How to Lift the Burden of an Anxious Heart

May 11

May 11 How to Lift the Burden of an Anxious Heart

Proverbs Devo, God's Word, Personal Faith, Wisdom

The power of words

Recently, I had outpatient surgery for my sinuses. I went in early in the morning and was home in the afternoon. They gave me a prescription for hydrocodone for pain but didn’t need to use it, thankfully.

Later, I saw the detailed hospital bill and realized they had given me fentanyl during the surgery. Yikes, I thought! But obviously, I survived. Still, it shows how prevalent such pain medications are.

Opioid addiction became a national epidemic in America. Now, fentanyl is a deadly problem. Not what a doctor prescribes, but what’s gotten illicitly.

But it's not only opioid-based medications that are a problem. A myriad of disorders ranging from depression to behavioral problems has brought a plague of prescription drugs to our nation.

We may be a rich and powerful nation, but we're weighed down with worry and can't seem to get out from under this burden without a prescription.

But there is another way to deal with this problem. A surprisingly simple way. It doesn't require a doctor's appointment nor a prescription, or any specialized training. Words of encouragement.

This may seem too simplistic. Indeed, some psychological disorders may still require treatment and medications, but genuine and meaningful encouragement is still helpful in severe cases. I've seen this firsthand.

Scripture

A person’s anxiety will weigh him down,
but an encouraging word makes him joyful. (Proverbs 12:25 GW)

(Context—Proverbs 12:15-28 GW)

Proverbs 12

Simple Insights

Words are powerful. They can tear down or build someone up. They’re rarely neutral. We hear these words continue to play back in our minds over and over, like a never-ending recording. It’s called self-talk.

Destructive words go deep. They penetrate our hearts and embed themselves in our minds.

Careless words stab like a sword... (Prov 12:18a GW)

It doesn't matter who utters these piercing words. When spoken by those we're closest to—parents, a spouse, siblings, children, significant others, friends, people at work or school—their wounding words go deep.

So, how can we counter these careless, piercing words?

How can you and I deal with words that wound?

We all need to hear encouraging words of truth spoken often by people we trust. This includes people who are trustworthy and whom we know genuinely care about us. Likewise, we need to speak encouraging words and be genuine and trustworthy to others.

Here is the counter to the words that "stab like a sword"—

...but the words of wise people bring healing. (Prov 12:18b GW)

Notice it says, "words." Not casual or trite statements like—"Oh, they didn't really mean that..." or, "just ignore what they say." We need to hear genuine encouraging words.

Words of encouragement need to come from people wise enough to know what we need and what is appropriate for us. They also need to be words of truth—

The word of truth lasts forever... (Prov 12:19a GW)

If your heart is anxious and if you're weighed down with many worries, you need to be around people you trust. People who can encourage you with the truth.

Where? Church is a good place to start, but I know too many people in churches may speak wounding words. Whether or not it’s intentional, careless words can wound others.

We need to seek out a community of believers who are accepting and loving in a biblical but non-judgmental way. It could be a church or a small group connected to a church or ministry.

There are no quick fixes with prescriptive words and phrases. Bible quotes are nice but are too often said in trite ways (see James 2:15-16).

A continuing flow of encouraging truth is the only way healing and restoration go deep enough in our hearts and minds. This will lighten the load of worries and wounds we encounter.

Reflection—

If your heart is anxious and if you're weighed down with many worries, you need to be around people you trust. People who can encourage you with the truth.

Prayer Focus—

Ask God to help you see encouraging words in His written word, the Bible. If you don't have encouraging people around you, ask the Lord to help you find people you can trust and who are encouraging and for His help to be the same way for them.

Would you like a free study guide for Proverbs?

Click Here to Get a Free Study Guide for Proverbs

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (books mentioned and linked).