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The Antidote for Anxiety and Depression: Trust in Abba Father’s Care – Pt 3

God Keeps His Promises to You. Fear Not, Only Be Glad!

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

– Joel 2:21-27

The day began for me with much enthusiasm and expectations. I had an interview at Service Commissions Department for the position of “Youth Worker” and I was confident that I would get the job.

A few days prior to being called for that interview I received a Rhema Word from God from Joel 2:21-27 that says, “Fear not O Joanne, be glad and rejoice for the Lord will do great things. Moreover, God promised to restore me the years I had sown in tears. Therefore, I declared that I will praise the name of the Lord my God for He has dealt wondrously with me, and I will never be ashamed. And I and everyone else shall know that I AM (the Lord) is in the midst of us and that I AM the Lord my God, and none else: and I shall never be ashamed.”  

Hence, to me getting that job was the ‘great thing’ that God was about to do for me since at that time I was unemployed for seven years after I graduated High School. In addition, I felt that getting that job was the means by which God was going to restore to me the seven years of unemployment and frustration that I had sown in tears. Besides, during the time I was unemployed, I seized every opportunity to qualify and develop myself within the means available to me then. Therefore, I had training in “Working with Adolescent”, “Substance Abuse Counselling”, Basic Counselling Skills, and had many hours of voluntary Youth Work at Marion House.

Consequently, I dressed the part and entered the interview room confidently prepared to answer any question asked of me. The interview was perfect and I left the interview room with a greater assurance that getting that job was the ‘great thing’ and ‘restoration’ that God was about to do for me. Thus, I went home and eagerly awaited the message to begin work. I had no idea what form the message would take whether by a phone call or written so I promptly answered every telephone call and I kept checking the Post Office for mails.

One day, a few weeks later, I went to the Post Office and I received a mail in a brown envelop marked Government of SVG. Immediately, my heart leaped for joy as I excitedly opened it, anticipating that it was the message that I had been awaiting. To my disappointment, the letter informed me that I was unsuccessful in getting the job. My heart sank in sadness, shame and anxiety invited themselves in the mix of emotions as I walked through the street of Kingstown to a bus stop crying.

Then, I heard as clear as crystal the still, small, comforting voice, the voice that I have come to know so well, asked me, “why are you in distress? Did I not tell you not to fear, to be glad and rejoice for I will do great things for you?” I heard myself answered, “Yes Lord”. The conversation continued as the voice asked further, “and did I not promise to restore you all the years you have sown in tears?” Again I answered, “Yes Lord.” The voice asked again, “Did I not tell you that you will never be ashamed and that everyone will know that I Am the Lord who has done great things for you?” And again, I answered, “Yes Lord”. The voice then asked me, “Have I ever lied to you?” and I answered, “No Lord”. The voice asked, “Am I a man that I should lie?” I answered, “No Lord”. Then the voice said to me, “No good thing will I withhold from you because you walk uprightly. If I didn’t give it to you it’s because it’s not good for you and I have great things in store for you.” I answered, “Thank You Lord”.

It was then that I dried my tears and began to praise God as springs of trust in Abba Father’s care overwhelmed me. I felt such peace in God that I had no choice but to rest in Him.

God did keep His promise of restoration to me. Today I am a Professional Counsellor and I’m employed by the Government in the Ministry of Education as a Guidance Counsellor. You see, I didn’t get the Youth Officer position then which I thought was my dream job but now I work with youths from all walks of life, even internationally via virtual communication. This is my dream and heart’s greatest desire and only God could have done this work in my life. The preparation process seemed long and endless and was very painful but what the enemy meant for evil, God worked all together for my good. He is still perfecting that which concerns me (Psalm 138:8).

What is it that God has promised you and it seems like the enemy of your soul has taken it? I believe that God wants to restore to you all that the enemy has stolen, the years you have sown in tears. 

Today we are encouraged to fear not but only be glad because God keeps His promises. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Let us endeavour to trust in Abba Father’s care for us. It will save us much heartaches. As a matter of fact, He is waiting with arms open wide for us to just come to Him.

May God bless you richly!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father I thank You today for being a promise keeping God. Your promises are yes and amen. For this I trust in Your care for me. I veto every diabolical assignment for my life from the enemy, and I rebuke and bind his plans to steal that which You have promised to me. I loose the restoration power of God in my life and I declare that Abba is restoring unto me all that the enemy has stolen. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ name. Amen!