Cast your anxiety upon The Lord

Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)

25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

Here is, 1. The cause and consequence of melancholy. It is heaviness in the heart; it is a load of care, and fear, and sorrow, upon the spirits, depressing them, and disabling them to exert themselves with any vigour on what is to be done or fortitude in what is to borne; it makes them stoop, prostrates and sinks them. Those that are thus oppressed can neither do the duty nor take the comfort of any relation, condition, or conversation. Those therefore that are inclined to it should watch and pray against it. 2. The cure of it: A good word from God, applied by faith, makes it glad; such a word is that (says one of the rabbin), Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee; the good word of God, particularly the gospel, is designed to make the hearts glad that are weary and heavy-laden. ~ Matthew Henry

Parked on the side of the road, waiting to catch speeding drivers, a state trooper sees a car puttering along at 22 mph. Thinking the driver is as dangerous as a speeder, the state trooper turns on his lights and pulls the car over.

As he approaches the vehicle, the officer notices there are five elderly ladies inside—two in the front seat and three in the back—wide-eyed and white as ghosts.

The driver, obviously confused, says, "Officer, I don't understand. I was going the exact speed limit. What seems to be the problem?"

The trooper, trying to contain a chuckle, explained to her that 22 was the route number—not the speed limit.

A bit embarrassed, the woman grins and thanks the officer for pointing out her error.

"Before you go," the officer says, "I have to ask: Is everyone in this car okay? These women seem awfully shaken."

"Oh," she answered, "they'll be all right, sir. We just got off of Route 127."

Can you imagine the thoughts of the women when the driver was going 127? I’m sure they were filled with fear and anxiety. Fortunately they hadn’t run across a highway like I-285 here in Atlanta.  But the kind word of an officer set them straight and gave them insight to the correct speed limit signs. I’m sure their anxiety was greatly reduced once they knew the proper speed.

The same holds true in our live. When we are anxious the anxiety can be reduced greatly by a kind word from a friend or hearing God as you read through his word. It’s the right words that take away our anxieties and cheer us up.