Purging Our Souls of This Common Anxiety Trigger - The Crosswalk Devotional - April 9
Purging Our Souls of This Common Anxiety Trigger
By: Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading:
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice. Ephesians 4:1-2, 31
After decades of living with frequent and intense anxiety, I’ve embarked on an equally fierce healing journey that has deepened my appreciation for passages like today’s. I’ve long understood the spiritual importance of aligning my life with biblical principles like those listed in Ephesians 4. But I’ve only recently focused on how my obedience, or lack thereof, impacts my peace and joy.
In the past, when I read passages like today’s and compared them to my typical responses, I realized how short I fell from God’s desire. I’d then determine how to behave differently the next day, only to be pulled into anger or bitterness over some offense.
I still recognize my need for growth. However, I now approach that growth differently. I’m learning to resist surface-level behavior modification and to seek Christ’s insights regarding why I reacted a certain way. What if my soul doesn’t align with His heart?
More specifically, I’m learning to process my emotions, thoughts, and experiences with God. I usually begin by reflecting upon the calling I’ve received—not just in terms of my role as a Christ-follower but also as His chosen and empowered daughter. This inevitably leads my thoughts to the price Jesus paid for my redemption, which assures me of His inconceivable love for me despite my weaknesses and sins.
While I sit in His presence, He reminds me who I am, soothing the lies and insecurities aggravated by the “offense” I received. This was often how Paul, the first-century church planter who wrote today’s passage, approached sin. He’d begin by reminding whomever he addressed of who they were to Christ and in Christ. This was how he spent the entire first chapter of Ephesians. He told these first-century believers that they were chosen to become pure and blameless. This means they weren’t stuck in their brokenness, bitterness, and tendencies to power up when hurt. He also wanted them to know that they weren’t rejected or insufficient. They were loved, adopted as God’s children, lavished by grace, and guaranteed a glorious inheritance.
Through faith, Christ had broken every chain that previously held them bound. In his letter, Paul was teaching them how to live free.
I’m learning that same lesson. I now recognize that lasting change comes not through grit-my-teeth self-reliance but instead as I allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate, purge, and fill my soul's deepest, most hidden corners.
The more firmly I live anchored in His grace and my irrevocable identity in Him, the less affected I am by other people’s opinions and poor behavior. To phrase it differently, the more I yield my soul to Christ, the less power others have over me and my emotions. I’ve spent enough time ruminating over “offenses” to know the inner angst this causes. I’ve also experienced the peace of releasing my hurts to God. In return, He comforts my soul and allows me to view the situation and the other person through His perspective.
Often, He helps me see the woundedness driving their unpleasant, and at times, downright ugly, behavior. This turns my bitterness into compassion and defensive self-protection into a humble, gentle forbearance more reflective of my Lord.
Whereas pride tends to escalate the conflict, wound others, and hinder authentic connection, humility disarms and helps to create safe places where relationships thrive.
Intersecting Life & Faith:
Paul isn’t telling us to accept abuse, suppress our emotions, or pretend that sinful behavior isn’t sin. Instead, Scripture invites us to approach our most difficult situations with Christ's strength, wisdom, and heart.
As we learn to live more consistently, led and filled by the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to remain even-tempered even amid our most challenging interactions. He heals the wounds that cause us to behave in ways that leave regret and shame and teaches us to return to joy quickly thereafter. He teaches us how to live free of bitterness, pride, slander, and the anxiety these soul states inevitably create.
When hurt, slighted, or mistreated, before we respond in kind, may we turn to Christ and sit in His presence, receive His comfort, seek His perspective, and draw from His strength. Day by day and prayer by prayer, He’ll teach us to live worthy of the calling we’ve received as the chosen and cherished sons and daughters of our glorious King. This enables us to walk away from conflict with the peace of knowing we’ve honored the Lord and our core values.
Further Reading:
Psalm 119:143
Philippians 4:5-9
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Mario Arango
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Related Resource: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Your Emotions
Are you tired of up-and-down feelings stealing your peace, sabotaging your relationships, and filling your mind with self-defeating thoughts? What if you had a proven emotional management tool to biblically respond to your feelings with compassion and clarity? Join us for today’s episode to discover three simple steps to manage emotions, reduce stress, improve decision-making, and grow closer to God. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
