When Anxiety Was Great. . .

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”

Psalm 94:19

Consolation: the comfort received by a person after a loss or disappointment; the act or an instance of consoling (Google; Merriam-Webster.com)

Synonyms: reassurance, solace

On my way to look up another set of verses, I opened my Bible. First to Psalm. A happenstance. And there underlined was this verse. From a past reading. And, oh man! Did it stand out to me!

I have know idea when I underlined it. But how pertinent it is to my life.

Anxiety. That word has plagued me for awhile now. Much longer than I ever realized. There was no name to how I felt. Or the way I was. I only knew from a young age. This was me. And everyone must be. Feel. Think. This way too.

Then I learned. Recently. It wasn’t.

Maybe that was when I underlined this verse.

But God always has impeccable timing. (Something I need to remember when I think He doesn’t.) Because this week. Actually, as soon as spring break started. That Friday afternoon. The anxiety hit. Knocking me flat on my face. Again.

Now. One week later. I look back on this week and see. His consolation. Comfort. Reassurance. Solace. Each morning. Sitting in the quiet on the balcony. Jesus time. His words. Soothing. Calming my soul. Mind. Heart. Bringing joy. Slowing. Deliberately.

Not joy by anything I did. Or didn’t do. But solely from Him.

Then. I flipped the pages. To where I was heading in the first place. I Peter 1:3-9.

Once again. God’s impeccable timing. Leading me to. Through. His word. Not by coincidence. But divine appointment. Between me and Him.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

I Peter 1:3-9

Verse 5. Lighted up. “Who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

I am shielded! Protected!

But there was more. Verses 6-7. “In this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had suffered grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- a greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may result in the praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

These verses. Intertwine with the verse from Psalm. A stepladder of sorts.

My anxiety - His comfort - My Joy - From Him - He shields me - By faith - Through trials - Strengthen my faith - In Him - Greater than gold - Refined in the fire - Me refined in the fire - For His praise, glory, and honor.

I sit in awe. As once again. He is there. In comfort. Strength. Revelation. My salvation.

Because in all our anxiety and trials. He is purifying. Making us genuine. And He consoles and brings joy to our souls.