Guest Post by Becky Tibbetts:

Who doesn’t need to overcome some stress and anxiety after this past year? 2020 was brutal for many families for various reasons, uniquely personal to how we are wired. I’m sure some introverts enjoyed the lockdown and being able to be home with family. Still, it was brutal for some extroverts for those who thrive on interpersonal connection 24-7. Whatever your personality and likes or dislikes, I’m sure we would all agree that being forced out of our comfort zones for an extended period created at times some level of stress or anxiety. And as we’re in the latter half of 2021, we are glad to see “restrictions” lessening and a sense of getting back to “normal” starting to return. We all breathe a sigh of relief in hopes that we will get back to “normal.” But what if we don’t? Did that cause a moment of stress or anxiety just reading that? I know it made my heart rate jump for sure. While there will always be unknowns in life, we can rest assured of a few things that will restore or maintain our peace and comfort during uncertainty.

1. Jesus is with us in “this.”

You can replace this with whatever fits your season or situation that you are facing. For example, Jesus is with us in this job transition. Jesus is with us in this financial crisis. Jesus is with us in parenting our teenagers or toddlers. Jesus is with us as we move to a new community. Jesus is with us in this fiery situation. An awareness that He lives in us and is with us in every situation is a reminder that I frequently need when facing uncertainties. Jesus knows our weaknesses, and he provides the Holy Spirit to help and empower us. “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11 (John 14:26, John 16:13)

2. Jesus will provide.

Yes, the Bible tells us that Jesus is our Provider, but what about when the provision doesn’t look like what we “thought” we asked for or needed. There have been times in my own life when I was struggling and desperately needed the LORD to be my provider, and well, he did, But it came entirely differently than I had thought. Let me explain, I had been praying for an increase in income, and I thought I would need to get another job. So I anxiously searched and applied, but nothing came open. I met with a mentor one day for lunch, and we were discussing my job situation. You see,

I was a single mom to 3 pre-teens and working only part-time, so I desperately needed SOMETHING. We discussed some position changes at my current employment and how those were not the right “fit” for my gifting. And then, as we talked, I mentioned at random, or so I thought, “If Sally were to take the open position, I would love her position” (Sally is my go-to code name, lol). We went on eating and continued discussing other things.

The very next day, Sally put in her resignation. Wow! Wait, what!? And I was offered that position which provided for my family’s needs. You can bet my mentor and I had a throwback your head and laugh moment. We could not believe what had happened. I said, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming,” but the Lord did. Friends, the Lord sees and knows us and knows what we need. He is a good Father who knows how to provide for his children. One of my favorite verses is found in Philippians 4:9 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. I want to abound in every good work, but sometimes it starts with a shift in my thinking. Asking myself, “What do I need right now?” Sometimes I need to become aware that He is with me in the storm and remember how he has provided in the past. And then, at other times, I need to simply ask for what I need. (Matt 7:7-8, John 16:24)

3. Jesus is and will be our Peace.

He is our Prince of Peace. So how do we maintain that peace in the middle of the storms of life?

1 Peter 5:7 NLT Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 Peter 5:7 NIV Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

While I was going through a tough season, the Holy Spirit began teaching me How to cast my cares on Him and allow Him to care for me.

Journaling my cares:

While I was going through a tough season, the Holy Spirit began teaching me How to cast my cares on Him and allow Him to care for me. Here is the process I learned to relieve my stress and anxiety and receive His Peace.

At the top of my journal page, I would write Casting all my cares on You because you Love ME. Then I would list EVERYTHING that was causing me anxiety. It was not pretty and mostly scribbling on a page because my mind would race faster than I could possibly write. I would keep going listing every care or concern from parenting my kids to individual needs of the moment. Everything significant or seemly minor would be added to the list, and nothing left out. And once I was done, a weight lifted from my mind and spirit, and only a refreshing peace remained. There have been times I have gone back in my journal to see how the Lord answered and uniquely provided for each care and need. I would then write the answer and date. I now have several journals with proof of the Lord’s presence and work in my life to refer to during times when my faith is wavering. And like David, I can recall the Lord’s faithfulness in the past to build my courage to take on the next giant. 

Breath prayers:

I have also been learning to practice breath prayers, a quieting process of breathing in the goodness of our Father and breathing out stress and tension. I practice tactical breathing that I learned at Dare to Lead training, consisting of a deep breath in for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, release for a count of 4, hold count of 4, repeat. In some trauma training that I have received, they go into an in-depth study of the brain, what happens during a stress response, and how the front part of your brain cannot function under stress. But through deep breathing, you can calm the stress response and regain the function, which is an elementary neurology description. I don’t claim to know all the details of how it works since I’m not a neuroscientist. But I have practiced it myself and found that when I can regain my peace in stressful situations, I have access to options that I didn’t have while under stress and ultimately experiencing tunnel vision when you can only see and feel the problem. One of my guiding principles is “My response is my responsibility,” so I strive to walk in peace, so I have options that lead to decisions that align with my values instead of reactions that lead to regret. And I have experienced both. For more information about breath prayers, see the additional resource below.

I am in awe and wonder that we have a God in heaven who came down to have a relationship and live with us so that he could be part of our broken lives and make us beautiful over and over again. He truly is our ever-present help in time of need. (Psa 46:1)

My hope for each of you reading this today is that you would be reminded of God’s faithfulness and take him at his Word to care for all the things that concern you today. Then, run to your Abba to receive the awareness of his presence, provision, and peace.

Shine Bright in Christ family!

Much love, 
Becky

Additional Resource: Your Best Life in Jesus’ Easy Yoke…Rhythms of Grace to De-Stress and Live Empowered by Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D

Meet the Author: Becky Tibbetts, PCC