You Can trust God When You’re Afraid

Breathe Deep and Know: Your anxiety doesn’t have to bind you in fear, but it can be a signal to turn your heart to Christ and deepen your faith as you trust in Him and not in your fears.

What symptoms do you experience when you are anxious or afraid?

Some common symptoms include flushed face, shaking hands, rapid breathing, dizziness, muscle pain, a knot or ache in the stomach, heaviness or knot in the chest, tightening in the shoulders, headaches, heart palpitations, and even tears.

Identify your physical symptoms when you are anxious, and let these symptoms be a signal to slow down and pay attention — to breathe deeply and turn your mind to Christ. For five minutes, breathe deeply and slowly, and pray the words of this breath prayer. These deep breaths remind your brain that you are safe, and the prayer reminds your soul that you can trust God during times of fear. Your feelings are real, but they don’t always tell the truth. When your body is dysregulated, your feelings, while very real and often unsettling, can’t always be trusted. But you can always trust God.

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. — Psalm 56:3

Inhale: When I am afraid

Exhale: I put my trust in You.

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God Is Holding Your Hand

Breathe Deep and Know: You can give the worries you’re holding to the One who holds you in His hands. He is there to help you.

Have you ever been afraid and someone reached over and held your hand? Maybe you were waiting in a doctor’s office for some difficult news, or about to get on a ride that was really high and fast, or maybe you were facing a phobia or watching a scary movie or surrounded by a crowd of people or about to walk out onto a stage. There are a lot of things that make us afraid. But there’s a special kind of comfort when someone holds your hand, isn’t there? It’s a simple act of love and support, and sometimes it’s just the thing you need to take that next scary step.

• God is holding your hand today.

Perhaps you feel so afraid that you can’t even reach for Him, let alone hold tightly to His outstretched hand. Don’t be discouraged. You don’t have to be strong enough or brave enough. He is already holding onto you.

Like a father holding his toddler’s hand, God’s grip on you is not dependent upon your strength, but upon the Father’s love. God is holding your hand today. You are safe and loved, and He is here to help you. Give Him your worries and all the things that are making you afraid, and simply take His hand today.

“For I hold you by your right hand — I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’” — Isaiah 41:13

Inhale: Lord, You hold my hand.

Exhale: You are here to help me.

Excerpted with permission from Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker, copyright Jennifer Tucker.

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Your Turn

Take a breath. Anxiety and fear can cripple you and literally make you sick. What are you doing with the anxiety? Trust the Lord! Breathe and know that He is holding your hand. ~ Devotionals Daily