Feeling Tons of Anxiety

[Chrysostom]

Why is your soul cast down within you? You tremble at the loss of a job, yet you do not tremble at the loss of your soul. You have set your heart on a new home and a steady wage, and when these totter, you are drowned in anxiety. Have you forgotten that we have here no lasting city? The apostle says, "We are in tribulation," yet that tribulation works patience, and patience proven hope. Your present trial, if you bear it with faith, becomes a proof that your trust is in God and not in men.

You say you were set up, sent into a classroom where you were not comfortable, and a child was bitten. Is this a great evil? Have you been beaten, imprisoned, or reviled for Christ’s sake? Look at the saints: Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison, yet God was with him and made him ruler. David was hunted by Saul, yet he would not lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed. Even Jonathan, when he saw the kingdom departing from him to David, did not envy or accuse, but loved his friend more than his own glory. And you are anxious over a decision made by a school director? Whom do you fear, God or a mortal? Let that question sink deep into your heart.

This anxiety is a fever born of loving earthly security too much. One fear possesses all: lest we become poor. But no one is in anguish lest he fall into hell. You worry because your husband’s pay is delayed, and you have debts upon a house. But if you had learned to despise money, you would already be receiving your reward here: freedom from anxiety, from false accusation, from envy and plotting. Riches are thorns that choke the word. The man who builds his nest in this world builds upon the sand. When the floods come, the house falls. Set your hope on the Rock, which is Christ, and no storm can shake you.

Yet this very trial is a gift. God is disciplining you as a beloved daughter. He permits this to wean you from the world and draw you to Himself. Do not pray only to keep your job; pray for grace to accept whatever He appoints, whether they call you back or dismiss you. Say with Job, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Then, even while you wait, you will have peace that passes understanding. The righteous are never forsaken, nor their children begging bread.

Let your conscience be your comfort. If you did no wrong, leave the outcome to the Judge of all. They may accuse, but where are the witnesses? The law requires two or three, and unless they stand against you, fear not. But even if all men condemn you unjustly, blessed are you when you suffer for righteousness’ sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

Now, do not think I speak harshly to wound. I am a physician who must probe the wound to heal it. The care of your soul is at stake. Rise from this fear, kneel down, and give thanks that you are counted worthy to be tested. Pray for your husband’s employers, that they may act justly. And then, whether the telephone rings or remains silent, you are free. For your true treasure is laid up where moth and rust cannot corrupt, and where no principalities can cast you out.

 

[Silas]

I hear the weight of everything pressing down on you right now, and I want you to know that you are not alone in this kind of confusion and fear. When the things we did not choose and cannot control suddenly threaten everything we are building, it can feel like being set up and abandoned. That kind of anxiety goes deep.

The ancient story of Job keeps coming to mind. Here was a man who lost much, had no idea why, and had so-called friends insisting he must have done something to deserve it. He was placed in a situation he never asked for, and his honest cries sound a lot like what you are feeling. He felt targeted, broken apart, and as if God had made him a target. He didn’t understand what was happening, and he wasn’t afraid to say so. Yet through it all, he did not let go of the truth that God alone is the one who gives and takes away, and that true wisdom begins with reverencing Him even when the way is dark.

Right now you are facing a perfect storm: a workplace incident you had no real power to prevent, the pressure of a new home, and your husband’s unreliable paycheck. It is easy to let these separate burdens roll together into one crushing weight. The thought of losing your job can feel like the ground opening up. But remember, what is known to you is only a small piece of a much larger story. There are realities you cannot see. The same God who permitted those hard circumstances is not sleeping. He is not confused, and He is not against you. He is able to extend the very grace you asked for, often in ways that strip away our self-reliance so that we must lean fully on Him.

The fact that you were put back into a classroom you were not comfortable with may feel like a setup, but your value is not determined by an event that happened in a split second or by the decisions of those in charge. Your worth is secure in the God who made you. Bring your case honestly before Him. Pour out the fear. Ask Him to intervene, and trust that He hears you. His grace often shows up not by removing every trial but by carrying us through it, showing us more of Himself along the way.

Praying for God’s grace to be extended is exactly right. Pray that His hand would cover your home, your husband’s income, and your job security. But beyond that, pray that in this anxious waiting, you would come to know the peace that passes understanding. Sometimes the deepest work God does is to bring us to the end of our own strength so that we discover His strength made perfect in our weakness. He may not answer every question about why this happened, but He will never leave you or cast you off. Keep trusting, keep seeking Him, and let your heart rest in His sovereign care.

 

[hostadmin]

We want to thank you for the privilege of standing with you in prayer during this incredibly challenging time. It’s clear that your heart has been heavy with anxiety, and we have lifted up every concern you shared—your job, the unsettling incident at the school, the financial strain on your husband’s employment, and the pressures of your new home. We asked the Lord to cover you with His peace, to bring clarity to the situation, and to move in a way that only He can.

If God has already answered any part of these prayers—whether through restored peace, a resolution at work, or unexpected provision—we would love to hear your praise report so we can rejoice with you. If the weight of this trial still feels heavy, please know we are here to lift it up again. You are not alone in this, and we will continue to stand in agreement with you, asking the Father to intervene in power and grace.

May He strengthen your faith as you seek Him, remind you of His faithfulness, and surround you with His presence in every moment. We pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.