Hope for the Worrywart pt 1: Embracing the Journey of Salvation
- Dec 15, 2015
- 2 min read
With the holidays in full swing, all of us hope for times of joy, peace, and goodwill, but often, we are met with relationships and situations that incline our hearts towards anxiety, depression, and heartburn, leading many counselors and psychologists to see a major jump in appointments every January. Because of this, I thought it would be a good idea to start a series of posts that I've been thinking about for a while now: Hope for the Worrywart–written by a former worrywart.
I was born with chronic depression and anxiety, and I have experienced both instantaneous healing, and the tedious process of maturation since becoming a Christian. Worrywarts look at life differently, struggle with unique fears, and are really, really tired of hearing people say, "Just don't worry about it!" (I forgive you if you've ever said this to me–I think...)
For worriers, healing often has to begin with an understanding that the Christian life is a spiritual pilgrimage. The Greek Fathers of the church had this great concept–theosis–which they defined as "becoming like God." They believed that the process of thinking, talking, feeling, and acting like God works in tandem with the Christian's willingness and the Holy Spirit's transforming power (2 Pt. 1:3-4). Westerners have a similar concept, though it's less rich, called "sanctification." Theosis reminds us that salvation is not a ticket to heaven; it is a lifelong process that culminates in our resurrection (Rom. 8:23-24).
This should encourage you if you're feeling a bit fragile today, because if you didn't receive instantaneous deliverance from your anxiety and worry when you became a Christian, or if you did receive deliverance but then regressed, there is still hope! I think when it comes to anxiety and worry, our healing almost has to be a process. After all, it's one thing to say, "I trust God," but it's something else entirely to actually trust God. (That's why they call it a leap of faith.)
Every day we have to choose to embrace the journey of salvation once again. We have to choose intimacy with Holy Spirit when our lives take an unexpected turn, and let him into the deepest places of our hearts and lives, allowing his power to restore and redeem us in every way. And while the journey can be hard, it is a journey filled with romance, as God woos our hearts gently and kindly, leading us into his eternal life. So the first step to stop worrying, is to stop worrying about when you'll stop worrying. Trust that God is working in you even now, and that it is never too late to be delivered from your fears.
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