During times when I’ve been so crushed by pain or other stressful circumstances and it sends my anxiety goes through the roof, this Psalm has given me clarity: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms‬ ‭139:23-24‬)  How in the world does THIS Psalm calm my anxiety?

What does “see if there be any wicked way in me” have to do with my “anxious thoughts?”

The connection between my sin and my anxiety is this: When I choose to sin, I feel the loss of God’s presence and then—I become more anxious in tough circumstances. GOD is not anxious or fearful about anything–but remember–HE is also completely righteous. Naturally, our sin, even if it is WORRY, separates us from a strong sense of His presence and naturally, increases our anxiety.

We must keep in mind that anything we allow in our heart which is a deviation from the righteousness of God, is a destructive force which destroys our peace and security.

God promises: “Whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, WITHOUT dread of disaster.” (Proverbs 1:33) In fact, even the very state of being anxious separates us further from God because we are doubting His character. Sometimes sin is so sneaky and our heart is so blind that we must ask God to—reveal it to us. Therefore, the remedy is to ask God to “search our heart.”

Until we’re willing to be honest with ourselves about our sin, we’ll never be free of it’s awful grips on us and we will never decrease our anxiety.

Once we identify the sins, we must determine to hate it so as to rid ourselves of its destructive force within our heart. As sin’s darkness departs, the light of God’s presence shine into our heart and dispels our anxiety. God frees us to live a life greater than we can imagine! Job said: “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.” (Job 5:8-9)

Anxiety is a symptom of the cancer of sin for which only the peace of God’s presence can cure.

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