Don't Be Anxious...There's Hope

The issue of trials and anxiousness seems to be a popular topic in conversations that I have had lately. Everyone seems to have or is going through something. Here are a few verses of Scripture that have been of immense help in my time of need.

"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God: I will strengthen, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."- Isaiah 41:10

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this (Paul's thorn in the flesh), that it should leave me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

"You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance."- Psalm 32:7

"You have kept count of my tossing's; put my tears in your bottle, are they not in your book?
Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know that God is for me. In The Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid, What can man do to me?" - Psalm 56:8-11

The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers has also been a tremendous help in the tumultuous times in my life...Bob Kaufflin penned a great song that was inspired by this great work. Here are the lyrics;

 Based on The Valley of Vision prayer "The Valley of Vision"

Words and Music by Bob Kauflin

Verse 1
When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn't be my decision
It's here Your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley's where You make me more like Christ

Chorus
Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You're near with every breath
In the valley

Verse 2
In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley's where Your power is revealed