Have you ever found yourself in a spiral of anxiety?
When your mind starts to unravel with overwhelming, consuming thoughts, it can feel like things are bleak. But God always meets us where we are.
Earlier this year, my husband got deployed sooner than we anticipated. With a quick ship out date, there was really no time to process it all. Over the years of being a military wife, you learn to be resilient and adapt quickly. When he left, it was just me and all the anxious thoughts that I had suppressed. I knew not to constantly refresh the news, but it felt like a moth to a flame.
When you’re drifting into a black hole of anxiety, it’s easy to just let yourself drift further. But we must also be careful of not letting it drift you away from God, but turning to Him.
When life is all sunshine and rainbows, it’s easy to shout “hallelujah” and rejoice. But when you’re in the messy middle, that’s where you truly get to know Him, and depend on Jesus in a way we never would otherwise.
A great passage to turn to is Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (ESV).
What does Scripture tell us? To praise Him and rejoice in Him, offer Him our thanksgiving even when life feels messy. God is not looking for pretty prayers tied up neatly with a bow, but desires true, honest prayers.
When we choose to actively turn to Him, lay everything in His hands, and praise Him despite our circumstances, a shift begins to happen. Things might not be fixed immediately, but all the noise in your mind starts to quiet and the anxiety loses its power.
I have had some hard days and frustrating moments. Figuring out things in the house I never handled before, managing paying the bills, and keeping up with the car maintenance.
But there have also been small, meaningful joys tucked into those hard days. Laughter after tears, and courage in doing scary things.
A few days after my husband got deployed, I thought to “treat myself” as they say, to some ice cream I had bought that was waiting for me in the freezer. Unfortunately, the way this specific brand of ice cream is made, you either need a strong man to open it or a chain saw. I had neither at that moment. I’m having my own war in my kitchen for at least 15 minutes trying to open this jar of ice cream.
At this point, the ice cream is starting to melt and the top of the jar looks like a lion mauled it. As silly as this sounds, I decided to just sit on my kitchen floor and pray to God. I know that He listens to our every prayer, and I also know that He cares, even if it seems silly to us.
“Father, I know this is so silly, but I really need this ice cream jar opened. I had a very rough week, and I just wanted this boost of joy tonight even if it’s just ice cream. Please, open this jar of ice cream.”
I gave this ice cream one more chance before I tossed it in the trash. Want to know what happened next? The jar of ice cream opened.
I know God is near and that He hears me. It may not be audible, but He’s found everywhere. In the sun shining down on my face, the breeze through my hair, the birds outside my window, people rallying behind me, a kind cashier at the store, and even in the late night ice cream talks to Him.
There’s peace in knowing that even when everything feels out of control, He is still in control.
And that kind of peace that protects both your heart and your mind, is found only in Him.
Come to the Father with all of your questions, doubts, sins, and brokenness. The Lord is a sovereign God who is not intimidated by any of it; He delights in you simply taking the first step toward Him. We’re prone to wander, but He will always rejoice when we return home to Him.
Get to Know Mel Davis
Mel Davis is a military wife based in Omaha, Nebraska. She writes from a Christian perspective, sharing stories shaped by authenticity, resilience, hope, and a deep rooted faith in God.
When she’s not writing, she’s behind the camera capturing life’s meaningful moments. With a love for nature and a curious spirit, she is always pursuing new adventures and creative endeavors.
If this resonated with you, make sure to check out my conversation with Jaime Hampton from the Praying Christian Woman podcast during which we take a deep dive into Philippians 4 and how prayer can help calm our minds and hearts when anxiety hits. Find it HERE.
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