Several scriptures give us good advice on dealing with fear and anxiety. Proverbs 12:25 is one: "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." This verse acknowledges something that is common knowledge but that all of us could do better at putting into practice.

We need encouragement, particularly when facing a daunting project or new responsibility involving unfamiliar skills and challenges. Make it a part of your job to give encouragement and foster a feeling of confidence among your coworkers. Take the same approach within your family, spreading the kind of "good word" about which Solomon wrote in Proverbs 12.

Jesus Christ pointed out that, in the end, worry and anxiety accomplish little.

"Therefore I say to you," He counsels us, "do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

"Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:25-34).

Christ does not advocate irresponsibility in caring for ourselves and our families. He does point out, however, that if we do as we should and strive to please God, we can have faith that He will take care of us and see us through life's struggles. Because of our confidence in God, we need not become overburdened with worry and anxiety.

The Scriptures assure us that God will never allow more burdens to come upon us than we can endure. Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 10:13: "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it" (New Revised Standard Version). This promise, of course, is given to us only if we do our part and draw near to God.

When feeling overwhelmed, why not review these and other encouraging scriptures to be reminded of God's promises and love for us? GN