What can help me when I am experiencing panic? - Panic - TouchPoints

Matthew 6:25-34“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. . . . Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Remember to take simple practical steps in the face of panic. Jesus devoted this part of the Sermon on the Mount to providing seven significant reasons not to worry or panic. But he also described five practices that can displace or provide a detour around our panic: Look at the birds—God takes care of their basic needs; he can do the same for you. Look at the lilies—God gives to them abundantly; he will care for you generously. Look for the evidence of God and his Kingdom at work in your surroundings; he can intervene for you. Live for God—take some action out of simple obedience that has nothing to do with your current panic. Live in the moment—realize that you are panicked about what might happen rather than simply enjoying the present moment God has graciously given you.

Deuteronomy 31:7-8Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Joshua 1:6-9“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Remember God’s promise that he will always be by your side. Joshua not only heard from Moses but also from God himself that as long as he remained strong and courageous, trusting in God, Joshua could count on God’s presence and help. We may not have as daunting a task as leading a nation to conquer the Promised Land, but the same God can be with us just as he was with Joshua.

2 Timothy 3:16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Remember God’s promise that his Word will provide guidance and wisdom to help us respond to any situation—even when we have messed up.

John 14:15-17“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

Romans 8:26-27The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

Remember God’s promise that his Holy Spirit prays for us. His role as Advocate means he represents us faithfully before God the Father even as he dwells in us.

Psalm 23:2He [the Lord] lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

Psalm 29:11The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.

Isaiah 26:3You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

John 14:27“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

John 16:33“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Remember God’s promise of peace of heart and mind. Don’t expect a world-centered peace but rather a peace that comes from God and passes all understanding.

Psalm 23:5You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

Daniel 2:18He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon.

Remember God’s promise to show us mercy, even when we don’t deserve it.

Psalm 3:5I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.

Proverbs 3:26The Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

Remember God’s promise of security. In moments when our security is not so apparent, we should remember the times when we felt safe and that God hasn’t changed.

Deuteronomy 33:27“The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you.”

Psalm 46:1-2God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Matthew 10:18-20“You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Remember God’s promise of strength, especially in times when we feel weak and helpless.

Exodus 14:25-27He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!” When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea.

Zephaniah 3:15The Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster.

Luke 8:22-25One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”

Remember God’s promise that he will help us handle our difficult—even impossible—situations. He can control even the uncontrollable.