Ok, in all honesty- the title is to just get your attention. Although, if you’ve never had a cold glass of tea with your PB and J, you are SERIOUSLY missing something significant in your life. Just saying…

But for the real stuff.

Maybe it’s just me, but I get super duper obsessed with things that DO. NOT. MATTER.

Anyone with me here?

I even lose sleep worrying about the time I waste worrying.

Anyone who knows me knows I’ve got a wee bit of anxiety. And by wee bit, of course, I mean it’s stupid and debilitating at times. I see a doctor, I take my prescriptions, I talk with a therapist, and I still lie awake at night- anxious.

Also, anyone who know me knows that I am a woman of faith. Jesus is priority one for myself and my family.  But trust and faith in Christ coupled with severe anxiety don’t really go together (definitely not iced tea + peanut butter sandwiches).

In 1 John 4:18 it says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Ouch.

John 14:1 says,  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (You trust God, don’t you, Amanda?)

Of course I do.

So then why? There are plenty of things I can blame it on. The first being that’s it’s biological. I’m not choosing to be anxious. It’s how I’m made. And that may be true, but is God not the one who made me?

My God allowed me to develop a nervous nature. It’s part of who I am. Fearfully (not fearful) and wonderfully made. The energy that keeps me up at night also powers me to get stuff done. I like that about myself. My God gave that to me.

So how can I make iced tea and peanut butter sandwiches out of all this?

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”  There it is.

NOTHING can separate us from the love of God.

• No person
• No thing
• No tragedy
• No sin (for real)

Nothing.

Is that not mind-blowing?

Jesus adores this worrisome old mess. And like- a lot. He is perfect. I am not. I wasn’t made to be. So, yes, I’m a nervous Nelly. Yes, I will work on that- probably for the rest of my life. No, I’m nowhere near perfect. Christ loves me regardless. Nothing can separate me (or you) from His love. It turns out that we have the iced tea and peanut butter sandwich combo after all. The “and” is  Jesus. He bridges all gaps.

He makes things just “go”.

My name is Amanda Ann Warren. I have anxiety. I mess up sometimes. I can be selfish and unreasonable. I’ve been known to lose perspective. BUT, I love Jesus. And He loves me right back, scars and all.