Helpfinder Sampler - Flipbook - Page 7
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us when we are being tested.
A L M 1 0 3 : 8 | The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with
• PS
• PH I L I P P I A N S 2 : 4 | Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in
unfailing love.
others, too.
The first step in dealing with your anxiety is to bring it to the Lord. Only he brings true
peace of heart
mind.
God’s
availability
and promises
Anxiety
Seeand
also
Grief;
Hope;
Pain; Stress;
Worryprovide effective stress reducers.
• 2 S A M UE L 2 2 :7 | But in my distress I cried out to the Lord. . . . He heard me from his
Pressures in our lives can build and pull us in different directions. These pressures pull
sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.
against our sense of well-being, and anxiety begins to overwhelm us. Trying to do too
A L M 8with
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and you
answer
me.
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in marital
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R Kfeel
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of wise counselors and friends who God can use to bring us his presence, wisdom,
Take time to slow down and take a break from pressure-packed situations.
and hope.
• 1 C O R I N T H I A N S 6 :1 9 -20 | Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit,
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HelpFinder
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many healthy and positive ways to handle anxiety, never neglect the spiritual help the
Don’t
let stress
and anxiety
defeat
you.ask.
When you are tired of doing good, it may be because
Holy Spirit
promises
to provide
if you
you are just too tired.
What are some causes of anxiety?
Why do I need help from others? Why can’t I just rely on my own strength?
• GE N ES I S 3 :6 , 2 3 | So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her
PR O V E R B S 1 2 :1 5 | Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. (See note
• husband
. . . and he ate it, too. . . . So the Lord God banished them from the Garden
on Advice on page 568.)
of Eden.
Wisdom is the recognition of our own inadequacies. Foolishness is thinking we can handle
N ES I S 4 4 :1 8 | Then Judah stepped forward and said, “Please, my lord, let your servant
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• E X O D US 1 6 :2 - 3 | The whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. “If
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us back
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(See note on Stress on page 67.)
we cannot see.
Anxiety can build when we fail to trust God for help.
We have faith in God to do what he has promised, and we can be absolutely sure that he
AT TUnlike
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took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the
Holy
Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to
PROMISES FROM GOD
disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
JChange
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1 | “For anxiety
I know the
plans
I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans
in our
lives.
for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
J A M ES 1 :2 - 4 | Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way,
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| Giveand
all your
worries
and cares
to God, for he cares about you.
Comfort See also Compassion; Friendship; Serving
Suppose you get into big trouble and need help. More than likely you will seek legal help,
someone to come alongside you and plead your case—an advocate. That kind of person
would be a great comfort to you. We hope beyond hope that our advocate is also a person of compassion, and while he or she is there to plead our case, that person will also
bring a personal comfort and compassion to us. Friends and family can be comforters.
Comfort is relief from burdens, encouragement for a new day, exhortation to rise above
the burdens that afflict us, and hope that the pain and suffering will ultimately end. Just
being there with us is perhaps the greatest source of comfort, whether at the funeral
home, when we’re wrestling with a problem alone, or when others stand against us.
Oppressors stand above us, adversaries stand against us, but comforters stand beside
us. But God is our ultimate comforter, through the constant presence of the Holy Spirit.
Let him be with you in all of life’s ups and downs.
When I’m in trouble, where should I go first for comfort?
• P S ALM 119:52 | I meditate on your age-old regulations; O Lord, they comfort me.
• 2 THES S ALON IAN S 2:16- 17 | May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who
. . . gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every
good thing you do and say. (See note on page 1089.)
Since God is our ultimate comfort, his Word is our greatest resource for comfort. God’s
Word is as close as your fingertips, and God himself is as close as your whispered prayer.
When does God comfort me?
• P S ALM 23:4 | Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are
close beside me.
• MATTHEW 5:4 | “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
When you grieve.
• P S ALM 147:3 | He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
When you are discouraged.
• EXOD US 14:13 | But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the
Lord rescue you today.”
• P S ALM 145:14 | The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
When you are overwhelmed.
• JOHN 16:33 | “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart,
because I have overcome the world.”
• 1 P ETER 5:7 | Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
When you are persecuted.
• IS AIAH 41:10 | “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your
God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
When you are rejected.
• P S ALM 138:3 | As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.
When you face conflict.
• GEN ES IS 26:24 | “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you.”
• MARK 6:50 | But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage!
I am here!” (See note on page 902.)
When you are afraid.
• P S ALM 41:3 | The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.
When we are sick.
• ACTS 23:11 | That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just
as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in
Rome as well.”
C
Anger continued
Anxiety
continued
page A57
HelpFinder
page A32
A30