'Do not be anxious about anything'

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 4:6-7

Lately, it's been hard not to be anxious.

Back in January, I learned that I had a detached retina in my left eye. By Jan. 15, I had the first of two procedures to correct the problem.

That seemed to fix it, but it erupted in a different spot in the same eye, so in late January I had surgery. Now, my left eye's vision is blurry, as expected after surgery. It's slowly improving. Slowly. And it's likely I'll need to have one or two more procedures for the same eye.

It's easy to fall into anxiety and worry about that vision as it slowly returns. But I'm trying - sometimes successfully - to place those worries in God's hands through prayer.

Paul offered these words to the Philippians to ease anxiety. How do you handle your own worries?

If you or someone you know seems lonely - here's an excuse to reach out

This blog has touched on solitude before, and there's more research that lonely, isolated people may be prone to heart disease, stroke:

Social isolation raised that risk by about 30 percent, exerting the same level of influence on heart health as risk factors such as anxiety and job stress, the British review found.

"Addressing loneliness and social isolation could have an important role in the prevention of two of the leading causes of ill health and mortality worldwide," said lead researcher Nicole Valtorta, a research fellow in the department of health sciences at the University of York.

'He cares for you'

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

-1 Peter 5:7

Lately, I've had to work on getting rid of my own anxiety.

A sore (before and after surgery) knee that is mending. Some unexplained muscle pain (or at least, appears to be muscle pain) working around from my back to side to front. Work. Pesky rain gutters. Uncooperative printer.

And so on...

Then, I read the words in 1 Peter. I'm not in control. God is, and he cares for me. Those last four words are my favorite words of this line of text. God - in all of his might, the size of his universe(s), his enduring strength - cares for me.

And God cares for all. Loves us all. Cares for and loves you.

'Do not be anxious about anything'

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 4:6-7

Photo from the National Institutes of Health

Anxiety never helps.

Paul gave valid guidance to the Philippians. Instead of worrying, bring your issues to God. Now, did Paul say that's the only thing to do? No. It is, though, the first thing to do.

And recently, I saw stories that anxiety is linked to higher long-term risk of stroke:

The greater your anxiety level, the higher your risk of having a stroke, according to new research published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.

The study is the first in which researchers linked anxiety and stroke independent of other factors such as depression. Anxiety disorders are one of the most prevalent mental health problems. Symptoms include feeling unusually worried, stressed, nervous or tense.

You might say that Paul was way ahead of his time in giving stroke prevention advice. Follow it!

'Your consolation brought me joy'

 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

-Psalm 94:19

I try not to worry. A lot. When I am thinking right, I remember to bring my anxiety to God.

A few months ago, God allowed me to stumble across a quote from someone I'd never heard of before. Her name was Mary C. Crowley. I did some research and found that she was many things, but she was also someone who COULD have been weighed down with anxiety. Lost her parents at an early age. Went to work during the Great Depression to keep her children from starving. Battled cancer twice.

Here's her quote I found: “Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway.”

The words from Psalm 94 - echoed in this wise woman's words - remind us that in our worries or anxiety, God is there to console us.

'Cast all your anxiety on him'

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

-1 Peter 5:6-7

We've all experienced it - anxiety. Work. Marriage. Health. Children. Parents. The list goes on and on.

Stroke patients, too, can become consumed with anxiety. It's often uncertain exactly what the future will bring. Each human brain is unique, and therefore an individual's response to treatment, therapy and surgery is not guaranteed.

That being said, we have a place where we can place our anxiety, our fears and our worries. Take your issues to the one who has seen it all and can help remove your anxiety and fill you with hope.

Accept his love and hope. He will see you through.