He never ast me nothing bout myself. He clam on top of me and fuck and fuck, even when my head bandaged. Nobody ever love me, I say.

An American, I said, sighing, but understanding my love of my adopted country perhaps for the first time: an American looks like a wounded person whose wound is hidden from others, and sometimes from herself. An American looks like me.

The stress and worry weaken our immune system

That coat of discouragement doesn't look good on you. That coat of self-pity is out of style. That coat of bitterness over who left you and what you didn't get doesn't fit you anymore.

When we run to Him with open arms, casting our cares aside, He will embrace us. By having simple, childlike faith, we don't have to figure everything out. We don't have to have all the answers. We just trust Him. Won't you let that be you today?

If you were on your own, you would have a good reason to live worried. But the Scripture says in 1 Peter, "You have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your soul." You're not in this by yourself. You have a protector, a defender, a deliverer.

If you allow it, people will run your life. They'll tell you what to do, where to go, how to dress, and how to spend your money. It's good to get free from addictions, free from anxiety, and free from depression, but one of the greatest freedoms is to get free from controlling people.

When anxiety attacks, we often call our friends, call our neighbors, call our parents. That's all fine, but you need to make sure you call on the name of the Lord. Call on the God who created you. Call on the God who is more powerful than any force that's trying to stop you.

When you feel the bitterness trying to take root, right then say, "God, I'm turning this over to You. I know that You are my vindicator. I know that You'll make my wrongs right. You said You would give me beauty for these ashes.

Although anxiety is part of life, never let it control you.

We are not the healers, we are not the reconcilers, we are not the givers of life. We are sinful, broken, vulnerable people who need as much care as anyone we care for.

No detail of your life is too insignificant for your heavenly Father's attention.