“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you”

1 Peter 5:7

You probably hear this verse in 1 Peter a lot! And you have probably heard people say they feel at peace because God is with them... But what if that’s not how you feel?

Maybe, you started coming to youth or accepted Jesus into your life and your mental health is worse than it’s ever been. Maybe you can see some light and feel some joy, but it still feels like a heavy blanket is weighing you down.

I know for me, being a Christian and following Jesus definitely doesn’t mean things like anxiety and depression are cured forever and disappear. But having a relationship with God does mean that when anxiety does strike, you know you aren’t alone; you know that He is there and can comfort you. You can share the burden of whatever massive stress you have and can find love, safety and security in Him... But you need to remember to reach out and tune in to His signal.

You might think, "How can I see God when I’m feeling anxious? It’s too hard to find Him in the chaos even when I try."

I agree! It can be hard to really focus on God when your mind is going a hundred miles a minute... But this is what I’ve learned to do:

- I find a quiet space where I won’t be distracted and start to focus on my breathing. (You can even close your eyes if you’re comfortable doing that)

- I feel the carpet or rug or something around me to ground myself and bring my mind from panic to present. I notice the texture, the temperature, anything that brings my focus to the moment.

- I Pray – or listen to a worship song that helps me feel His presence. (He’s always there, you just have to be still)

I don’t know if this will work for you because everyone is different, but give it a try! If it does, that’s so great and I’m glad you can find peace in moments of chaos.

If, no matter how hard you try, you feel distant from Him or unseen, please don’t be disheartened... It might not happen every time but keep trying to seek Him! He might reveal Himself in a way you didn’t expect. It’s all about having faith and knowledge that He is with you, even when you don’t feel or see it.