How to Face Adversity and Anxiety

Adversity is wrapped up in anxiety. Where there is trouble, there is also fear, worry, fretfulness and distress. Statistics tell us that over forty million Americans struggle with anxiety disorders, with women diagnosed at a rate twice that of men. Even without an official pronouncement of a “disorder”, worry affects even the most spiritually mature and faithful. It drains us spiritually, emotionally and is exhausting. How can we best manage anxiety? Here are three suggestions:

FACE THE “WHAT IF…?”
​
Years ago I learned a valuable lesson when I least expected it (isn’t that how it always happens?) One of our young daughters had plaguing allergies, making her very uncomfortable. Traveling always exacerbated her problems, making her miserable. One Sunday morning prior to a family trip, I ran into Luanna, one of my prayer partners. I asked her to pray that Holly’s allergies would not flare up while traveling. She agreed, then casually remarked, “But if they do, it’s not the end of the world.” I was stunned...Continue reading

---

SUSIE HAWKINS
​Susie lives in Dallas, TX with her husband OS Hawkins. She is the author of "From One Ministry Wife to Another: Honest Conversations on Connections in Ministry". She has 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren, keeping her life full of craziness and joy. Susie is a contributing writer for Flourish.me.