"Dealing with Anxiety: Helping Others"

1. Listen
• God heard Israel's cry-Deuteronomy 26:7
• God heard David in his destress-Psalms 18:6
• Proverbs 21:13 "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."
• Psalms 34:4, 40:1, 66:19, 106:44
2. Bring them to Jesus
• A palsied man has borne of four-Mark 2:3-5
• Centurion on servant's behalf-Matthew 8:5-13
• Lunatic son brought by father-Matthew 17:14-18
• Palsied: disabled; suffering from weak limbs
• James 5:13, 16
3. Rejoice with them . . .
• because this is temporal-Philippians 2:13-17
• because God is honored and glorified-1 Peter 1:6-8
• because they get to rejoice-Romans 12:15
4. When you meet someone dealing with anxiety (or another kind of affliction):
• Take time to listen without figuring out a way to fix them. Let the Holy Spirit give you whatever it may be that He wants them to hear from you. Remember: what may have worked for you may not be what they need. You can suggest it if they are open to it, but sometimes, they just need someone to listen to them.
• Lovingly point them to Jesus. Pray for them, pray with them. Pray is the best support anyone can receive from you.
• Rejoice with them when God gives them to victory in their anxiety. 

Conclusion: I do not need to have all the answers because they may not be asking that set of questions. I need to let my answers come from God. Those may be the only answers they recognize. The very best thing I can do is listen, pray with them, pray for them, and rejoice when they see victories in their afflictions.

GB Essie