Time's Up
Paralyzing anxiety, that prevents one from moving, thinking, or wanting, was a common recurrence for me.
In my book, Nevertheless: Peace In Spite of Pain, I share how stress and happenstance would send me running to sink down into a corner and, with my knees to my chest, cover my ears to keep out all the sounds around me. I would press my hands over my ears to deafen the sounds I heard, not just the noise around me but me from myself. The sounds I tried to escape, and had the greatest potential for harm, were actually the declarations that I made silently to myself.
Those moments of despair taught me to hate hope, hate joy, and believe that those promises and the promise of peace were beyond me. I hated wanting joy, hope and peace. I hated each and every time that I slipped up and experienced joy and happiness. I hated when I enjoyed life. I knew sorrow was near. It always was and I couldn't escape it.
“Anxiety can be paralyzing. Often living with anxiety is like living without the ability to live for yourself. Your emotions are a deer in headlights, unable to move or get out of the way of the impending anxiety.”
Depression was for me.
Sadness was for me.
Abuse was for me.
Trouble and lack of love were for me.
These are the declarations I made during the first few seconds of those anxiety attacks. My way of accepting my fate was to constantly tell myself I was destined for pain. Hope and the idea that pain was not a way of life made feel as if I was doing something wrong or that pain was a punishment for something that I wasn't sure I did. If pain wasn't normal, then it meant I was abnormal or that I had failed to figure out the secret to a successful life.
NO.
Just two letters. Two letters that can change a person's life only if they understand the power that lives inside them and the ability to apply that power. Recognize that power.
What powers you?
How are you operating in that power?
What ability do you have that you're not applying the power inside you to?
NO?
What or who are you questioning? Yourself? Others? Your vision or assignment?
Who is the focus for the things you're doing and the decisions you're making?
Are you seeking God first?
Walk in confidence of your ability.
NO!
The enemy's job is the steal, kill and destroy and that's not just limited to our physical life. Satan's job is to seek to devour your dreams, confidence and peace, and yet these gifts are from God and not Satan's to take. In fact, the only thing Satan has access to is what we give him.
We have the power and the right to declare what God has already predestined for us!
Depression is NOT for me!
Sadness is NOT for me!
Abuse is NOT for me!
Trouble and lack are NOT for me!
Proclaim with confidence that which belongs to you!
Eventually I learned how to get a hold over those moments of anxiety. At first it took me a great deal of time to get myself together, to get up off the floor and decide to keep going. Over time I was able to get myself together quicker. I began to believe more of the positive affirmations I declared over my life than the negative thoughts that filled my mind. Fast forward to today and, guess what...those moments still come. The difference is now I have had more practice in addressing them and preparing for them in advance. Now, I recognize what's coming and I take steps to counter them with things that bring me joy. Those attacks no longer take control of my mind, my movements or my words.
My prayer life encourages me, my faith sustains me, and my trust in Christ who has delivered me for a purpose greater than anything I can contrive on my own keeps me going. God's strength allows me power and ability to say NO MORE to depression, NO MORE to anxiety, and NO MORE to fears.
I have given those things notice that their time is up.
For more information on how to calm an anxious mind, visit:
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Until next time...
Love ~Sharonda