How Prayer, Meditation & Gratitude Help Me Conquer Anxiety

Earlier this week, I woke up in the middle of the night with horrible anxiety.

Like, really, really bad.

This hadn’t happened to me in a while, and I was hoping I’d be able to shake it off and go back to sleep — but no such luck. The longer I lay there, the louder that ugly anxiety demon spoke to me.

If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, you feel me on this one. If you haven’t, I pray you never do. It’s not something I would wish on my worst enemy.

Well, actually, let me think about that for a minute…. 

Just kidding!

Seriously, it’s a terrible feeling. It can overwhelm you to the point of feeling like you’re either losing your mind or dying. Yes, I know that sounds dramatic, but it’s accurate.

I lay in my bed for a while, tossing and turning. I tried listening to something to calm me, but it wasn’t working. I felt like I was crawling out of my skin.

I knew what I needed to do.

I quietly got up out of my bed, crept into my dark living room, sat down in my favorite chair, and immediately began to pray.

While consistency is not my strongest trait, one constant in my life is prayer. (It might be a lot of asking for forgiveness for something stupid I’ve done, but that’s a different story, for a different time. )

As I prayed, the tears began to flow like a river…

I don’t know if, or how, you pray, but I pray like I’m talking to my best friend (because I am). I don’t hold back. I pour it all out there and let the flood gates down!

And just like when I hold my baby boy close to comfort him when he’s hurting, I felt those tender warm arms of love and concern, wrap around me, as I heard a familiar, gentle whisper,

“I’ve got you.”

My heart of fear quickly changed to one of faith.

As I prayed, I slowly began, one by one, to release my anxieties.

I started giving thanks for all the wonderful people and things in my life. As I thought of my children, my family, my friends, and my home, I felt my spirit fill with that all-consuming love it was longing for.

I then ventured deep into a meditation of gratitude, as I continued giving thanks for the abundance in my life.

When I’d finished, all my anxiety had melted away and was replaced with a complete peace that passes all understanding.

Once I’d regained my composure, (cause obviously, I’m a crier, and it ain’t always pretty), I quietly made my way back to my bedroom, crawled into my comfy bed, and fell asleep with a peaceful heart full of gratitude.

You see, our lives are like recycling bins. There are certain things that are meant to fill us, but if we’re not careful, the world will throw in all its heavy junk, and before we know it, we’re overwhelmed and feeling like a pile of hot garbage.

We have to take time to empty out all the things that don’t belong: worry, self-doubt, fear, apathy, and refill ourselves with all the things that are meant for us: faith, confidence, love, gratitude.

That’s when something beautiful happens.

The contents of our lives are meticulously purified and regenerated, and from us, a shiny, brand new thing is then created.

Ahhhhh, is that amazing or what? Can I get an amen?!

Now that’s what I call taking out the trash!

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but because I’m a praying woman, I always pray that when I share something, it will reach the eyes, and more importantly, the heart of the person who needs it.

And because I’m also a woman of faith, I’m completely confident that this will make its way to that person.

May your day be filled with all the beautiful things that were created for you, by The One who loves you most.

Your friend,
Christie