Did you know that it is impossible to be anxious and thankful at the same time. According to a study, gratitude and anxiety cannot coexist. This is one of those either or situations. The way our brains have been designed it is not possible for both emotions to coincide at the same time. That is honestly incredible! Knowing that we have been designed to praise our Creator and express our gratitude for His saving grace,
It is amazing to note that while we do what we were created to do the emotions attached to anxiety can not exist at the same time. Wow! If that doesn't say divinely designed I don't know what does. Like, just stop for a minute and think about the fact that the Creator of the universe knit you together in your mothers womb, knew every hair on your head (or lack thereof), knew who you would become, and everything you would ever accomplish and He called you His own.
How incredible!
Learning that these two emotions cannot coexist got me thinking a lot about wilderness seasons. What do I mean by a wilderness season you may ask? Well, I'm talking about those times in our lives when it feels like everything is going wrong, but these are also seasons when things may be going well, but then something happens and praise and showing gratitude is the last thing on our mind.
These are our seasons in the wilderness.
"I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land." - Hosea 13:5
It is in these seasons in the wilderness that I think it can become so easy to give into those anxious and fearful thoughts. To allow the lies of the devil to crept in and try to overpower our joy, peace, and gratitude. But God...
Those wilderness seasons lie to us, friends. But, in the midst of the wilderness we can choose to change the narrative. Instead of looking at the wilderness and seeing dry and weary land, we can instead look at that wilderness and thank God for the streams in the desert. Thank God for the opportunity to experience life walking with Him. The ups and the downs. Instead of focusing on the bad, declare your thankfulness in the midst of the raging storm.
That wilderness is a lot smaller than you thought it was. Anxiety and gratitude cannot coexist friends. Choose to be grateful even when it doesn't make sense.
"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." - Isaiah 43:19
You are never alone friend, and that wilderness that you have felt trapped in, is not the end. It is just a stop along the journey. Keep going! Keep praising. Keep trusting. God has you in the palm of His hand and He loves you with an everlasting love.
So next time you feel that anxiety creeping in, take a break and express your gratitude. I like to call it a gratitude break.
Much love friends,
Alianna