all I could “control” was to keep everything I might need for those hours within reach. Home deliveries and visits from church friends and neighbors became God’s compassionate gifts.  

But scary storms continued to rage, with intractable pain and uncontrollable bouts of temporary blindness and unconsciousness. “Give me Your peace, Lord!” Every moment held battles with fear of more medical emergencies. I now understand that anxiety is co-morbid with chronic illnesses and pain, so it makes medical sense that I’ve dealt with its symptoms for most of my life. 

Beloved in Christ, walking through this fall’s storms, it’s amazing. God removed my anxiety and replaced it with His peace! This continues! What a tremendously powerful Healer! 

Even as I walk through other threatening storms now, I can’t believe it…I feel only peace about what could happen. Believe me, this is as much a miracle as the healing gift of God’s bringing brain surgery to me! 

How?

Just as with my first scary journey through the valley of the shadow of death in the ’90s, God soothed anxiety…by bringing to mind songs that echo His Word’s truths.

One of the songs He used to sustain me is one I’ve taught to many choirs. He continues to “sing it” into my thoughts when storm winds blow.

Take courage, my soul, and let us journey on,

tho’ the night is dark and I am far from home.

(“The Storm is Passing Over,” Tindley, C. A., 1905)

For the next two weeks, as we consider anxiety and storms, I’m praying that the Scriptures and songs I share will be God’s healing gift to you if anxiety is storming around you and in you.

Anxiety in the storms 

But when the disciples saw [Jesus] walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear (Mt. 14:26 ESV). 

Of course they were afraid! All of their senses were experiencing raging storms, threatening waves crashing in their dark night journey. Already afraid of drowning, they became terrified of what they saw! With their limited human understanding, how could a human walk on the sea? 

God designed our brains to unconsciously produce emotions, like fear. Fear unleashes cascades of neurochemical reactions that prepare us for action when our senses perceive danger, the “fight or flight” sympathetic part of our autonomic nervous system.

Yet God also originally created an anxiety and fear-free world. Adam and Eve initially felt no fear but walked freely in intimate safety and peace with each other and God in their circumstances. 

Sadly, since Genesis 3’s fall into sin, anxiety and fear now permeate our sin-full world. It is no wonder, for storms of life do feel scary, out of our own control, unsafe.

So, as believers in Christ, we can turn to our Lord Jesus…

Who IS in control…

and Who IS our safety and peace…

when we feel anxiety in our present storms.

Jesus compassionately gives us His presence in the storms.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go (Josh. 1:9 ESV).

Jesus also compassionately gives us His answer to our fears.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Mt. 10:28 ESV).

“Fearing” Jesus, in the storms of anxiety

Billows rolling high, and thunder shakes the ground,

lightning’s flash and tempest all around.

With such tender love, Jesus immediately spoke to calm His disciples’ fear. Right away! The One who designed our brains and bodies, the One who willingly took on this flesh, understands our anxiety in the storm. 

So, Who also immediately speaks to us, when we’re afraid in this sin-full world’s storms?

The wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God” (Mt. 14:32 ESV).

Yes, Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man! As reconciled believers in Christ, we now no longer fear God as frightening, but instead reverently “fear” Him in awe of who He is, as those held in His grace-filled gospel of peace, complete power, and ongoing presence. 

The storm has already passed over, for us! Hallelujah! 

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross (Col. 1:19 ESV).

Jesus walks the sea and calms the angry waves,

and the storm is passing over, hallelujah!

Playlist gift for peace into anxiety, and other resources of Singing Christ’s Hope

How is our loving triune God calming me in today’s ongoing storms? It continues to be through songs that sing Biblical truths of who He is, along with our gospel hope as His beloved in Christ! 

I need to sing Biblically true music when I’m afraid, for it is God’s healing gift physically, cognitively, emotionally, and spiritually. I also have to sing songs that help me literally internalize God’s Word to prepare my heart for future storms.

Want to join me? This week’s professionally curated playlist gift accompanies others in our resource library, specifically for times we all feel anxiety. It sings Scripture to memorize it, also inspired by principles of music therapy, crafted to calm our autonomic nervous system when anxiety threatens.

Sign up here and it will come to your email, or see other book and podcast resources below, for suffering Christian women. Jesus is with us, sister in Christ!

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