Fear and panic

[Cyolxurwood]

Today my mind and anxiety are really spiraling. I'm worried that if I drink my tea or drink it wrong God will punish me or my son

I'm still waiting on my apartment recertification and need prayer that God will keep me and my son in our apartment and there isn't a chance we will lose our home.
I need prayer that I'll continue to do well in school and continue to recieve child support and they my son will continue to recieve his disability.

I'm worried about finances and don't know how I'll make it through. My electric bill went up and I need God to make a way and provide financial support and assistance.
Please pray that God helps me financially and helps me keep my home. Please pray that God's hand is on me and my son and that my intrusive thoughts stop. Please pray that God doesn't punish me or my son

 

[Articles]

We have read your request and we are praying with you right now in the name of Jesus, and we want you to know that we hear how heavy and frightening this fear and panic feels today. The thought that God would punish you or your precious son for drinking tea or for drinking it the wrong way is an intrusive and tormenting thought, and it is not from the Lord. Our God is not a cruel or petty punisher waiting to harm you over something so small. He is a loving Father who sees your anxiety and wants to bring you peace. The Bible tells us God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control, 2 Timothy 1:7, and that perfect love casts out fear, 1 John 4:18. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1. When intrusive thoughts come spiraling, we are called to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5, and to cast all our worries on him, because he cares for us, 1 Peter 5:7.

We also notice that your request mentions God but does not mention Jesus Christ, and we want to gently share why this is so important. It is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and peace with Him. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me, John 14:6, and there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12. If you have not already, we encourage you to put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior, believing that He died for your sins and rose again, and to call upon His name in prayer. It is in His name that we can come boldly before God and find grace and mercy and true rest from fear.

We are lifting up your practical needs together before the Lord. We pray for your apartment recertification, that God would keep you and your son secure in your home and that you would not lose your housing. We pray for your schooling, that God would give you clarity of mind, strength to continue and to do well. We pray for the continued provision of child support and for your son's disability benefits to remain without interruption. We know the worry about finances and the rising electric bill feels overwhelming, but our Father knows what we need. Do not be anxious, saying, What will we eat or What will we drink, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well, Matthew 6:31-33. My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:19. We pray that God will make a way where there seems to be no way and provide the financial support and assistance you need.

We pray now for your mind and heart. We ask God to quiet the spiraling anxiety and to silence the intrusive thoughts that tell you He will punish you. We pray He will replace fear with His perfect peace that surpasses all understanding and will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:6-7. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, Philippians 4:6. We are asking God to let you feel His presence and His hand upon you and your son today.

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ we come before You for this dear mother and her son. Lord, You see her fear and panic and the intrusive thoughts that torment her about being punished. We rebuke those lies in Jesus name and we ask You to reveal Your true character to her as a loving, merciful and gracious Father. Let her know that You are not waiting to punish her for small things, but that You love her and her son deeply and that You desire to give her peace. We ask You to calm her mind, to still the spiraling anxiety, and to guard her thoughts. Place Your hand of protection and favor upon her and her son. Lord, we ask You to secure her housing and let the recertification be approved without delay or trouble. Provide for every financial need, for the electric bill and all other expenses, and let child support and disability continue without interruption. Give her strength and focus in her schooling and help her to know You are with her. Supply assistance and open doors of provision according to Your riches in glory. Help her to cast all her cares upon You and to rest in Your love. We pray that she would know Jesus more deeply and trust in His name alone for salvation and peace. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

We encourage you to keep bringing these fears to God in prayer throughout the day, speaking scripture aloud when the intrusive thoughts come, and reminding yourself that God is for you and not against you. Fear not, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness, Isaiah 41:10. I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears, Psalm 34:4. We are continuing to pray that you will feel His nearness, that your home will be secure, that your needs will be met, and that His perfect peace will quiet your heart and mind.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear how heavy today has been with your mind racing and that frightening thought that doing something small like drinking tea the wrong way could bring punishment on you or your son. That kind of fear is exhausting, and we want you to know you are not alone in it.

We also hear the other weights you are carrying, waiting on the recertification for your apartment and hoping to stay in your home, trying to keep up in school, counting on child support and your son's disability to continue, and now a higher electric bill making finances feel even tighter. It makes sense that worry would spiral when so much feels uncertain.

When those intrusive thoughts come, it can help to gently remind yourself that a punishing thought is not God's voice toward you. You don't have to argue with the thought or test it by how you drink your tea. You can notice it, name it as an anxious thought, and turn your attention back to what is steady in front of you.

One small next step that sometimes eases the spiral is to reach out to one trusted person when the thoughts get loud, a pastor, counselor or trusted friend, and also to check in with your housing office or caseworker for a simple update on the recertification so you have clear information rather than waiting in worry. If the anxiety and intrusive thoughts keep feeling overwhelming, please consider talking with a doctor or counselor alongside prayer for extra support.

Father, in Jesus' name we lift this mom and her son to You. Cover their home, provide for their needs, calm fearful thoughts and give peace to their minds. Help her feel Your care and not fear of punishment, and guide her with wisdom and support in the days ahead. Amen.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

There is a word from the Lord that meets you in this very place of fear and spiraling anxiety, Fear not, for I will help thee, saith the Lord.

Your heart trembles even over so small a thing as drinking your tea, lest you do it wrong and bring punishment upon yourself or your son. Hear what the Scripture says, My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. Your fearful, tormenting thoughts are not God's thoughts toward you. His thoughts concerning His people are precious, constant, kind, wise, tender and gracious. When you awake in the night with panic, you are still with Him, and His thoughts toward you are thoughts of mercy and not of sudden wrath for infirmities.

You must labor to get rid of this fear, for fear is weakening and fear dishonors God. It is as if you thought the arm which piled the heavens and sustains the pillars of the earth could be turned against a trembling child for drinking a cup of tea amiss. Accidents and infirmities are not to be viewed as punishments for sin. Punishment belongs not to this world in that sense, for Christ has borne the punishment for all who trust in Him. If you have received the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ alone, you will not be given a spirit of servile dread, but a holy reverence and awe, and a new heart in which His fear is put that you shall not depart from Him. Perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment, and where you look into your Savior's breast, mercy is all that is written there.

Jacob also knew this battle of fear and faith, and his fear is not held up as an example for us, for the elect of God need not fear as those without hope. The Lord says not, fear a little less, but Fear not, be not dismayed. It is an absolute command, and with it comes a promise of strength. He says, Fear not, I am with thee, I have redeemed thee, I will help thee.

Therefore I will pray for you as you have asked.

O Lord, look upon this mother and her son with Thy tender compassion. Thou knowest the anxiety that overwhelms her mind and the intrusive thoughts that torment her. Speak Thy Fear not to her soul, and let her hear the voice of Jesus Himself whispering peace. Let her know that Thou dost not punish Thy children for frailties, and that Thy thoughts toward her are precious and gracious in Christ. Deliver her from the bondage of fear.

Father, provide for her daily needs according to Thy riches. We ask Thee to be gracious concerning her apartment recertification, that she and her son may be kept in their home and not lose it. Provide for her schooling, that she may continue to do well, and continue the means Thou hast given for their support through child support and her son's disability provision. Thou seest the rising electric bill and the financial strait, make a way where there seems to be no way, and let Thy hand be upon them both for good. Keep them, sustain them, and quiet the intrusive thoughts by Thy Spirit and Thy truth.

Grant her to trust not in her own perfect performance, but in the perfect work of Jesus Christ, through whom alone is salvation, and to rest in His finished work. May she grow in faith, for as faith grows stronger, fear vanishes. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our only hope. Amen.